Despite what the pedigree of the players and the fluctuating rhythms of any given season say, despite the fact Kansas would probably be a No. 1 seed if the NCAA Tournament committee were making its bracket now, two losses in three games were enough to inspire anxieties.
Then came a jumbled, clumsy start against Texas on Saturday at Allen Fieldhouse, where KU had been 199-9 under coach Bill Self but suddenly looked anything but impregnable.
As the Jayhawks were making just two of their first 12 field goals and committing four turnovers, Texas seized a 17-5 lead.