A few quick thoughts before the Horns head to Manhattan to take on Michael Beasley and his likely tournament-bound Wildcats.

1) A thought-provoking diary earlier in the week by longhorn00 comparing DJ vs. TJ Ford. The peanut gallery seems to come down on the side of TJ, and there's certainly reasons to support that assesment. I don't think the comparison is apples to apples because of their contrasting styles of play, but let's take a look at the numbers to see if there's any glaring differences. To the numbers, which of course, don't tell the whole story. Before I share, allow me to ask you (don't cheat), where do you expect TJ to beat out DJ statistically? I'm guessing you said A) assists B) steals C) wins vs. losses

Let's take a look to see if you (and I, because that's what I thought as well too before looking) were right:

TJ (two-year averages here, guys): Pts per game: 12.9; Assists per game: 8.0; Turnovers per game: 3.6!; FG%, 3PT FG %, FT %: .406%, .228%, .801%.; Steals per game: 2.09 (nice)

DJ: Pts per game: 16.5; Assists per game: 6.4; Turnovers per game: 3.0 (also a lot); FG%, 3PT FG%, FT%: 44.2%, 39.4%, 81.8%; Steals per Game: 1.4

So, what to make of that data? Well, DJ's a better shooter, no doubt about that. We'll always remember TJ has the ultimate distributor, a guy that made his teamates better every night. True, but DJ ain't too shabby himself distributing. It basically comes down to immeasurables: i.e. competitive greatness and the ability to carry a team on your back in the toughest of times. TJ was able to do so in a Final Four run (albeit one, I'd argue, that was one of the easier Final Four paths in recent memory). We'll see if DJ can replicate that success and cement his name in UT lore as one of the all-time greats.

2) Not much to say about the OU game. I mentioned last entry that I wasn't worried about OU. They're just not very good. How many times did they blindly throw the ball up at the rim, only to have it riccochet violently off the backboard, barely resembling a FG attempt? You can throw your hands in the air all you want Mr. Capel. It still won't change the fact that you've got the absolute most unsinspiring team in the top 30 of the RPI. If they get in, which they probably will due to their favorable schedule down the stretch, I can't see this team getting out of the 1st round. Texas handled business just fine on Saturday, something that we might not have been able to expect a few months ago. Now? We're blowing out teams we should.

3) Now, a few thoughts on Monday's game. I noticed an 'argument' between two BONers about what tomorrow night's game would mean for Texas if we were to win. Someone posited that a W would truly indicate we were ready to make a deep run in March. The counter argument was 'how can one game mean anything, one way or the other?' Both fair points, but here's why I agree with the initial assesment. Remember last March when we lost to USC decidedly? Remember why we got our butts handed to us? I do. They were more physical, much meaner and nasty, and really had no trouble getting inside our heads in the first 10-15 minutes of the ball game. I see Kansas State as very similar to the Trojans of last year. Sure, USC may not have sported the National Player of the Year as KSU does, but they are similarly thugtastic, equally agressive and physical, and just as capable of putting you away early and often if you don't counter-punch in the first half (especially at home, where they've absolutely obliterated people, as was mentioned in a previous post by either PB or AW).

If we win tomorrow night, I'll have the last piece of evidence that tells me we have what it takes to win it all this year. We can run with the best of them, our defense is sound against teams that aren't accomplished offensively, and we have multiple go-to-guys in late-game situations. What we haven't done, is beat teams that can both score and play dirty, tough-nosed basketball. UCLA and Tennessee were our last opportunites to play teams that might fit into that category, but December basketball is a whole different animal than late February and March. When AJ and DJ have it going on, it's obvious we can beat anybody. And clearly our impressive out-of-conference wins prove we can beat anybody anywhere. But we really haven't been tested by a team that's nasty and tough, yet still has the basketball skills to actually score buckets in quite some time. Sure, we've been tested. The Big 12s no easy gauntlet to navigate. But really, other than Kansas, have we faced a team that can match us physically and still run up and down the court and score in bunches? OU sure can't run with us. A&M's proven their offense leaves more than a little to be desired. Tech's athletes can't hang, nor can Baylor's. Mizzou got hot and took us down, but that's just going to happen on the road at least once a year in a power conference. Tomorrow night's game is a great measuring points for the following things: 1) Damion James' ability to shine against the best. You better be ready to defend and score tomorrow. Contain Beasley and consider yourself a rich, rich man as soon as you say when Mr. James. 2) Can we handle a a hostile crowd and stay within ourselves as we have in our recent winning streak? Can Abrams avoid the temptation to jack it up if we get down by 9 early? If he can't that lead can quickly extend to 15. Can Augustin find himself good shots or will he attempt the impossible? 3) Gary Johnson. We've been singing your praises for awhile now. Time to show you're here to stay with a big showing when the stakes are high and the pressure is on. 4) Rick, what a job you've done. Some call you not the best in-game tactician. Prove them wrong.

Here we are with a conference championship on the line. KSU coming off a loss, surely looking to bounce back. Beasley red-hot. I'd guess Vegas has KSU as at least 3-5 point favorites.. What a great opportunity for this team. When the '05 football champions were presented with similar opportunities, they responded, most times in a huge way. When the '07 football team had similar opportunites (vs. KSU, A&M), they folded. Can't wait to see how this basketball team responds tomorrow night.

My prediction? We win another high-scoring entertaining affair. I think our defense is playing too well right now to lose to a Wildcats team that may be able to light up the scoreboard behind Beasley, but still struggles themselves to stop anybody. Remind any one of last year's Horns team when Durant played Beasley's role? I sure would like to add my fourth entry to this series Tuesday morning after an impressive road win in Manhattan, a win that would all but secure an outright Big 12 championship, a #1 seed in Kansas City, and an inside track to a #1 seed in whatever bracket we happened to be placed in on Selection Sunday.

HOOK EM.