By Wendell Barnhouse | wendell@big12sports.com Big12Sports.com Correspondent
AUSTIN, Texas - Well, we know it's not the uniforms.
Texas debuted their new Nike HyperElite uniforms that are 70 percent lighter. Instead of making the 14th-ranked Longhorns 70 percent quicker or better, they performed like the old unis.
Top-ranked Kansas, wearing regular old duds, had no problem disposing of Texas in a Big Monday showdown that turned into a beat down. The Jayhawks (23-1, 9-0) disposed of the Longhorns, 80-68.
Obviously, clothes don't make the team. Players do. Kansas, which started the season No. 1 and fell to No. 3 after a loss at Tennessee, displayed all the prerequisites of a conference champion and Final Four contender. With senior guard Sherron Collins and junior center Cole Aldrich shooting a combined 5-of-23, the Jayhawks proved they are a complete team.
"I would never thought we could come to Texas and win with our two best players shooting like that," Kansas coach Bill Self said.
The game turned on a dominant 22-0 KU run in the first half. Former Oklahoma State coach Eddie Sutton, who attended the game with his son Sean, said he had never seen a visiting team go on that kind of blitz.
The Longhorns started junior forward Gary Johnson in place of senior guard Justin Mason. UT's traditional two guards, two forwards and a center lineup was designed to provide more low post scoring.
Playing small forward, Damion James helped Texas build a 14-8 lead at the 14:08 mark by making two 3-pointers and a layup. It would be nearly 11 minutes before the Longhorns scored again.
During KU's 22-0 run, seven different players scored. Texas had 16 possessions, missed 14 shots - several of those were forced - and committed seven turnovers.
"After the game I told our guys that if we could understand one aspect about why we lsot this game it's assists to turnovers," Texas coach Rick Barnes said, alluding to his teams six assists versus 17 giveaways. "We need to value the basketball. We were careless in that stretch. We over dribbled it. We're not gonna make some of thee shots we took."
Collins capped the 22-0 run with a downtown rain maker 3-pointer - his only three of the game. He wind up sprawled on the floor but as Texas called a timeout, he headed to the Kansas bench where he body bumped Marcus Morris.
Morris had 18 and freshman Xavier Henry added 15 with some tough inside baskets.
"I didn't know we went on a 22-0 run," Henry said. "I knew we were scoring and playing good defense."
Morris described it this way: "They came out and punched us in the mouth and we punched back."
Indeed. Kansas had a 45-34 rebounding edge and scored 27 points off UT's 17 turnovers.
"This is the worst we're gonna play," said James, who finished with 24 points. "Once we get back on top of the hill, it will get a lot better."
With 12:26 remaining and Kansas holding a 12-point lead, James had made 7-of-11 shots and his teammates were 5-of-28. James had 18 points and no other Texas player had more than four. Conversely, Kansas had no players in double figures but seven with five or more points.
"It was a weird game, there was never any rhythm either way," Self said. "It feels good to win a muddy game. Texas isn't playing like they're capable of playing and that can turn overnight."
If that's going to happen, it appears that Barnes is about to turn the offense over to freshman J'Covan Brown. He came off the bench to score 28 points in 32 minutes. 22 of those points came in the last nine minutes.
"We thought all year he could be the guy who could lead us," Barnes said. "We needed him to truly understood what he needs to do. The last couple of games, he's started to figure it out. But he's still careless with the ball. He throws it around like it doesn't mean anything."
Classic example: A 12-3 Texas run cut KU's lead to 64-56 with 3:38 remaining. Tyshawn Taylor missed two free throws but Brown was called for carrying the ball. After Henry made two free throws, Brown forced a wild drive and missed. End of rally. And three minutes later, end of game.
