Burnt Orange: Texas Hooked By Kansas, Season Sinks To New Low

The once invincible and mighty 14th-ranked Texas Longhorns have dropped their fifth contest in their last seven appearances. The thud has been heard loud and clear throughout the Big 12. 

The slide continued Monday night when the top-ranked Kansas Jayhawks dismantled the 'Horns in Austin 80-68.

Oklahoma (unranked), Baylor (unranked), UConn (No. 21 at the time), and (No. 9) Kansas State have all dealt Rick Barnes' unit losses within the last three weeks.

After picking apart the North Carolina Tarheels on Dec. 19 (103-90) and the Michigan State Spartans (79-68) on Dec. 22, the Longhorns looked like the nation's juggernaut—unstoppable and dangerous.

Dexter Pittman was dominant, beastly, and intimidating. Now, he appears average and at just barely half of his former self.

A month and a half later, Pittman and company are hobbling, injured, and confused.

The Jayhawks smothered Pittman, allowing him to score only three points and effectively making him a non-factor in the paint with only three boards.

Bill Self's triple scoring threat of Marcus Morris (18 points), Sherron Collins (15), and Xavier Henry (15) gave Barnes' guys fits all night, accounting for nearly 70 percent of the Jayhawk offense.

Texas has had a recent qualm with guarding the three-ball, allowing Self's squad to light them up from beyond the arc (42 percent, 6-for-13)—but it didn't start with the birds.

The Sooners shot 41 percent, UConn sank threes to the tune of 40 percent, and the list goes on. Not to mention, Texas shot a meager 37 percent from the charity stripe against the Sooners—that won't win games, especially during March. 

Perimeter defense, defending three-pointers, and getting Pittman back on cycle will be paramount for the Longhorns in the coming weeks.

The deep ball is killing the 'Horns, evident of their unprecedented skid. Once top-ranked and sitting high, the swagger of the team is missing, and it seems like it forgot how to "D" up.

Texas (5-4, 19-5) will still be a threat come tournament time, but it's dropping like a lead balloon, and it must be stopped before it gets too out of hand. It can win at home (12-2), but with four of its last seven Big 12 games on the road, it's time to reevaluate its game plan when away from the Erwin Center.

Fortunately for Barnes' crew, his team won't be solely reliant on Pittman for success, but it would help if the once menacing 6'10" 290 pound center would channel the December version of himself.

Solid guard-play from Avery Bradley (12.5 ppg) and G/F Damion James (17.8), accompanied by J'Covan Brown's recent explosion, should have Barnes' team in good shape for the tourney—it just needs some re-tooling.