âÂÂWe want Kansas. We want Kansas,â University of Oregon menâÂÂs basketball fans chanted after the Ducksâ 96-66 victory against in-state rival Portland on Wednesday night in Eugene, Ore.

âÂÂBring on Kansas,â read the opening line in the game story in ThursdayâÂÂs Oregonian newspaper.

Seems just about everybody in Oregon wants a piece of Kansas — the team that prevented the Ducks from reaching the 2002 Final Four.

âÂÂWe can finally start talking about Kansas,â Oregon coach Ernie Kent said after WednesdayâÂÂs victory that improved the No. 7-ranked Ducks to 4-0. âÂÂNow we can get caught up with the community in the hype for the Kansas game.âÂÂ

The Ducks, who were blown out by the Jayhawks, 104-86, last March in Madison, Wis., will meet No. 14-rated KU at 2:30 p.m. Central time Saturday at the Rose Garden in Portland.

A crowd of 18,927 is expected — the largest crowd to attend a college basketball game in the Beaver State.

âÂÂThere is a lot of hype. A lot of people have talked to me too much about it,â Kent said of the KU-OU rematch. âÂÂThey have not allowed us to completely focus on business at hand in terms of Grambling, Pacific, (Cal-State) Northridge and Portland.âÂÂ

The Ducks on Wednesday avenged last yearâÂÂs shocking loss to Portland, thanks to Luke Jackson and Luke Ridnour, who scored 21 and 17 points.

Now they want to even the score against the Jayhawks.

âÂÂPeople are calling this a rematch and revenge and all that,â Kent said. âÂÂRevenge is such a terrible word. We donâÂÂt want to look at it that way. This game was on the schedule before we played Kansas in the NCAA Tournament.

âÂÂWe saw it as a chance to bring a great opponent on the court to Oregon and to give Michael Lee and Aaron Miles (KU players from Portland) a chance to play back home and play in front of family and friends.

âÂÂThe fact we played them in the Elite Eight just puts more hype on the game. ItâÂÂs an opportunity to play them again, for us to redeem ourselves this time and give them a better game.âÂÂ

Of last yearâÂÂs game, Kent said: âÂÂWe recently looked at that game on tape. Our players left the film room feeling terrible. I tried to let them understand this team was on the road six straight weeks going into that game. We were a mentally worn out basketball team. I felt Kansas was on a mission. They played great. We just didnâÂÂt have a lot to give them.âÂÂ

The Ducks played their last two regular season games in Los Angeles, then two league tourney games in L.A. After that it was on to Sacramento, Calif., for first- and second-round NCAA games, followed by the trip to Wisconsin.

Now refreshed . . . âÂÂWe are absolutely ready,â Jackson said. âÂÂWeâÂÂre well-prepared for every game we play.âÂÂ

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Injuries: Senior guard Kirk Hinrich (back strain) practiced on a limited basis Thursday and is listed as probable for the game. Sophomore forward Wayne Simien wore a protective cast to classes and to the airport Thursday to support his right ankle. Simien, who has tendinitis, practiced on Thursday.

Brian Helquist, a 6-foot-9, 260-pound senior center, has a strained right shoulder. He was held out of WednesdayâÂÂs game as a precaution and should play against KU, Kent said.

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Portland itinerary: The Jayhawks were to practice today in Portland, then attend a dinner reception at the Oregon Hall of Fame.