D.J. denied: Kansas University’s basketball team held standout Texas guard D.J. Augustin to 10 points on 1-of-13 shooting, yet still lost to the Longhorns, 72-69, on Monday at Erwin Center.

“I think it’s very frustrating. He is the key to their team,” KU sophomore Darrell Arthur said. “We did a good job on he and A.J. (Abrams, 14 points, 5-of-13 shooting), but other players killed us.”

Connor Atchley, who stands 6-foot-10, hit four threes. Damion James and Justin Mason combined for 23 points and 21 rebounds.

“It’s surprising when anybody goes 4-for-4 from three. Guards don’t do it all the time,” KU coach Bill Self said of Atchley’s effort. “He’s a good shooter. Damion had a chance to sit on the bench and boil (playing three minutes first half because of foul woes). He came out and kicked our butts the second half.”

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Sherron Collins on the game: “I don’t feel they outhustled us. They outrebounded us.”

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Stats, facts: Texas snapped a three-game losing streak versus KU. UT has beaten KU three straight times in Austin, the last two by 15 and 25 points. … Arthur led KU in scoring with 22 points and in the process notched his second-straight game with 20 or more points. … Collins posted four assists for the third straight game. It ties his season-most against a conference opponent. … Mario Chalmers had five assists, marking the fourth straight game he had at least that many. He is averaging six over that span. … Sasha Kaun’s seven boards were his most during the conference season. His season-high of eight was established in the final nonconference game against Loyola.

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Faces in crowd: Beth Buford, mother of KU’s Chase Buford and Texas’ Alexis Wangmene, wore a jersey with both KU and Texas colors to honor both players. Wangmene, who hails from Cameroon, has legal guardians in Beth and R.C. Buford. … Former Texas quarterback Vince Young attended.

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Self before the game on Abrams: “He has as quick a release as anybody I’ve coached against. The other thing that amazes me … I know A.J. is a small guy. He can make shots off the move as well as anybody with a quick release. He’s on a roll right now,” Self said of the 5-11 junior from Round Rock, Texas.

“He reminds me on (Allen) Iverson from a physique standpoint. A defender chasing him can’t catch up.”

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Self supporter: Texas coach Rick Barnes is a fan of fifth-year Jayhawk coach Self.

“Bill’s won everywhere he’s been,” Barnes told the Austin American-Statesman. “I think before he’s done, he’ll win a national championship.”

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Rumor talk: The American-Statesman was the latest to ask Self about rumors Oklahoma State booster Boone Pickens will come after him with bucketloads of money to coach the Cowboys if Sean Sutton is replaced after this season.

“I think it’s a dead issue. There’s nothing to talk about. It’s a disservice to everyone involved,” Self told columnist Kirk Bohls.

A close friend of Self told Bohls: “If he’s going to leave KU for Oklahoma State, he’s not as smart as I think he is.”

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Title talk: Sure, KU could win a national title this season. Many other teams could, too.

“If 30 legitimate teams have a chance at it, one out of 30 isn’t great odds, is it?” Self told the American-Statesman.

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Brown to Bulls?: The Philadelphia Inquirer reported Monday that former KU coach Larry Brown might be a candidate to coach the Chicago Bulls. Brown, the Philadelphia 76ers’ executive vice president, led the Jayhawks to the 1988 national title.

The Bulls are led by interim coach Jim Boylan, who replaced Scott Skiles on Dec. 24. Brown has been out of coaching since 2005-06 when he went 23-59 before being canned by the New York Knicks.