The assumptions ran rampant that Texas A&M’s 11-0 start was more a product of a patsy schedule than a talented squad.

Maybe, maybe not. But Wednesday’s 65-60 nail-biting loss to No. 2 Kansas University certainly provided no evidence to the cupcake theorists.

Though KU didn’t exactly have a game to brag about, A&M and its strong defensive intensity may have had something to do with it. The Jayhawks, who relied so heavily on three-point shooting in a victory over Georgia Tech on Saturday, shot just 5-of-19 from long range Wednesday, and the abundance of bricks kept the game close throughout.

“Defense is the key,” A&M junior Chris Walker said. “If you’re not going to guard in the Big 12, you’re not going to win. There’s so many great scorers in this league.”

KU has a couple of them, but they didn’t come to play Wednesday. Sophomore J.R. Giddens was held scoreless on 0-of-7 shooting, and senior Keith Langford had just nine points.

The Jayhawks’ leading scorer was pass-first point guard Aaron Miles with 15.

It seemed like KU’s basket was sealed with Saran Wrap early, but the Aggies had only two leads in the first half — at 3-0 in the opening minute and at 21-20 for just 27 seconds right before halftime.

A&M’s inability to take control in the first half may have made the difference. KU improved its shooting in the second half, and it made the Aggies’ chances at staying unbeaten tougher.

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“They made more foul shots than we did,” A&M coach Billy Gillispie said. “They executed better, and they kept scoring. We couldn’t stop them from scoring.”

Wednesday’s Big 12 Conference opener was by far the most daunting task of the season for the Aggies, who had rollover games against teams like North Carolina A&T, Texas-Permian Basin and Prairie View A&M during their nonconference slate.

Still, Texas A&M (11-1 overall, 0-1 Big 12) didn’t seem unprepared against one of the country’s most talented teams in a hostile environment.

A&M may have proven one thing in the defeat — the fast start wasn’t all about the cream puff scheduling.

“People are going to say what they want to say,” Walker said. “But we knew what we were capable of. Tonight, we wanted to come out and play tougher than the home team. That’s the key to winning on the road.”