Kansas vs Texas Preview/LIVE Stream: Jayhawks Visit Longhorns Trying to Stay Unbeaten in Big 12
ByAt this point, the Kansas Jayhawks' (6) four losses seem flukey, now that they have won seven in a row, all against Big-12 opponents, but the Texas Longhorns (25) will try and end that streak.
Kansas' last loss came on Jan. 5 hosting San Diego State, the last game before conference play began. Since, they have won all seven of their Big 12 matchups. The team has also dealt with a schedule packed with ranked opponents, but that has done little to faze the young team, surprisingly enough.
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Of their four losses, two were to ranked opponents, compared to six wins. Kansas coach Bill Self had to deal with growing pains early on, especially with young stars Andrew Wiggins and Joel Embiid. But now the team is hitting their stride at just the right time.
"We have grown, but we're just now to the middle of the season. That's what's so strange," Self told reporters, according to the Associated Press. "The big thing is that we're playing with more energy and we're starting to understand how we're going to score - not just running an offense to run an offense. We're not a tough team by any stretch, but are playing tougher than we did earlier in the season."
Texas is also battle-tested in the Big 12, having won five in a row, including three straight against ranked opponents. They do not seem able to match the offensive firepower of Kansas and will have to find a way to stop Wiggins and Embiid, two of college basketball's hottest players.
Wiggins is averaging 24 points per game over his team's last three and Embiid has given Kansas an intimidating force in the post on both ends of the court.
Texas is much improved from last year, having already matched their total wins. Coach Rick Barnes said he told his team they still have to prove they are ready to be contenders in a highly competitive conference.
"We'll find out," he said. "I said, 'Guys, what's fun about this is if you want to be really good, when you really find out how tough you are is when people are now coming after you.' But I still think we are the kind of team that we have to stay on edge all the time."