Auburn Hill, Mich. ? A year ago, Kansas University’s basketball players looked to Wayne Simien with the game on the line.

Simien, KU’s senior leader and go-to guy, took – and missed – the last shot of the season, a free-throw-line-extended jumper that clanged and closed the Jayhawks’ shocking 64-63 first-round NCAA Tournament loss to Bucknell.

Tonight, if a last-second bucket is needed for fourth-seeded KU to subdue 13th-seeded Bradley in an 8:30 p.m. first-round clash at The Palace of Auburn Hills, the ball will be put in the hands of : which young, raw Jayhawk?

Good question.

“I want to be that guy,” said KU freshman Brandon Rush, the team’s leading scorer at 13.6 points a game, “but if my shots aren’t flowing, I would give it to another guy.”

That guy likely would be red-hot Mario Chalmers, another perimeter player who checks in tonight’s game with an 11.4 scoring average.

“I think I’d be able to take that shot,” said Chalmers, who has come on strong down the stretch, winning MVP honors at last week’s Big 12 tournament. “I would try to set myself up to be in a good position to have my teammates find me.

“Whoever’s going to be hot that day is going to be asked to take the shots at the end. It could be me, Brandon, ‘Hawk’ (Jeff Hawkins) and Russell (Robinson), too.”

The Jayhawks watch as freshman guard Julian Wright goes up for a windmill dunk toward the end of the 'Hawks' practice Thursday at the Palace of Auburn Hills.

Rush and Chalmers are the Jayhawks’ only double-digit scorers, however, meaning it’s a safe bet one of those two will be crunch-time performers.

Rush grinned when asked if he’d fight Chalmers in the huddle for the last-second chance.

“Yes. I’d probably win that fight,” he said, adding, “both of us would want it. I think the way coach will draw it up, it’ll be to me. At least I hope.”

Self isn’t afraid to turn to any freshman down the stretch.

“They aren’t freshmen any longer,” Self said. “They’ve been playing older than their years, stepping up, and we certainly hope that’ll continue.”

The Jayhawks on Thursday admitted they knew more about tonight’s foe than they did earlier this week.

The consensus is KU (25-7) is going to face a big-time test this evening against the Braves (20-10).

“We’ve gone over the scouting report four times since we’ve been here. They are good,” Rush said. “They have two great scorers in Sommerville (Marcellus, 15.4 ppg) and O’Bryant (Patrick, 13.2 ppg). They are athletic. They pressure you all over the court.”

KU sophomore Robinson indicated the talent levels on both teams were equal.

“It’ll come down to who wants it more,” Robinson said. “In the NCAA (Tournament), it always comes down to that. We need to match their intensity.

“”It’s not about the seed here, but the matchup. They match up well against us with size and athleticism. There are a lot of similarities.”

Self indicated the Braves, who won seven of their last eight games, could be the toughest No. 13 seed in recent memory.

“We’ve got a tough draw,” he said. “They are locking people up (defensively). They’ve got a couple of guys in Sommerville and O’Bryant who any night can go get 25 (points).”

Self is especially wary of the 7-foot O’Bryant.

“Coach has been emphasizing making him feel you on every possession,” KU big man Sasha Kaun said. “Just try to play physical with him. He’s a big body.”

Of the 6-7, 225 Sommerville, Self noted: “He creates more matchup problems than anybody else. As a three man, he’s strong enough to play the post.”

The Braves happens to remind Self of Oklahoma State, a squad the Jayhawks topped by one point at the Big 12 tourney.

“They both have quickness on the perimeter,” Self said. “Oklahoma State is a very good defensive team. I think by the end of the year, Bradley’s been a better defensive team.”

The winner of the KU-Bradley game will play the winner of today’s Pitt-Kent State game on Sunday.

KU officials on Thursday were informed the time of Sunday’s games were not yet set in stone.

Sunday’s game times will be made official after tonight’s KU game.

Tonight’s winner will play at 11:15 a.m. or 1:45 p.m. Central Time.

It is believed if the matchup is KU-Pitt, tipoff would be 11:15.

Tonight’s game could tip off as late as 8:40 p.m., officials indicated