Bill Self’s Kansas Jayhawks passed the test. They took the game Texas had circled on their calendar and survived. Their hard-fought 80-68 victory over the Longhorns in Austin, Texas on February 8th gave KU a three-game lead in the Big 12 conference with seven games left. The game was physical throughout, with 22 blocked shots and 16 steals between the two teams. Kansas center Cole Aldrich played only 26 minutes and fouled out for the first time in his career. His fifth foul came after an elbow struck Texas forward Damian James in the head, and James responded in anger when Aldrich attempted to apologize. Marcus Morris dislocated a finger seven minutes into the game and had to receive treatment before returning.
Texas started the game strong, bolting to a 14-8 lead on the strength of two Damian James three-point baskets. Kansas responded with a 22-0 push that broke the game open and the Longhorns never seriously threatened again. KU led by as many as 19 points before Texas trimmed the margin to eight, late in the second half. They couldn’t get closer, however, and the Jayhawks maintained their double-digit lead throughout most of the game.
Kansas versus Texas showcased the talents of the two most-hyped freshmen in the Big 12 conference: KU’s Xavier Henry and Texas’ Avery Bradley. Henry shook off the effects of a month-long shooting slump and produced solid numbers with fifteen points, five rebounds, a steal and a blocked shot. Bradley didn’t fare as well with three points, three turnovers and four fouls in 35 minutes of play. The matchup also featured the clash of big men Cole Aldrich and Dexter Pittman, who dueled in the paint but weren’t particularly effective against each other. Aldrich tallied seven points, five rebounds, six blocks and five fouls in 26 minutes. Pittman countered with three points, three rebounds and four blocked shots in 21 minutes. Despite the relatively poor games of the big men, both clogged the lanes defensively and made it difficult for the guards to penetrate.
For Kansas fans, it was everything a big game against a rival was supposed to be: an intense road win that cemented the Jayhawks claim to #1, both in the Big 12 and the nation. It was a step toward separating themselves from every squad in the country except Kentucky and Syracuse. It demonstrated that Kansas can play a very good team on the road and take control—something they failed to do in their overtime wins at Kansas State and Colorado.
The game solidified KU’s reputation as the deepest team in the land. The Morris twins (Marcus and Markieff) now produce solid numbers every night, and Marcus could challenge for all-conference honors if he maintains his high level of play. Tyshawn Taylor has quietly returned to making a positive contribution to the team. Brady Morningstar and Tyrel Reed are more confident players than they were a year ago, contributing with fine outside shooting and mistake-free ball handling. KU is so deep their talented freshman class sees little court time, although Jeff Withey has logged some minutes in recent games.
For Texas, it revealed their flaws. Texas is limited offensively, relying too much on Damian James for scoring. Avery Bradley and Jordan Hamilton have the ability to score but are still too inconsistent. Dexter Pitman is an imposing presence but has no stamina and a limited feel for the game. Dogus Balbay excels on defense, but is such a reluctant shooter he disrupts the Longhorns’ offense. Justin Mason and Jai Lucas may not have the skills to be major contributors.
Amidst the chaos were signs of hope for Texas. J’Covan Brown led all players in scoring with 28 points—26 in the second half. If he continues to play well, he might join Avery Bradley in the lineup at guard and bolster the offense with his shooting. Another reliable scoring threat will take pressure off James and minimize double-teams in the post. Texas defends extremely well—they just need to find more ways to score. However, Coach Rick Barnes is running out of time to figure out which players on his team deserve to be in the rotation and needs to make his adjustments quickly.
The Big 12 Conference race isn’t over, even with Kansas’ three game lead over Kansas State and Texas A&M (two future opponents). They play Kansas State and travel to Texas A&M and Missouri. Texas can still be a factor, but they have to play to their capabilities immediately. If the Big 12 Tournament started today, they would be in fifth place and far removed from their number one national ranking, a mere two weeks ago. If they drop another game or two before righting their ship, it will be too late for them. Both teams have the ability to meet their preseason expectations, but Kansas looks much closer to doing that than Texas.
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