The No. 7 Kansas Jayhawks proved this week they are the best team in the Big 12 for now. The preseason pick by the media to win the conference the 11-7, 2-4 Texas A&M Aggies get the arduous task of going to Phogg Allen Fieldhouse to play 16-3, 6-0 KU after the 'Hawks slaughtered No. 3 Baylor 92-74 and dumped 12-7, 2-4 Texas on the road 69-66.

Winners of nine straight Kansas might just be the best team in the entire country. The Longhorns weren't ranked, but were flawless at home and after one half of basketball it appeared the Jayhawks would change that. At the Frank Erwin Special Events Center, UT battled back from a 15-point first-half deficit to shrink the lead to three with 3:43 to go. However KU ended the half on a 11-2 sprint capped off by senior guard Conner Teahan's three-pointer. To begin the second half the 'Hawks reemerged ahead by 15, but again the 'Horns didn't mail it in taking the lead with 5:39 to go during the game. Kansas reclaimed the lead on junior forward Thomas Robinson's dunk, but then two junior guard J'Covan Brown plays gave Texas their biggest lead at four with 3:24 left.

The Jayhawks went back ahead on senior guard Tyshawn Taylor's and-one. However the Longhorns got their nose back in front 66-65 on a pair of Brown FTs. Those would be the last points for UT as junior center Jeff Withey's and-one regained the lead once more for KU who added a Robinson FT late for the final tally. The 'Hawks outshot the 'Horns 44.6 percent to 34.4 percent, but three less three-pointers, two less FTs and seven less rebounds kept Texas around for the duration. Kansas threw the ball away only six times which was a good thing because the Longhorns just coughed it up nine times. Leading the Jayhawks in scoring was Taylor with 22 points as Robinson and Withey lit the lamp up for 17 and 12. UT only missed one FT while KU bricked 9-of-23.

The 'Hawks will have to do a better job at charity than they did or A&M could hand the Big 12's last unbeaten their first loss. The Aggies ousted 12-6, 2-4 Oklahoma 81-75 in overtime. The Sooners were tied with Texas A&M at halftime and after regulation, but were outscored 16-10 the final five minutes. Trailing 28-20 with five minutes remaining during the first half the Aggies exploded on a 13-4 run to tie the game. Senior guard Dash Harris had a layup and three-pointer as part of a run which consisted of three threes and two layups.

Repeated layups by senior forward David Loubeau put A&M ahead to begin the second half for their biggest lead up to that point. A 7-0 run however by OU reclaimed the Sooners the lead. Trailing by as many as seven during the second half the Aggies drew even with five minutes to go in regulation. Texas A&M eked ahead by as many as nine in OT never once being behind after knotting the score late in regulation on a three-pointer. For the game the Aggies were 7-of-19 from three and 12-of-22 on FTs. Junior guard Elston Turner led all scorers with 23 points as Loubeau and Harris added 16 and 14.

A&M is 0-3 on the road getting drubbed by No. 5 Missouri after losing by nine and 10 against the Bears and 'Horns. The Aggies also were drilled by two ranked teams from the Southeastern Conference by nine and 20 points. Kansas finally got tested away from Lawrence after pasting opponents by an average of 20.67 points per game on the road.

The Jayhawks are just 10-0 at Phogg Allen Fieldhouse including beating No. 6 Ohio State by 11 on Dec. 10. KU struggled two home games ago against 14-5, 4-2 Iowa State but bounced back by slugging BU with a parade of field goals. The 'Hawks also staved off 14-6, 7-0 Long Beach State 88-80 on Dec. 6. Kansas should kill. Then again Texas A&M isn't a team fixated with playing a track meet so if they hang onto the ball and get good shots this could be close. If the Aggies aren't able to control the pace of the game, this will get lopsided. Go with the Jayhawks here to easily cover as A&M is not as good as initially advertised.