Texas Longhorns

Texas coach Mack Brown released a statement on the passing of legendary former Penn State coach Joe Paterno:

"I've known Coach Paterno since I started coaching. Sally and I built a great relationship with him and Sue over the last 10 to 15 years, and we shared many great times. I know our lives are better because we had the opportunity to spend time with them. He was a gift to us, and when we heard the sad news today, we both openly wept, not only because college football lost a great man, but we lost a great friend. I appreciate all of the advice, the attention and the time he's given us over the years. We will miss him dearly and will always cherish the wonderful memories. College football will be left with a major void because he has done so much for our game and for Penn State. It's a very sad day, and with his passing, we have lost one of the greatest coaches our game, and all sports, will ever have. He leaves us with great stories, memories and records that may never be broken. There will never be another Joe Paterno. Our thoughts and prayers are with Sue and the family."

How the game was won: Kansas, which had flexed its muscle inside all day, did so again when the game was on the line. Trailing by one with less than a minute left, Kansas forward Thomas Robinson pushed his way into the paint and forced a double team. When the double team arrived Robinson flicked the ball to the waiting hands of Jeff Withey. The center went strong and was fouled.

That cushion was enough for Kansas, which trailed by four with 3:21 left, to grab the 69-66 win at the Frank Erwin Center Saturday.

For the game, Kansas had 32 points in the paint. And those buckets served as a stabilizing factor as Texas continued to make runs at the Jayhawks. But each time Texas got close or even took the lead, the Jayhawks went back inside and either converted or made it to the free throw line.

Kansas was only able to covert 14 of those 23 free throws and that allowed Texas to hang in the game.

When it was over: Later than many expected. Texas had chances down the stretch in large part because of J'Covan Brown's ability to create and get his shot off in the final eight minutes. The junior guard hit two three pointers, sandwiched around a running baseline layup to give the Longhorns a 64-60 lead with less than three minutes to go.

But Brown may have been too hot for his own good as he took an ill-advised runner with 11 seconds to go and Texas trailing by two, 68-66.

Texas had one more shot at tying the game but an off balance three from Brown fell short.

Stat of the game: Texas' leading scorer J'Covan Brown missed his first five shots and was 1-of-8 in the first half. Brown was struggling to get open looks as Kansas continually doubled him off screens and pushed him outside the three-point line with his dribble. But Brown didn't stop attacking the basket. The conference's leading scorer got hot in the second half and carried Texas to a brief 64-60 lead with less than three minutes to go. Brown finished with 24 points, five more than his average, on 7 of 26 shooting.

What it means for Texas: The Longhorns have to have a signature win if they want to continue their streak of NCAA tournament appearances. They do not yet have that type of win. In fact, in big games, Texas has suffered narrow losses reaching all the way back to the overtime loss to Oregon State in the non-conference portion of the schedule. Texas has now dropped three straight conference games as well and is 2-4 overall. With two of their next three games being against top five teams -- at Baylor and home against Missouri -- Texas has to find a way to pull an upset in order to strengthen their RPI and turn the heads of the selection committee.

What it means for Kansas: Not much. While this would have been a bad loss for the No. 7 Jawyhawks, the win is nothing that raises the eyebrows. Kansas is supposed to win games like these. After all, the Jayhawks have won seven straight Big 12 titles. Kansas is more concerned with staying healthy and being ready for its games against Missouri and on the road at Baylor.

The season's over, so it's time to take stock of what the Big 12 has to get done between now and next season.

Here's the list from last year. All things considered, I'd say the Big 12 did pretty well on most fronts.

Figure out who's in and who's out: That's the big question hanging over the Big 12 for now. West Virginia and the Big 12 have every intention of joining forces in 2012, but until the Big East lawsuits are settled, they can't make it official. Otherwise, we may be waiting a while to see the Mountaineers wearing the Big 12 crest on their uniforms and playing on fields and courts with the logo. Truth be told, the Big 12 won't miss Missouri or Texas A&M nearly as bad as it will national power Nebraska. But TCU and West Virginia are both in good position to play well and make it easier to forget the SEC-bound Tigers and Aggies.

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AUSTIN, Texas -- Before Texas started its five-game, 12-day trip through the toughest part of its schedule, J'Covan Brown implored his teammates to walk into each game with a chip on his shoulder.

That chip is carrying a little less weight after Wednesday. Texas lost the first of the five, 84-80 to Kansas State. Next up is No. 7 Kansas. Then comes Iowa State, a team that has already beaten Texas. Followed by No. 3 Baylor, and finally there is No. 5 Missouri, again another team that has already beaten Texas.

By the end of the run through the Big 12’s best, Texas might need to forget about carrying a chip on its shoulder and find a shoulder to cry on instead. And they might want to save a few tears for the end of the regular season.

The way things are shaping up, Texas (12-6, 2-3) appears in serious jeopardy of missing the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 14 years. But those are woes for later. The here and now concerns center around Texas maturing and playing with an attitude.

“We’re not going to let anybody walk over us,” Brown said. “If you’re going to play us, you’re going to play on our terms.”

That all sounds good. And, as a junior, Brown probably means what he said and is able to puts some action behind those words.

However, not everyone is able to play up to Brown’s standard for 40 minutes. Take freshman point guard Myck Kabongo. He has had flashes of brilliance in the last two games and notched back-to-back double-doubles. But Texas has lost both of those games because Kabogno had ill-timed turnovers and allowed the opponent’s defense to dictate how he sets up the Texas offense.

Brown said, in order for the offense to run correctly, things have to be settled by the point guard, and that “everybody is not trying to make that big play.”

Texas has to figure out who its playmakers are. Brown clearly is one. He leads the conference with 19.2 points per game and can seemingly get his shot off at any time. But most of the top teams have a complementary scorer or even a third option. Kansas has Thomas Robinson and Tyshawn Taylor. Missouri has Marcus Denmon, Kim English and Ricardo Ratliffe. Baylor has Quincy Acy, Pierre Jackson and Quincy Miller.

Texas has Brown and a collection of freshmen players -- Sheldon McClellan, Julien Lewis and Kabongo -- who have shot 35 percent in five conference games.

Still, as bad as that appears, Texas has had chances to win on the road at Kansas State, Missouri and Iowa State.

Texas had the ball, down two, with 20 seconds left against Kansas State when Kabongo turned the ball over. Texas was within five against Missouri midway through the second half before three turnovers in four possessions allowed the Tigers to take control down the stretch.

“We have to execute our offense,” assistant coach Chris Ogden said.

“We can’t play outside of that offense,” added senior Clint Chapman.

Texas also has to forget about whom they are facing the next four games or what has happened in the last two games.

“You’ve got to play,” Ogden said. “You’ve got to figure out the things that are making us lose and change some things.”

If Texas doesn’t, the one that is going to change is its streak of postseason appearances.