OKLAHOMA CITY ? Kansas University’s men’s basketball team wants an encore after sampling the Final Four last season, and the No. 2-seeded Jayhawks’ eyes are firmly focused on the April 7 national title game in New Orleans.

“This is a national-championship team, in my opinion,” said KU sophomore guard Keith Langford, who takes a 15.4 scoring average into tonight’s NCAA Tournament West Regional opener against No. 15 seed Utah State.

Tipoff is 8:40 p.m. at Ford Center, or 30 minutes after a 6:10 p.m. contest between Arizona State and Memphis.

“There is no dominant team this year in college basketball,” Langford said. “There are one through 20 teams who could be national champion. Three teams in our league could be a national-championship team. I know ours is one of ’em.”

The Big 12 Conference-champion Jayhawks’ hopes rest on the shoulders of senior standouts Nick Collison and Kirk Hinrich, who average 18.4 and 17.6 points entering tonight’s game against USU, which finished third in the Big West Conference.

“There is definitely a sense of urgency,” Collison said. “Kirk and I have been to the Final Four, not a lot of guys can say that. But there is more we’d like to accomplish … to get back and do some damage.”

Hinrich is anxious for the NCAAs to begin. Last year, he hurt his ankle in the opener against Holy Cross and wasn’t 100 percent the remainder of the tourney, which for KU ended in a loss to Maryland at the national semifinals in Atlanta.

“I’m ready for the practices and press conferences to end and just get started,” Hinrich said. “Last year I felt we really had a shot at winning it all. We were in the hunt but didn’t get it done. I felt being hurt I couldn’t do everything I’m capable of. I’m anxious to try again.”

While Collison and Hinrich realize anything can happen in the NCAA Tournament, they are certain of one thing: The two Iowans, who have played together since high school, will lead by example.

Kansas University sophomore guard Keith Langford flies high for a reverse jam during the Jayhawks' practice Wednesday. KU plays Utah State at 8:40 tonight at the Ford Center in Oklahoma City.

“I think the biggest thing is to make sure everybody is focused,” Collison said of his and Hinrich’s role. “Younger guys sometimes think it will come easy. The tournament is a different step in intensity. You have to be able to play hard as you can every possession or you can go home.

“I will make sure everybody is ready for the games and really into it. We’ve got nothing else to do but play basketball. You might as well play hard. In my case, it’s my last NCAA Tournament. I will leave everything on the court.”

That includes tonight’s game against Utah State (24-8 overall, 12-6 Big West). The Aggies finished behind UC Santa Barbara (14-4) and UC Irvine (13-5) in the regular season, gaining a tourney berth by beating Cal State Fullerton (89-83, OT), UC Irvine (62-55) and Cal Poly (57-54) in the Big West tournament.

KU won’t take the Aggies lightly.

“I’ve watched them on TV,” Collison said, “and all they (announcers) talk about is their rebounding. It will be like a Big 12 game in that they are really physical, defend well, yet have good skilled players, too.”

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Center Spencer Nelson, a 6-foot-8, 225-pound sophomore, logs 7.3 rebounds a game; 6-7, 245-pound forward Desmond Penigar grabs 6.5 boards. The Aggies outrebound their foes by seven boards a game, average 66.8 points and allow 59.8.

“They are a little more of a ball-control team,” KU coach Roy Williams said. “They do a good job trying to control the tempo, not let you get out on the break. We’ve got to try to speed the tempo as much as we can and play better in a halfcourt situation.

“It’s a dream world for them. They think they have no pressure — that they can come in and play loose. We shouldn’t have any pressure either, the time we are in. Our nation, our country has major problems with talk of war. This is just a basketball game. Let’s play the best we can possibly play and move on.”

The winner of today’s game meets the Memphis-Arizona State winner at 7 p.m. Saturday to head to the Sweet 16 in Anaheim, Calif.

“I think we’re ready,” Hinrich said. “We’ve had two really good practices in a row and I think everybody is focused and excited about the tournament.”