Lawrence, KS (CSTV U-WIRE) -- After four straight victories, back-to-back losses to Kansas State and Missouri appear to be forgotten for the Kansas men's basketball team.

The Jayhawks have their thoughts set on bigger things - like winning the Big 12 Conference.

"From the get-go I thought we were going to be real good," freshman guard Brandon Rush said. "Everything would start to come along and it has, so we are proving people wrong. They said we were going to get killed in Big 12 play and what are we, third? Second. That's good."

The Jayhawks are tied for second place in the Big 12 Conference and are only a half game back of Texas.

The Big 12 Championship, which seemed like an extreme thought two weeks ago, is now in plain sight.

"I think the appearance was, from our stand point a week and a half ago or two weeks ago, that we might lose contact with the leaders, particularly Texas," Kansas coach Bill Self said.

Kansas has also won 10 of its last 12 games.

"Everyone is just stepping up every game and getting a team effort points-wise, rebounding-wise and assists-wise," sophomore guard Russel Robinson said.

Self said even though the team has improved, it still didn't fully understand the importance of every possession on the offensive side of the ball. He said it's been an extremely fun team to be around lately.

Kansas has nine remaining games - five in Allen Fieldhouse and four on the road. This weekend's game against Oklahoma will be important for the conference standings. The Sooners are 4-2 in conference play and have won four straight, including an 82-72 victory against conference-leading Texas last weekend. Kansas also will play Texas in Austin in a few weeks, which could decide how the top of the Big 12 shapes up.

"That is one of our goals, is to win the Big 12 and we just try to take it one game at a time, prepare for each game, and I think we have done a good job of that so far," Robinson said.

If it weren't for Oklahoma beating Texas, Kansas would be further back in the conference race. Robinson said he watched the Oklahoma-Texas game Saturday night.

"I kind of wanted them to win, to kind of make the game on Sunday more interesting," Robinson said.

Self said the chances of winning the Big 12 and keeping up in the conference standings depended on the outcome on Sunday against Oklahoma.

"A win on Sunday would certainly enhance ours because I don't think Texas is going to lose very many games," Self said.

(C) 2006 University Daily Kansan via CSTV U-WIRE