Take the tattoo on Mario Little’s right bicep literally.

It’s an Air Jordan logo with writing around it that reads, “quality inspired by the greatest player ever.” Like most youths growing up in Chicago, Little, junior guard, idolized Michael Jordan for leading the Bulls to six NBA Championships in the 1990s. Unlike most of them, Little molded the majority of his game after the one he considers the greatest.

That fadeaway midrange jumper Little loves to shoot? Yeah, that’s vintage Jordan. Little learned the shot by studying Jordan.

“I used to watch Hakeem Olajuwon, too,” Little said. “He had a pretty nice one too. But I got it from Jordan.”

Jordan’s jumper has helped Kansas spring out to a 4-0 start in Big 12 Conference play. Little has made 11 consecutive shots from the field, a streak that’s lasted more than three games.

Little has scored a combined 24 points in the Jayhawks’ past two games despite playing only 26 minutes off the bench as he continues to get back into shape after injuries to his lower left leg and left hand.

The way he’s done it is what impresses teammates and Kansas coach Bill Self. He’s made only one three-pointer and a handful of layups. Most of the points have come from 15-to-18-foot jump shots.

“I really believe he shoots it better than what I thought before he got here,” Self said. “He’s got a nice stroke and it’s soft.”

Little wants to be like Mike, but different from everyone else. That’s why Little has stuck with the midrange game.

In high school, Little noticed a lot of players were relying on attacking the rim or gunning three-pointers from the perimeter. But his coaches told him not to conform.

It would make him unique. It would make him valuable. Little kept shooting turnaround jumpers and fadeaways from outside the paint.

“It’s a shot I know I can make nine times out of 10,” Little said. “That’s a shot I take if it’s open.”

Little’s midrange jumper has added a new dimension to the Jayhawk attack. Junior guard Sherron Collins, sophomore center Cole Aldrich and freshman guard Tyshawn Taylor were accounting for nearly 60 percent of Kansas’ points before Little returned.

Collins and Taylor score the majority of their points driving the lane or hitting three-pointers. Aldrich muscles out points below the basket. Little’s offensive skill set is new to the team.

“He’s kind of got a little old school game to him,” Self said. “There are a lot more three-point shooters than there are midrange players right now.”

Self and the Jayhawks have referred to Little as a “missing piece.” At the beginning of the season Self expected Little, the Big 12 Preseason Newcomer of the Year, to be one of Kansas’ main sources of production.

It took longer than anticipated, but it seems Little — and his Jordan-inspired jumpers — has arrived and is here to stay.

“If he continues to keep playing the way he is playing, then we are going to be really good,” Taylor said. “This is what we’ve been waiting for.”

— — Edited by Susan Melgren