Baylor Bumps Texas Further Into Slide

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- With the mistakes and deficit continuing to mount, Texas senior forward Damion James let loose a rare display of emotion three minutes into the start of the second half of the sixth-seeded Longhorns' Big 12 tournament quarterfinal game against No. 3 Baylor on Thursday night.

James slammed the basketball to the floor as he walked toward the sideline during a timeout , shortly after the Bears went up by 12 points following yet another transition basket. He promptly assessed a technical for his actions as he exemplified the frustration by felt by his entire time en route to their 86-67 loss to the Bears at the Sprint Center.

"I let my emotions get the best of me," James said afterward. "They were talking a lot of noise and you know me being a player, I just got frustrated and Coach said I can't do that. I let my team down.

"I've got to keep my composure so I'm really disappointed in myself."

But it was that kind of night for the Longhorns, who have been on a downward turn that past couple months, going from No. 1 in the county to not even in the Top 25 polls as they head into the NCAA tournament season. Texas lost eight of its final 14 regular-season games and was able to win just one Big 12 tournament game.

Thursday night was more of the same of what has dogged the Longhorns during their meltdown, inconsistency on both ends of the floor, selfish play by some of the younger players and an unwillingness to stick together as a team. All of those traits can be problematic as Texas heads into the postseason a team in apparent disarray.

"If I could put my finger on it, I would have done it a long time ago," UT coach Rick Barnes said of fixing the problems before the NCAA tournament begins next week. "It's right when you think you've turned a corner in some ways, guys you're really counting on, they are not as consistent."

Baylor, meanwhile, looked as consistent and dangerous as any of the Big 12 teams in defeating rival Texas for the fourth straight time. Guards Tweety Carter and LaceDarius Dunn looked as explosive as ever, while junior forward Ekpe Udoh is becoming even more of a force on the interior.

The Bears, who finished second in the Big 12 tournament last year, face Kansas State in Friday's semifinal round for the right to appear in their second straight conference tournament title game.

"We're here to win the tournament," said Udoh, who scored a career-high 25 points while pulling down eight rebounds to lead the Bears against Texas. "That's what our mindset was. So just coming out of this game, we got the win, but we can't dwell on it.

"Frank Martin has Kansas State playing really well. We've got to be ready for them."

GAME BALL GOES TO:
Baylor junior power forward Ekpe Udoh has a been a defensive and rebounding presence inside for the Bears all season, but he showed Thursday night that his offensive game is very much developing around the rim. The Michigan transfer finished with a career-high 25 points while grabbing eight rebounds and managing three assists, one block and one steal in 36 minutes.

KEY ELEMENT:
The Bears did a lot of their damage in transition, outscoring Texas in fast break points 18-7 in the process.

WHERE TO FROM HERE:
The Bears came close to winning their first conference tournament championship as a ninth seed last year, they might actually break through this season. a win over Kansas State in Friday's Big 12 semifinal round would land Baylor back in the tournament championship game for the second year in a row. Unlike last year, however, the Bears are headed to the NCAA tournament win or lose.

Texas, meanwhile, continues its late-season downward spiral. The one-time No.1 team in the nation limps into next week's NCAA tournament field a shell of its early season self.

WHO'S GOT NEXT?
The Bears will meet Kansas State during Friday's 8:30 p.m. semifinal game.

SOUNDBITE
"Coach Rick Barnes does a great job. He's made it an elite program in the nation. Anytime you beat them, period, you're doing something well."

Baylor coach Scott Drew on his team winning four straight against the Longhorns.