Top-Ranked Texas Unbeaten No More, Loses To No. 10 Kansas State

Burnt Orange Nation: Now Let's Focus On The Team's Problems

When you are the number one team in the nation, you have a tendency to forget your own weaknesses. Oh sure, the coach keeps mentioning them, but when you’re number one, are you really going to listen as attentively? How can you when everyone around you — your friends, most of your fans, the media — is already anointing you?

Those problems don’t go away, however, until you fix them, and there’s no better time for a team to fix its problems than after a loss. At least that’s what Burnt Orange Nation, SB Nation’s Texas blog, hopes.

So that’s it. We can get all the Number 1 nonsense out of our heads and worry about fixing the actual problems that this team has. Dexter Pittman has crawled into a dark cave and replaced himself with some kind of clumsy facsimile that misses bunnies and can’t stay on the floor because of foul trouble. All of our scorers are struggling with turnovers, and now it’s starting to come at exactly the wrong moments (granted any moment looks like a bad moment for a turnover when you lose). We have been dominated in the paint for two games straight. I still wouldn’t bet that we shoot better than 50% from the line with much confidence. We have yet to find a go-to guy when we need a three at a crucial moment.

All of this is true, and it’s all bad, but let’s take a step back and look at what this team has accomplished to date: 17 straight wins, the first Number 1 ranking in program history, back-to-back wins over top 10 teams, one of which moved up the ballots since then, and a 2-1 start in a stacked Big 12 conference. This team has accomplished more than I expected to this point, but they are puzzlingly playing at a level below what I had hoped for at this stage. Call it growing pains as the freshman learn just how tough it’s going to be to win on the road in the Big 12 from here on out. While it was frustrating watching J’Covan Brown repeatedly throw away our last hopes for a comeback, let me first get a few things out of the way that helped to make this one of the worst experiences of my life, at least so far as those things that are under the control of people who should be trying to avoid such an occurrence.

Longhorn fans therefore are hoping short-term pain (last night’s loss) leads to long-term gain.

No. 10 Kansas State Uses Second-Half Surge To Upset No. 1 Texas

Manhattan, KS (Sports Network) – Jamar Samuels poured in 20 points and pulled down 12 rebounds as 10th-ranked Kansas State surged in the second half to send No. 1 Texas to its first loss of the season, 71-62, at Bramlage Coliseum.

Curtis Kelly added 17 points and Jacob Pullen netted 12 for the Wildcats (16-2, 3-1 Big 12), who won their third in a row. It was just their third-ever win against a No. 1 ranked team (3-12) and their first since January 17, 1994 against Kansas.

The loss by the Longhorns (17-1, 3-1) leaves Kentucky as the lone unbeaten team.

Texas, which had the game tied with under seven minutes left, was hurt by going 9-of-22 from the foul line. Avery Bradley led the Longhorns with 11 points, but no other Texas player scored in double figures. Texas finished shooting 36.8 percent from the field.

Longhorns season leading scorer Damion James was limited to nine points on 3- of-12 shooting.

No. 1 Texas Faces Tough Test At No. 10 Kansas State

GAME NOTES: The top-ranked Texas Longhorns survived a scare on Saturday to remain unbeaten, and they figure to be tested again tonight by a tough Kansas State squad in a Big 12 Conference showdown.

Texas earned the top spot in the national rankings for the first time in program history last week, and visiting Texas A&M nearly took that honor away as quickly as it was bestowed. Fortunately, the Longhorns escaped on Saturday with a 72-67 overtime win to improve to 17-0 for the first time since the 1932-33 season. The club's current 17-game win streak is tied for the fourth longest is school history, and Texas is 3-0 in Big 12 action thus far.

Kansas State has lost just twice this season, and the squad has 15 victories to its credit. The last two outings have resulted in triumphs for the Wildcats, who are coming off an 87-81 road victory over Colorado. K-State is a perfect 10-0 at home and doesn't figure to be intimidated by the 'Horns tonight.

The Wildcats hold a narrow 10-9 edge over the Longhorns in the all-time series, and the clubs split a pair of meetings last season.

Through 17 games, Texas is scoring 87.2 ppg on 49.4 percent shooting from the floor, and the team is limiting its opponents to 64.5 ppg on 36.9 percent field goal efficiency. Damion James is the leading scorer for the 'Horns, as he is netting 17.8 ppg to go along with 11.2 rpg. Dexter Pittman adds muscle up front with 12.8 ppg and 6.5 rpg, and Avery Bradley checks in with 12.2 ppg. Rounding out a foursome of double-digit scorers is J'Covan Brown with 11.1 ppg. James was outstanding in the hard-fought victory over Texas A&M on Saturday, as he tallied a season-high 26 points, 12 boards and three blocks. Gary Johnson posted season-highs of 18 points and 10 rebounds in a reserve role, and Brown added 14 points and 10 boards off the bench. Texas only turned the ball over nine times and earned a 21-13 edge in points from the foul line. Those positives helped the team overcome its 35.3 percent field goal efficiency.

Like Texas, Kansas State boasts four double-digit scorers. Jacob Pullen is shooting a stellar 44.4 percent from three-point range, and he is netting 19.7 ppg to go along with 57 assists and 26 steals. Denis Clemente provides 14.9 ppg, and Jamar Samuels checks in with 12.1 ppg. As for Curtis Kelly, he provides 11.1 ppg and 6.2 rpg. The Wildcats are generating 83.1 ppg while allowing 68.7 ppg on 41.4 percent field goal efficiency to opponents. Strong rebounding has been key to the success for K-State, which is ripping down seven more boards per contest than the opposition. Pullen paced a group of five double-digit scorers with 18 points against Colorado on Saturday. The Wildcats overcame 17 turnovers with the help of a 44-27 rebounding advantage and a 38-27 edge in points from the foul line.

Texas will suffer its first loss of the season tonight to a Kansas State team that is supremely confident and well-balanced. Pullen will gain some much- deserved national exposure.

GAME NOTES: The top-ranked Texas Longhorns survived a scare on Saturday to remain unbeaten, and they figure to be tested again tonight by a tough Kansas State squad in a Big 12 Conference showdown.

FACTS & STATS: Site: Bramlage Coliseum (13,340) -- Manhattan, Kansas. Television: ESPN. Home Record: Texas 11-0, Kansas St. 10-0. Away Record: Texas 3-0, Kansas St. 2-1. Neutral Record: Texas 3-0, Kansas St. 3-1. Conference Record: Texas 3-0, Kansas St. 2-1. Series Record: Kansas State leads, 10-9.

Kansas State 84, Texas 77