**9:49 p.m.**: Brandon Rush said he’d known for awhile that he’d be playing tonight, and by that I think he meant about a week. Bill Self went as far as to call him probably the team’s top performer tonight in a game where the offense sputtered for most of the first half before his entrance.Self said there’s no timetable for Rush to start a game, and he’s not sure yet what Rush’s minute limit will be next Wednesday against Northern Arizona. Tonight it was 10, but Rush wound up playing 12 straight minutes in the first half. If I had my guess, I’d say he’s starting by Dec. 2 against Southern Cal. Just sounds about right.Outside of that, Rodrick Stewart was able to fess up to some early game jitters, and that also explains why he was so good in the second half – he was simply more comfortable. Stewart knew when he was going up to make a highlight-reel swat in the second half that it was either block the shot or get taken out because of a foul and catch an earful from Self. Stewart not only made the block, but parlayed it into keying a nice, quick possession that ended in the first of Conner Teahan’s two three-pointers. He looks like he’ll be just fine in Sherron Collins’ starting spot, keeping the seat warm for Rush for a bit.Anyways, there won’t be a Greene Room Live on Saturday from Memorial Stadium, as I’ll be in Ann Arbor, Mich., to take in the Michigan-Ohio State game. As for next Wednesday against Northern Arizona, I’ll be out of town as well. We’ll have guys filling in with the live game updates, but as far as The Greene Room goes, I’ll see you a week from Saturday at the KU-MU game. Peace out, have a good weekend and a great holiday.**8:50 p.m.**: Hasn’t been a whole lot to say from the second half, as KU’s big men have dominated the way they should against a smaller Division-II foe. Darnell Jackson, Darrell Arthur and Sasha Kaun have each eached double figures with the game in its waning moments.Rodrick Stewart also has nine points and has looked good in a host of other facets tonight. KU will obviously lose some instant offense in Sherron Collins, but Stewart will do for the next six weeks or so. Tyrel Reed also continues to look solid in that role.I’ll be back with some postgame nuggets and some reactions from coach Self, Brandon Rush and others.**8:20 p.m.**: Completely off-topic sidenote:ESPN Gameday’s Desmond Howard was in town this week, I found out, to do a feature on Todd Reesing. It will air Saturday morning on the popular pregame show. Might want to check that out.**8:09 p.m.**: Some halftime numbers……Mario Chalmers had eight points and four rebounds, while Darnell Jackson had 10 and five, giving the two of them the most impressive-looking stat lines so far……Brandon Rush had seven points, three rebounds, two assists, one block, one steal and no turnovers. Not bad for your first live game in more than six months……KU was just 8-of-16 from the charity stripe……KU was outrebounded 23-22, but blocked six Ichabod shots.**7:44 p.m.**: Brandon Rush has looked sensational so far, and looks like the hunk of a wrap around his right kneee is the furthest thing from his mind.Rush is getting up off the floor just as quick as he did a year ago, and has shown no fear, going hard to the rack twice and both times crashing full-speed into the floor. He’s already filling up the stat sheet with a block, a steal, a couple rebounds, couple assists and seven points.But just like many of his teammates so far tonight, he has been unsuccessful at the free throw line. Yeah, it’s only Washburn, but KU’s still not hitting what should be basketball’s easiest shot. The Jayhawks are just 8-of-16 from the stripe tonight.**7:24 p.m.**: Obviously, the talk tonight will be about how Brandon Rush plays.Well, he just played for five straight minutes in the first half and looked pretty good. He wasn’t hesitant while snatching two boards, put in his first points of the season on a leaner in the lane, and even drove down the lane, kicking out to Tyrel Reed for an open three look. In other words, he looks comfortable.After the game’s second media timeout at the 11:14 mark, he’s still in the game.**7:15 p.m.**: Brandon Rush checked in just 3:43 into the game. Nothing yet, though. It was the loudest the home crowd has been so far tonight. Speaking of which, come on down to Allen Fieldhouse. Plenty of seats available. How often do you get to say that?**6:37 p.m.**: If I were a betting man…or if there were a bet to even be placed on it happening…I’d say Brandon Rush is playing tonight for KU.Though Bill Self neither [fully confirmed or fully denied it][1] today in the Journal-World, it seems highly likely. He was telling some folks along press row more than an hour before the game while glad-handing them that he planned on it. He’s also got his No. 25 ankle braces on tonight, which he has yet to do this season in the four games he’s sat on the bench for.Rodrick Stewart will more than likely draw the start in place of the injured Sherron Collins. It’s a good matchup for Stewart, too, as the lineup for Washburn includes a pair of starting guards – juniors James Williams and Paul Byers – who stand 6-foot-5. Rodrick is listed at 6-foot-4, but is great at playing above his height because of his freakish leaping abilities (seriously, in practice there’s not a better dunker on the team in terms of style points).I’d think that a good regimen for Rush – and I’m no doctor or coach here, so this is all assumption – would be 10 minutes tonight, 15-20 next Wednesday against Northern Arizona and then maybe a starting assignment against Arizona on Nov. 25.**-One player to watch for Washburn** will be junior guard Angel Santiago, a product of Von Steuben High in Chicago who played the last two seasons at Dodge City Community College. He was an AAU teammate of former Jayhawk Julian Wright and was a very capable scorer in high school – one of the city’s most feared. He was also at one time recruited by plenty of D-I schools. He’s a sub-six-foot guard, but can score from all over the place.**-Also, in terms of signings today**, according to the media relations staff who put out a release moments ago, Quintrell Thomas is now officially signed and delivered. Travis Releford, the Roeland Park Miege senior guard who was KU’s first commit in the class of 2008, had a signing ceremony at the school today, but there are still i’s being dotted and t’s being crossed. But don’t sweat. He’s good to go, it sounds like.**Finally, it’s hard to believe that these two** teams are playing in an actual regular season game. This is usually an exhibition for KU, but this one was a late add to the slate. But KU is in no position to treat it like a preseason tilt. KU’s gotta show some stuffiness on the defensive side of the ball. Remember, the Arizona game is only 10 days away.Talk to you after the tip. [1]: http://www2.kusports.com/news/2007/nov/15/rush_might_take_court_vs_washburn/?mens_basketball
