By ARNE GREEN

Salina Journal

LAWRENCE -- The Streak is over, and most likely so is the Big 12 championship dream for at least one team.

So just what does Round 2 of the 2008 Sunflower Showdown -- besides bragging rights among rabid followers of both schools -- have to offer when Kansas State visits No. 6 Kansas at 8 tonight in Allen Fieldhouse?

Plenty, it seems.

"I certainly think the motivation that they beat us last time adds to the anticipation of the game," said KU coach Bill Self, whose Jayhawks lost for the first time in 25 years in Manhattan, 84-75, on Jan. 30. "The way I look at it, you have a couple of teams that really feel like they need a win.

"Both teams should be anxious to play."

Kansas, 25-3 overall and 10-3 in the Big 12, trails league leader Texas by just one game with three to go. The Jayhawks also are looking to play themselves back into a No. 1 seed for the NCAA Tournament.

K-State (18-9, 8-5) suddenly is fighting for its NCAA life after dropping three straight.

"For them it might be the revenge factor or something," said K-State senior guard Clent Stewart, who had 11 points and five rebounds in the first meeting. "For us it's a chance to go out there and win another big game.

"We've been struggling a bit on the road, so a win in Allen Fieldhouse would definitely clear up any doubters."

Since the first KU game, K-State has gone 3-5, including four straight road losses. Frank Martin points to the offense as the main culprit.

"I think we've played extremely hard," he said. "The only thing that's been different over the last two or three weeks is we haven't shot the ball as well as we did earlier in the year.

"But our rebounding numbers are still pretty good, and defensively I think we've been solid."

Kansas also has not been as sharp since the first meeting. Starting with the K-State game, the Jayhawks are 5-3, also losing on the road at Texas and Oklahoma State.

"We both need a win," said Jayhawk senior guard Russell Robinson. "At this time, this late in the season, we need every win we can get. We can't have any losses set us back."

Robinson, who went 1 of 8 from the field and fouled out in the first game, said he has had the rematch circled.

"I've been looking forward to it for a long time," he said. "It's coming up during one of the most important weeks of our season."

In the first game, K-State got big games from its big three freshmen. Forward Michael Beasley scored 25 points and grabbed six rebounds, Bill Walker had 22 points and five rebounds, and point guard Jacob Pullen came off the bench to score 20, including 10 of 10 free throws.

"We've got to make them earn their shots and try not to foul them as much," KU senior center Sasha Kaun said of Beasley and Walker.

For Kansas, guards Mario Chalmers had 19 points, Brandon Rush 15 and Sherron Collins 12 in the first meeting. But Rush was limited to a meaningless 3-pointer in the second half, when K-State pulled away.

Forward Darrell Arthur, KU's leading scorer with 13.7 points per game, had 12 points and seven rebounds, but was limited to 17 minutes by foul trouble.

In addition to the revenge factor and the NCAA Tournament implications, the game will serve as a national showcase. ESPN's College GameDay crew will be on hand all day, adding to the hype.

For Walker, who is coming off a dreadful 0-for-14 shooting performance Monday night in K-State's 74-65 loss to Texas, it's what he lives for.

"I just like to play in big games," said Walker, who averages 16.2 points and 6.7 rebounds overall, but 20.2 points on the road. "It causes you to be the best player your can be or the worst player you can be."

Beasley, who leads the Big 12 with 26.2 points a game and the nation with 12.6 rebounds, also is pumped.

"I love it," he said. "The whole world will be watching my team perform to the best of our ability."

Robinson would like nothing more than to spoil the Wildcats' good time.

"I hope it will go down as one of the best games in the history of Kansas," he said. "It's going to be a game of that magnitude.

"It's going to be a great atmosphere."

Plenty, it seems.

"I certainly think the motivation that they beat us last time adds to the anticipation of the game," said KU coach Bill Self, whose Jayhawks lost for the first time in 25 years in Manhattan, 84-75, on Jan. 30. "The way I look at it, you have a couple of teams that really feel like they need a win.

"Both teams should be anxious to play."

Kansas, 25-3 overall and 10-3 in the Big 12, trails league leader Texas by just one game with three to go. The Jayhawks also are looking to play themselves back into a No. 1 seed for the NCAA Tournament.

K-State (18-9, 8-5) suddenly is fighting for its NCAA life after dropping three straight.

"For them it might be the revenge factor or something," said K-State senior guard Clent Stewart, who had 11 points and five rebounds in the first meeting. "For us it's a chance to go out there and win another big game.

"We've been struggling a bit on the road, so a win in Allen Fieldhouse would definitely clear up any doubters."

Since the first KU game, K-State has gone 3-5, including four straight road losses. Frank Martin points to the offense as the main culprit.

"I think we've played extremely hard," he said. "The only thing that's been different over the last two or three weeks is we haven't shot the ball as well as we did earlier in the year.

"But our rebounding numbers are still pretty good, and defensively I think we've been solid."

Kansas also has not been as sharp since the first meeting. Starting with the K-State game, the Jayhawks are 5-3, also losing on the road at Texas and Oklahoma State.

"We both need a win," said Jayhawk senior guard Russell Robinson. "At this time, this late in the season, we need every win we can get. We can't have any losses set us back."

Robinson, who went 1 of 8 from the field and fouled out in the first game, said he has had the rematch circled.

"I've been looking forward to it for a long time," he said. "It's coming up during one of the most important weeks of our season."

In the first game, K-State got big games from its big three freshmen. Forward Michael Beasley scored 25 points and grabbed six rebounds, Bill Walker had 22 points and five rebounds, and point guard Jacob Pullen came off the bench to score 20, including 10 of 10 free throws.

"We've got to make them earn their shots and try not to foul them as much," KU senior center Sasha Kaun said of Beasley and Walker.

For Kansas, guards Mario Chalmers had 19 points, Brandon Rush 15 and Sherron Collins 12 in the first meeting. But Rush was limited to a meaningless 3-pointer in the second half, when K-State pulled away.

Forward Darrell Arthur, KU's leading scorer with 13.7 points per game, had 12 points and seven rebounds, but was limited to 17 minutes by foul trouble.

In addition to the revenge factor and the NCAA Tournament implications, the game will serve as a national showcase. ESPN's College GameDay crew will be on hand all day, adding to the hype.

For Walker, who is coming off a dreadful 0-for-14 shooting performance Monday night in K-State's 74-65 loss to Texas, it's what he lives for.

"I just like to play in big games," said Walker, who averages 16.2 points and 6.7 rebounds overall, but 20.2 points on the road. "It causes you to be the best player your can be or the worst player you can be."

Beasley, who leads the Big 12 with 26.2 points a game and the nation with 12.6 rebounds, also is pumped.

"I love it," he said. "The whole world will be watching my team perform to the best of our ability."

Robinson would like nothing more than to spoil the Wildcats' good time.

"I hope it will go down as one of the best games in the history of Kansas," he said. "It's going to be a game of that magnitude.

"It's going to be a great atmosphere."