**9:48 p.m.**: With good reason, most of the talk in the postgame interview room focused on the game coming up this Sunday against Southern Cal and its big, bright, shining freshman star – O.J. Mayo.Mario Chalmers, usually pretty reserved, went a bit out on a limb in saying that there will be a little something extra to get up for in this game, and Kansas would like to make a name for itself by stopping Mayo. On the flip side, he said he understands it’s the same scenario for USC, who would like to make a name for _itself_ by handing it to KU.Darnell Jackson pointed out that he found out he would be starting in place of Sasha Kaun on Tuesday night. While Jackson played it off, Self said it’s best to experiment early in the season, Sasha has been ‘labored’ and maybe this could snap him out of a mini-funk.Jackson was also questioned on the upcoming matchup with Mayo. When asked if he could make his selection for the nation’s top freshman, he went with Indiana’s Eric Gordon.But he stated the importance of stopping Mayo, too.Sunday we’ll see what all the fuss is about.**9:01 p.m.**: Conner Teahan wrapped this one up nicely with a bow, hitting three deep balls in the second half as KU cruised. Be back in a bit with postgame nuggets.**8:38 p.m.**: Deserving some credit are the KU students, who oddly enough have filled the Fieldhouse better tonight than they did Sunday against Arizona……Paris Hilton has even made an appearance…or at least a cardboard cutout of the obnoxious socialite, dressed up in a KU Tee.Touche.**8:34 p.m.**: Honestly, over the last 40 minutes, I can’t think of a whole ton that you missed…Well, lets recap:Rex Walters yelled a lot on the sideline. Darnell Jackson stroked a three. Brandon Rush again made 17 points look as casual as possible while still playing at about 80 percent.The biggest difference tonight for KU has been on the defensive end. Bill Self has freely called out his team’s defensive performance on at least two occassions so far this season, and with O.J. Mayo and Southern Cal on the horizon in a few days, the Jayhawks needed this one. FAU, while I’m writing this, has scored 15 points in the second half, and with the exception of one open three, none of them have come easy, with KU running away 69-34 and the walkons starting to unload from the padded bench seats.**7:54 p.m.**: A quick, ho-hum first half. That’s because Rex Walters’ strategy of having FAU slow down the game and limit possessions has been pretty effective. The difference, though, is that his team is not getting many clean looks on the offensive end. The ones they’re getting aren’t really falling either. That never helps.KU has looked pretty smooth at times on offense, and Mario Chalmers has been the story on offense for KU with 11 points, including three deep balls after not hitting a trifecta at all in the win over Arizona on Sunday.The second half looks like it’s going to entail plenty of working through the motions, as this game has lived up to its billing so far as a hump day tilt serving as a bridge between the Arizona and USC games.Brandon Rush sat on the sidelines at the end of the first half, and looked to be wincing a bit. Didn’t look like he was hurt, but more fatigued than anything. This game, remember, comes on the heels of him playing 36 minutes on Sunday when he thought he’d only be going 20. The effects may not be completely gone.**7:22 p.m.**: Jackson starting may not have given KU a huge lead out of the gates, as the Jayhawks are still only leading by eight points nearly halfway through the first frame, but his energy was apparent. Sasha Kaun has been somewhat in another world lately when it comes to game time. Might just be a funk. He’ll still get his minutes, but Darnell in the starting lineup for the time being looks like a pretty good move on Bill Self’s part. He had four points early, has a block and a couple of defensive boards.**7:03 p.m.**: Darnell Jackson is starting in place tonight of Sasha Kaun. Sure, D-Block usually enters the game just a few minutes after it starts anyways, but his energy could be nice to see in the game’s opening possessions.**6:46 p.m.**: Later than usual tonight. what can I say, long day.This game, in many folks’ minds, serves as nothing more than a bridge from [last Sunday’s 76-72 OT thriller over Arizona][1] to this Sunday’s trip to face Southern Cal in Los Angeles.True, there’s the feel-good story of [Rex Walters making his Allen Fieldhouse return][2].Instead, with minutes left until tip-off, how about a shout for the KU women’s team, who [thumped a pretty decent Creighton team last night, 91-56][3] in front of a modest crowd in this same building.The Jayhakws – the women, that is – are now 4-1 and have three more home games in a row, including big names such as Indiana and Marquette on the slate. Of course, it’s hard to read too much into last night’s win since the Jayhawks have had trouble traditionally carrying non-con winning momentum into Big 12 season, but at least they’re setting themselves up to have a chance to change that in 2007-08.Talk to you in a little bit once we’re rollin’. [1]: http://www2.kusports.com/news/2007/nov/26/rush_rescue/?mens_basketball [2]: http://www2.kusports.com/news/2007/nov/28/walters_tickled_return_allen/?mens_basketball [3]: http://www2.kusports.com/news/2007/nov/28/jayhawks_bounce_back_flog_jays/?womens_basketball