Texas has right pieces for No. 1 seed in NCAA Tournament

That, Kansas, is what the NCAA selection committee loves to see this time of year.

"What it means is history has proven that the No. 1 seed normally gets to the second round," said coach Rick Barnes, another Longhorn being charitable.

A No. 1 seed has never lost a first-round NCAA Tournament game. The bracketing advantage goes even further when you consider at least one No. 1 or 2 seed almost has made an appearance in the Final Four almost every year since the NCAA started seeding teams.

In a season where few teams look capable of winning the four in a row required to get to that Final Four, Texas is making its case. Augustin and fellow guard A.J. Abrams are there every night. The defense hasn't. But in its last three games, Texas has blocked 25 shots while allowing only an average of only 53 points.

"They've been playing better than any team in the country," Beasley said.

As good as Augustin (24 points, 40 minutes) is, the Longhorns are incredibly balanced at both ends. Six-foot-10 post Connor Atchley looked like he was going to be fouled out of the game early on while struggling to guard Beasley. While playing only 14 minutes, Atchley made all six of his shots and scored 14 points while getting seven rebounds. No one can stop Beasley but Atchley did effectively get in his way.

Shut out in the first half, Abrams scored all of his 13 points in the final 15 minutes. The bench includes incredibly athletic 6-7 freshman Alexis Wangemene who was called for goaltending on one of Beasley's shots, but it was more the message he sent.

"They have a whole army," an exasperated Beasley said.

An orange army that can clinch the Big 12 regular-season title before chasing a No. 1 seed further in earnest next month. Too much, too soon?

Who would you rather be right now, Kansas or Texas?

"I'd rather be better later on," Barnes said diplomatically.