Let the hype begin for Saturday’s Kansas University-Texas A&M men’s basketball showdown at Allen Fieldhouse.

“It isn’t the Super Bowl, but it’s a very important game,” KU coach Bill Self said Wednesday, referring to an 8 p.m. match between the No. 6-ranked Jayhawks (19-3 overall, 6-1 Big 12 Conference) and No. 10 Aggies (18-3, 6-1).

Both teams were both able to avoid letdowns in tuneups this week.

A&M blasted Iowa State, 73-49, Wednesday in College Station, Texas, two days after the Jayhawks routed Nebraska, 76-56, in Lincoln.

“I think this game right here is pretty much going to seal the deal who’s going to win conference probably,” KU sophomore Brandon Rush stated.

Of course, nobody will be clipping nets Saturday; there’s still a lot of basketball left to be played.

Texas, Oklahoma State, Kansas State and Texas Tech won’t be conceding anytime soon.

“I won’t stress it (to players),” Self said of league implications for Saturday’s contest. “The winner of this game will have a better chance because one team will have one loss and the other two,” he added with a grin, realizing he was stating the obvious.

“If we said that last year, why would we have played the last games of the season (after loss at Texas)? This is a very important game toward accomplishing that goal for both teams.”