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Rush goes for second straight strong performance for Kansas

Nov 15, 2006 - 5:15 PM Oral Roberts (0-1) at No. 3 Kansas (1-0) 8:00 pm EST

LAWRENCE, Kansas (Ticker) - Brandon Rush flexed his muscles in the season opener and propelled Kansas to a terrific start.

The third-ranked Jayhawks look to open a campaign with a 2-0 mark for the fourth time in five seasons and win their ninth straight home game Wednesday when they host Oral Roberts.

A sophomore guard, the 6-6 Rush was named the preseason All-Big 12 Player of the Year and has been nominated for the John Wooden Award. He led the team in scoring (13.5), rebounding (5.9), and was named the conference Freshman of the Year last season.

Rush made 9-of-14 shots and scored 21 points and Julian Wright added 16 to lead the Jayhawks to their 34th consecutive season-opening victory, a 91-57 rout over Northern Arizona.

Sherron Collins scored 14 points and Darrell Arthur and Darnell Jackson added 12 for the Jayhawks, who forced 21 turnovers and limited Northern Arizona to 33 percent (20-of-60) shooting from the floor.

Coming off last season's 21-12 mark, Oral Roberts struggled in the second half of Friday's 68-65 loss to Loyola Marymount in its season opener.

Ken Tutt made 10-of-21 shots and scored 26 points and Caleb Green added 12 with 12 rebounds for his 47th career double-double for the Golden Eagles, who shot just 33 percent (9-of-27) in the final 20 minutes.

Kansas has won seven of the 10 encounters against Oral Roberts, including a 140-72 triumph January 14, 1993. The second-widest margin of victory in Jayhawks history.