The way Kansas coach Bill Self looks at it, Craig Brackins’ trip to Lawrence tonight isn’t all bad news.

Brackins scored 42 points against the Jayhawks when they traveled to Ames, Iowa, to play the Cyclones in January. From Self’s perspective, it can’t get much worse when Kansas (20-5, 9-1) takes on Iowa State (13-12, 2-8) at 7 p.m.

“We’ve left ourselves some wiggle room to try to hold him under 42,” Self said.

But Self isn’t offering any predictions. Not when it comes to Brackins’ production. Self knows that if Brackins gets into a rhythm, he can be unstoppable.

Self said he was convinced that was part of the issue in Kansas’ 82-67 victory against Iowa State earlier in the season. Brackins’ outburst wasn’t totally the Jayhawks’ fault.

“After watching the tape, he made some hard shots,” Self said. “We probably guarded him better than what I thought, but he was really good that day.”

The first problem for Kansas is matching up with Brackins, a 6-foot-10, 230-pound forward from Palmdale, Calif. All of Kansas’ forwards are at a disadvantage against Brackins.

Freshmen forwards Marcus and Markieff Morris aren’t great defenders, and Brackins is quicker than both of the twins. Self uses junior guard Mario Little as a forward, but Brackins towers over the 6-foot-5 Little.

Marcus might be the best option because he spent most of the first game guarding Brackins. Marcus said he could use what he learned in that game to improve in the second round.

“I know what kind of a player he is now,” Marcus said. “I know that the best thing is not even letting him catch it.”

Throughout the season, Self has usually opted to stick sophomore guard Brady Morningstar on the opposing team’s best player. Self says Morningstar is the Jayhawks’ best defender.

So could Morningstar get a shot at guarding Brackins? Nope. The size disadvantage would be too much for the 6-foot-3 Morningstar.

“He might be a little too tall,” Morningstar said. “The first game, obviously, he just had a heck of a game and killed us in every way. Hopefully this Wednesday we can contain him a little better.”

Morningstar’s suggestions for slowing Brackins include denying entry passes and getting a hand in his face to contest every shot. The Jayhawks also need to keep him off the free-throw line, as Brackins made 17 of 21 attempts in the first game.

Marcus, who fouled out in 19 minutes against Brackins in January, is trying to keep all that in mind. Marcus knows how important guarding Brackins will be.

“If we take him out of the game, it’s going to be hard for them to beat us,” Marcus said. “I think that’s going to be the main thing I focus on — forget about scoring — just defending him.”

Brackins will score. The only question is how much. If Kansas could hold him below his Big 12 average of 22 points, it would be a success.

Brackins takes 36 percent of his team’s shots. He has scored in double digits in 23 of the Cyclones’ 25 games this season. This is why Self won’t make any guarantees. He’s promising only effort.

“We’ll try to come up with some ways to limit his good touches, but he’s going to score some points,” Self said. “He’s scored pretty much against everybody.”

— — Edited by Brandy Entsminger