So this is how Kansas players view the enemy.

“We’re buddies,” Cole Aldrich said.

“He’s pretty cool,” Darrell Arthur added.

The player they’re talking about it is Michael Beasley, and Aldrich and Arthur might not have those same feelings after they go against him and Kansas State tonight at 7.

Beasley’s the best freshman in the country this year, maybe the best freshman ever. He’s recorded a double-double of points and rebounds in every game except one. He’s probably going to be the No. 1 pick in June’s NBA Draft. He’s as big of a celebrity as is possible in Manhattan but still tells media all he needs in life is a bowl of macaroni and cheese. The Jayhawks will have to stop, or at least contain, the talented and sometimes goofy freshman to keep their undefeated record and win for the 25th time in a row in Manhattan.

It won’t be easy.

Beasley does everything. He shoots. He posts up. He blocks. He rebounds. All of those strengths have earned him monster stats this season. Beasley is averaging 25.3 points, 12.7 boards, 1.7 blocks and 1.3 steals. He’s shooting 56 percent from the field and 38 percent from the three-point line.

Junior guard Brandon Rush watches Beasley all the time on TV. He’s seen how good he is.

“He does it all,” Rush said.

But he can be stopped. Xavier held Beasley to just five points in a December loss. The first step to containing Beasley is not letting him get the ball. The guards have to be active to do that.

Rush, Russell Robinson and Mario Chalmers form one of the best defensive backcourts in the country. Together, they have 120 steals on the year. If they can pressure K-State guards Jacob Pullen, Clent Stewart, Blake Young and forward Bill Walker, the Wildcats will have trouble passing the ball down low to Beasley and will force Beasley to come out further on the perimeter.

“That’s a big key,” Kansas coach Bill Self said about guard play. “We need to do a good job of creating enough havoc where they don’t get easy dishes into the post.”

But will it even matter if they push Beasley out to the perimeter? He may be less effective out there but only slightly.

“He’s going to catch the ball some at three feet,” Self said, “and if he can’t catch it there, he’ll catch it at six. And if he can’t catch it at six, he’ll catch it at nine. He’s just a really good player.”

With that kind of shooting range and versatility, Beasley will tire out whomever’s guarding him. Self said Arthur, Jackson and Kaun would all probably take turns guarding Beasley.

Arthur might be the best man for the job. He played with and against Beasley last summer at the USA U-19 tryouts. Beasley spent most of his free time in Arthur’s room, and the two talented players bonded.

Since then, they’ve gone separate ways on the basketball court. Beasley’s turned into a force. Arthur still plays inconsistently. He only got one rebound against Iowa State just last week. Rush said that’s not the Arthur he watches in practice every day.

“He’s just amazing,” Rush said. “He scores nonstop. He’s unstoppable.”

The aggressive Arthur has been on display lately. He’s scored 18 and 16 points in the last two games. Rush thinks the matchup against Arthur’s friend, Beasley, could elevate Arthur to a new level. Arthur sure hopes so.

“I always believe in myself,” he said.

If Arthur, or anybody, can contain Beasley, the Jayhawks will have a much better opportunity to win, but even if Beasley gets his numbers, Kansas isn’t finished. The Jayhawks weren’t last year when they played Texas’ Kevin Durant.

Durant torched Kansas. Twice. He scored 37 in Allen Fieldhouse and put up the same number in the Big 12 Tournament championship. The Jayhawks won both games. They proved that a stronger team can offset a supremely talented player.

It could happen just like that tonight. Beasley might get his points. He might get his rebounds. He’ll definitely get a fair share of the headlines before and after the game.

All of that’s OK with Rush. He said he’s ready for a matchup between one of the best players and one of the best teams.

“He’s a freshman,” Rush said. “He’s going to get his glory. At the end of the day, we’re going to have the last word.”

He paused.

“I hope.”

— Edited by Jared Duncan