If good advice is offered and heeded, the Kansas basketball team’s starting lineup next November will be Darrell Arthur, Brandon Rush, Mario Chalmers, Sherron Collins and Cole Aldrich.

Kansas State’s Michael Beasley and Bill Walker, men against boys Wednesday night, made it pretty clear that Arthur, Rush, Chalmers and Collins will need another full year of seasoning and maturation to be NBA-ready – as Beasley and Walker are right now.

Talk persists about how many Jayhawk underclassmen may fly out the door with the five seniors after this season. Unless these non-senior caterpillars miraculously evolve into glorious butterflies between now and March, they ain’t ready. Some good people like Chalmers’ dad, coach Ronnie, will evaluate the situation, and opinions from pro scouts will reinforce the notion – KU has no Beasleys or Walkers – another year of KU experience is more important than immediate pursuit of a dream that won’t materialize. Maybe not ever.

The Kansas “pro prospects” need to look carefully at the long roster of terrific NBA hopefuls now in college and in foreign countries. As of now, seniors Darnell Jackson and Sasha Kaun with their height, bulk and work ethics are the Jayhawks most likely to gain NBA apprenticeships. (By the way, anyone else think Sasha with his good looks and short curly hair bears a strong resemblance to Michelangelo’s David?)

Kansas was supposed to be the “veteran” team for this heralded 2008 Jayhawk-Wildcat face-off, the one with the poise, depth and thrust to extend KU’s winning streak in Manhattan to 25. Yet it was “youthful” KSU that came off as the guys in charge, motivated and unruffled rather than performing as pink-cheeked freshman wannabes. KU looked soft, rudderless, intimidated.

Rookie ‘Cat coach Frank Martin, noted for his temper, was supposed to get flustered and flounder under pressure. He handled his determined club well enough to grab the league leadership and project himself as the Big 12 coach of the year.

It wasn’t that Bill Self didn’t have his Kansas squad attuned to the challenge. There’d been all kinds of planning and preparation with every evidence the Jayhawks would prevail over the ‘Cats. KU showed brief flashes of excellence. But Gen. George Patton said that in many instances the best plan in the world is only good until that first shot is fired in combat.

Kansas State launched deadly three-point shots right off the bat, rocked Kansas back on its heels immediately. The efficient, economical Beasley and Walker calmly took KU apart with surprising support from a cast including underrated guards Clent Stewart and Jacob Pullen, another freshman.

It’s said there is no such thing as a rivalry until both foes think they can beat the other. Kansas State truly believes, thus there’s once again a tremendous rivalry. Suddenly the Big 12 race has an entirely new complexion, and touted Kansas is playing catchup with lots of pitfalls to avoid.

Yet consider the bottom line. KU with all its resources will rally fast and still is capable of another league season and tournament title en route to the NCAA melee.

No matter how badly somebody’s performed up to then, all it takes is a 6-0 run to bring home a college title that’s still well within KU’s reach.