DETROIT – Maybe all those folks concerned about Brandon Rush’s midseason sloppiness aren’t that into history. Sure, Rush’s pattern of inconsistency has always been infuriating – especially for Kansas’ coach Bill Self.

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Kansas Basketball vs. Villinova

Photo gallery of Kansas's Sweet 16 game against Villinova Saturday, March 29, 2008.

But if you’re into patterns, check out the one that surfaced against Villanova on Friday. For the fifth game in a row, Kansas played its most important game of the season. And for the fifth consecutive game, Brandon Rush showed up in a big way.

Kansas’ junior guard led Kansas with 16 points and added three rebounds in 28 minutes in Kansas 72-57 victory against Villanova.

“He was knocking down shots, he was grabbing rebounds and playing great defense,” junior guard Mario Chalmers said. “That’s always Brandon for you.”

In a night that featured the largest crowd ever for an NCAA Regional, and a surprising upset in the first game, Rush made sure that Davidson’s 73-56 victory against Wisconsin would be the only upset of the night. The 57,028 fans who braved the poor sightlines and bad views inside Detroit’s football stadium turned basketball arena known as Ford Field were reminded of a couple things.

One of those being the fact that there’s a reason Brandon Rush has his mug splashed on the cover of magazines like Sports Illustrated. Brandon Rush can play a little. And in big games, its seems that Rush can play a lot.

“That’s just his mentality,” Chalmers said. “Anytime the spotlights on him he wants to put on a show.”

Rush helped Kansas build a 41-22 halftime lead with 11 first half points, often times scoring his points in ways foreign to Rush. Rush finished one-of-four from the three-point line in the first half, but he was able to attack the basket and use his mid-range game to hurt Villanova.

Rush missed his first shot, but his fist two points in the score book might have the most exciting of the night.

Rush caught an errant alley-oop pass from Russell Robinson that ricocheted of the backboard, finishing the awkward catch with a dunk.

“I timed it perfect,” Rush said. “I guess it was just one of them lucky alley-oops.”

Of course, it might not be breaking news that Rush loves playing in crucial games. But it’s easy to get caught up in Rush’s sub-par performances. And he still occasionally catches the ire of Self.

Exhibit No. 1. With Kansas leading Villanova by double-digits with 8:20 left in the second half, Rush’s focus started to slip – well, at least Self thought so.

“Come on Brandon wake up,” Self yelled from the bench.

Sitting in Kansas’ locker room after the game Rush said he could tell Self wasn’t pleased with Kansas’ second half performance.

“I think we lost our focus,” Rush said.

“We made some stupid plays, just giving the ball up. I gave the ball up like three or four times.”

So Rush giveth, and Rush taketh away. But another big game awaits Kansas on Sunday, and for Rush, that’s all the motivation he needs.

“People expected us to be here. They expected us to be in the Elite Eight,” Rush said. “They expect us to go all the way to Final Four, so we’re not happy with where we are at right now. But we’re here, and we got work to do.”