Brandon Rush envisions raised eyebrows from players and coaches all across Big 12 country today when they check out this score: Kansas 87, Oklahoma State 57.

So much for the eagerly anticipated early season conference showdown between the teams tapped first and third in the league’s preseason poll.

“This game was a statement game to the rest of the Big 12 (that) we’re ready for the conference,” KU sophomore forward Rush said after combining with center Sasha Kaun for 34 points and 11 rebounds Wednesday in Allen Fieldhouse.

Each had 14 points the first half as KU cruised to a 47-30 lead. They were instrumental in helping the Jayhawks claim what OSU coach Sean Sutton called “an old-

fashioned butt kicking.”

“You win big at home against a Top 10 team like Oklahoma State, it sends a pretty big statement to everybody else,” Rush added after a game between No. 6 KU and No. 9 OSU.

The Jayhawks, who had 17 steals (the second-highest total by KU in a Big 12 game), were kind to just one member of the OSU traveling party Wednesday.

That’s coaching legend Eddie Sutton, who was presented a rocking chair and picture of him embracing former Jayhawk Kirk Hinrich during a touching halftime ceremony.

Everybody else wearing black and orange took it on the chin.

OSU’s Mario Boggan, who was harassed by Kaun early, missed 12 of 16 shots en route to eight points. JamesOn Curry, who was shadowed by Russell Robinson, was never a factor, missing five of eight shots and scoring 12 points.

“Our plan was to cut the two heads off – Curry and Boggan,” Rush said of the players who entered with a combined scoring average of 41 points for a team that averaged a whopping 84.9 a game.

“We try to play everybody like they are great scorers, but, yes, our guys knew they averaged 41 a game,” Self said of the duo, who combined for just 12 points off 4-of-15 shooting the first half. “We’re not going to play that well, making shots and having things fall right for us every game, but there was certainly great intensity. Our pressure was great.”

The Jayhawks, who hit 56.7 percent of their first-half shots and 57.6 percent for the game to OSU’s 32.1-percent mark, threw in some full-court press to wear down the Cowboys.

Rush and Kaun were particularly effective out of the chute for KU, Self indicating, “Brandon and Sasha did as much as anybody to set the tone for the game.”

Rush, in fact, had 10 points and Kaun six as KU blazed to a 25-8 lead, and Mario Chalmers picked up four early assists on a night he finished with seven points, six assists and six steals.

Rush was aggressive in taking it to the basket after fielding several phone calls from his mother on game day.

Yes, it was Mrs. Rush who deserves credit for the sophomore preseason All-American hitting nine of 10 free throws to go with his four floor shots in eight tries.

“My mama : all she does is call me up on game day. (She says) ‘Attack the rim, attack the rim.’ I proved tonight I can do it,” Rush said.

“Maybe some people : the coaching staff told him that. Maybe he’s hearing it from different people,” Self said of a more aggressive Rush.

The Jayhawks (14-2, 1-0) did see a 23-point lead dip to 13 points (53-40) after a three by Curry five minutes into the second half.

But KU hit OSU (15-2, 1-1) with a 16-5 spurt to boost the lead back to 20 points (69-45) at with nine minutes to play.

KU received a big boost from guard Sherron Collins, who had 10 points and six assists in 22 minutes, subbing for Russell Robinson.

Robinson (four assists three steals, seven points, 18 minutes) had some foul woes.

Regardless, Kansas ended up handing OSU its worst loss since last season’s 34-point setback at Texas.

“I’m sure people will say they are back to the way people expect ’em to play, but I don’t know if that’s completely the case,” Self said. “We have a good team. We have a good team that went to Stillwater (Self’s first year), and it was 26-8 (OSU early en route to 20-point win). These things happen sometimes when you go on the road. It was fortunate for us it was Oklahoma State’s first true road game.”

Yet the Jayhawks will take it and move on to Iowa State (2-0 in the Big 12) for Saturday’s 1 p.m. tipoff in Ames.

“Every time we play a big opponent, we step up and blow the game out,” Rush said, aware the Jayhawks were inconsistent in the intensity department at times earlier in the nonconference season. “Now we go play a tough team on the road. Their fans will be into it. Then we play Missouri Monday (at Allen). There are a lot of tough games to be played.”