THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2008
TEXAS 72, KANSAS 69
5B
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Longhorn teammates pick up guard's slack
BY MARK DENT
mdent@kansan.com
AUSTIN, Texas - Another year, another national player of the year candidate.
That's the way it's gone for the Longhorns. Last season, they had freshman superstar Kevin Durant. He took home more awards than Amy Winehouse.
Earlier this year, Texas guard D.J. Augustin appeared poised to do the same. Now, after struggling in a 72-69 victory against Kansas, his chances of getting national recognition are getting
Russell Robinson, Sherron Collins and Mario Chalmers, who got burned repeatedly by Baylor's Currys ferrilles on Saturday, kept Augustin in front of KU's the entire game, restoring KU's reputation of having a solid defensive backcourt. Augustin's struggles did little to soothe Chalmers' pain.
half. He seemed to spend more time on the floor in the first half than on his feet.
"I think it's frustrating. I figured we could have won, but some other guys stepped up late."
MARIO CHALMERS Kansas Guard
slimmer and slimmer. The Longhorns guard scored just 10 points, 1 of 13 field goals and missed a free throw that would've made Mario Chalemers' heave at the buzzer irrelevant before it flew off target. Not what you would expect from someone regarded as a front-runner for national player of the year two months ago.
Jon Goering/KANSAN
"I think it's frustrating," he said. "I figured we could have won, but some other guys stepped up late."
The game continued Augustin's streak of disappointing performances. He made just 18 of his last
It became obvious Augustin would have a tough night from the very beginning. On his first drive to the hoop, Brandon Rush rejected him, and Augustin fell to the ground. Kansas blocked Augustin twice in the first
61 field goals in the four games before the Kansas game. In one of those games, against Baylor, he scored only nine points.
Junior guard Mario Chaimers and senior guard Russell Robinson nearly steal the ball from Texas guard D.J. Augustin during the final minute of the game. Texas turned the ball over just eight times in the game.
Fatigue might be the problem. Augustin is only 6-feet tall and plays an average of 37 minutes a game. Those minutes take a toll on a small body.
His decline didn't hurt Texas on Monday night, though. Plenty of other players filled in and gave the Longhorns the victory. Connor Atchley didn't miss from the outside, scoring 16 points.
Damion James scored 14 points after sitting for most of the first with foul trouble. A.J. Abrams and Justin Mason helped out, too, getting key offensive rebounds down the stretch
player of the year might be fading, but he and his teammates are doing enough to maintain Texas' reputation as one of the top teams in the country.
in position for a Big 12 title. If the Longhorns can beat Kansas State in Manhattan, they could become favorites for the regular season championship.
Their play kept Texas (20-4, 7-2)
team. They're going to be a team for anybody to play in the tournament that you don't want to get behind late"
"They're good," Kansas coach Bill
Self said. "They have a really good
Augustin's chances for national
—Edited by Katherine Loeck
Kansas
Player FG-FGA 3FG-3FGA
Darrell Arthur 10-16 0-1
Darnell Jackson 5-10 0-0
Russell Robinson 1-6 1-3
Mario Chalmers 3-10 1-5
Brandon Rush 4-9 2-5
Sherron Collins 1-6 0-3
Rodrick Stewart 0-0 0-0
Sasha Kaun 2-4 0-0
Cole Aldrich 1-1 0-0
the HIGH low
HIGHS
BY RUSTIN DODDrdodd@kansan.com
Cole Aldrich helped Kansas outrebound Texas 18-12 before halftime. Kansas' four big guys finished with 41 of Kansas' 69 points.
Kansas' frontcourt
Rebs Pts
6 22
4 13
4 3
1 13
3 10
2 2
0 0
7 4
1 2
Darrell Arthur and Darnell Jackson controlled the game in the first half, combining for 25 points. Arthur, Jackson, Sasha Kaun and
CONNER ATCHLEY
ONE LESS ROAD GAME
The Longhorn's junior forward joined the "1ad the best game of my career against Kansas" club. Aitchley had 16 point on 6-of-6 shooting including, 4-of-4 from beyond the arc.
Kansas has struggled away from the confines of Allen Fieldhouse. The Jayhawks' two losses came on the road to K-State and Texas, and they nearly lost at USC. Kansas returns to Allen Fieldhouse on Saturday.
LOWS
SHOOTING
One game after Kansas went 0-9 from three-point range against Baylor, Kansas made just 23 percent (4-of-17) of its three-pointers.
KANSAS' OUTSIDE
JAYHAWK GUARDS
Mario Chalmers and Brandon Rush scored in double-figures with 13 and 10 points, respectively, but Russell Robinson was held to three points and Sherron Collins made only one basket.
TEXAS' NIKE JERSEYS
Basketball Notes
Nike introduced a jersey design to college basketball last season, and the jerseys continue to look, well, just plain goofy. North Carolina, Arizona, Syracuse and a few other programs are wearing the jerseys, which feature ridiculously baggy shorts and form-fitting tops. Texas guard A.J. Abrams shorts were so baggy it looked like he was wearing M.C. Hammer pants.
There's a reason why Texas is known as a football school. Arguably the loudest cheers at the Erwin Center came from two former gridiron heroes. Aaron Ross, former cornerback, got a standing ovation when he was introduced at halfcourt during a media timeout. He was honored for winning a Super Bowl with
FOOTBALL IS KING
the New York Giants. Vince Young, former quarterback and Longhorn deity, was also in attendance. He now plays for the Tennessee Titans.
first time he's suited up for a road game. Buford considered playing for Texas. Freshman forward Alexis Wangmene, who is Buford's adopted brother, plays for the Longhorns. Beth Buford, the mother of Wangmene and Buford and a KU graduate, was at the game wearing a half-Kansas, half-Texas jersey. Wangmene went scoreless in five minutes. Buford did not play.
Freshman Chase Buford, a walk-on guard, dressed for the game last night, marking the
A GOOD GAME TO SUIT UP FOR
Mark Dent
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Texas
Player FG-FGA 3FG-3FGA Rebs Pts
Damion James 4-8 2-4 13 14
Connor Atchley 6-6 4-4 4 16
A.J. Abrams 5-13 2-8 3 14
D.J. Augustin 1-13 0-2 2 10
Justin Mason 3-8 0-2 8 9
Gary Johnson 2-5 0-0 3 7
Alexis Wangmene 0-0 0-0 0 0
Dexter Pittman 0-0 0-0 0 0
Clint Chapman 1-1 0-0 1 2
the MARKET
Lunch hours only: 10:30 am - 2:00 pm
Jon Goerina/KANSAN
Junior guard Mario Chalmers watches as his last second 2-pointer sallows to the basket during Monday night's game at the Erwin Center in Austin, Calif. Chalmers' shot offs about as time ran out, sealing a 74-69 victory for Texas over Kansas.
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