KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Late in the second half on Saturday, Mario Chalmers’ mind started floating back to a June 2004 day in Colorado Springs.

His USA Youth Developmental team was waiting for a game to end before it took the floor. While Chalmers sat there, he watched Brandon Rush put on a show, scoring 31 points.

Photo Gallery

Kansas Basketball vs. Texas A&M

Photo gallery of Kansas men's basketball game against Texas A&M in the semifinal round of the Big 12 tournament Saturday at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Mo.

“He was hot like this,” Chalmers said. “He was doing everything. Brandon was one of those players who could do anything.”

He could do it all on Saturday, too. In KU’s 77-71 victory against Texas A&M, Rush wasn’t quite as hot as he was in 2004 – at least that’s what Chalmers thought – but the junior guard did come close. He scored a career-high 28 points on nine of 13 field goals, helping his team to a victory and a spot in Sunday’s championship against Texas.

“I was doing everything,” Rush said. I was slashing to the rim, getting to the free throw line, not just making threes like I usually do.”

Rush came out Saturday wanting to do something special. Friday certainly wasn’t worth remembering. Against Nebraska, Rush couldn’t make a shot and admitted playing terribly.

This was Sprint Center. This was Kansas City, his home. Rush couldn’t disappoint again.

After halftime, it became apparent that he wouldn’t leave Kansas fans, family or friends with an empty feeling. Rush made six of eight field goals and three of five three-pointers and didn’t sit on the bench once.

“I wanted to take him out in the second half,” Kansas coach Bill Self said, “but he was just on such a roll.”

As good as Rush was, the Aggies wouldn’t go away. They trailed by only two with 54 seconds left. Russell Robinson scored on a layup to give Kansas a 75-71 lead, but it was Rush who sealed the game with free throws at the end.

Games like these don’t happen too often for Rush. The dominant Rush who Chalmers saw in 2004 has rarely made appearances in college. He’d only led the team in scoring four times this season before Saturday, and Self has pled with Rush to assert himself more often.

But perhaps surprisingly, Rush is finding out that less might be more. He attempted only 13 shots on Saturday, far fewer than he’s taken on less successful days.

“When he lets the game come to him,” Chalmers said, “he’s automatic.”

If that’s the key, Rush is finding out how to play his best just in time. Kansas is one game away from NCAA Tournament play, and these games are likely Rush’s last opportunity to impress NBA scouts. His draft stock plummeted earlier this season as his production lagged, partially because of his injured knee, and most projections had Rush in the second round. A good March run could push him back into the first.

“If we were watching an NBA guard out there today,” Self said, “and if he keeps playing like this or close to it, then I can’t imagine that this would be very impressive for a lot of people down the road.”

But hey, that’s the future. On Sunday, Rush will have to settle for helping his team notch a third straight Big 12 Championship. It’s going to be a test. The Longhorns dominated Kansas on the glass in a 72-69 victory in February. Self even used the s-word (soft) after the loss.

That was the team’s only meeting this season, but Texas and Kansas have played each other in the tournament championship the past two years. The Jayhawks won both of them.

Texas will want revenge for that reason. Kansas will want it because of the February game. And oh yeah, a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament could be on the line.

“Our guys understand it will be one of the more fun games of their career,” Self said. “They’ll be playing for a championship, it will be a great crowd, partisan Kansas, and the stakes will be high.”