Austin, Texas ? Jody Conradt, coach of Texas University’s No. 11-ranked women’s basketball team, isn’t taking anyone lightly.

Not even struggling Kansas University.

“There are no breathers in this conference,” Conradt said.

In other words, Conradt expects the Longhorns to be mentally prepared for the Jayhawks this afternoon. Tipoff will be at 1 p.m. at the Erwin Center on the UT campus. The game will be broadcast on the Jayhawk Radio Network, including 1320 KLWN.

The Longhorns (14-5) will be well rested. They haven’t played since Sunday, when they thumped Texas A&M, 76-50. Kansas, meanwhile, dropped a 73-42 decision Wednesday night at Colorado.

Moreover, the Jayhawks probably will be without forward Blair Waltz who was able to play only two minutes in Boulder, Colo., because of a back injury. Waltz is probable for today, but it’s likely freshman Erica Hallman will replace her in the starting lineup.

Kansas is 9-11 overall and 2-7 in the Big 12 Conference while Texas is one of the league’s current tri-leaders at 7-1.

Conradt gave her players Tuesday and Wednesday off, hoping the rest will do them some good for the stretch run.

“Our goal is to come off of this break better than we are now, especially on offense,” Conradt said. “Everyone in our program knows not to rest on our laurels right now. We’ve got a grueling stretch to go with short turnarounds.”

KU will need a big game out of freshman center Tamara Ransburg in order to be competitive against the tall and talented Longhorns. Ransburg leads the Jayhawks in rebounding at 7.5 per game and the 6-foot-4 newcomer is second in the league in blocked shots with 47.

But Ransburg also leads the Jayhawks in fouls (71) and turnovers (78). She is averaging 10.3 points a game while posting three double-doubles. However, she has fouled out of four games, and had four fouls in six others.

After today, the Jayhawks don’t have another game scheduled until Feb. 15, when Missouri comes to Lawrence.