For two weeks, it seemed like Texas guard D.J. Augustin couldn’t score on a 7-foot goal.
But by halftime, the crowd at the Erwin Center seemed surprised that his three-fourths-court buzzer-beating attempt didn’t go in.
On Big Monday against the Aggies, No. 14 made up for his shooting slump on one of the biggest stages of the season. Augustin finished the game with 27 points – 17 of which came in the first half – and took Texas on his shoulders in its 77-50 beat down of Texas A&M.
The sophomore’s dribbling and ability to penetrate is a big reason why No. 7 Texas entered Round 2 of the Longhorns-Aggies matchup with a five-game winning streak. It’s one reason why they now have a six-game streak (along with Texas’ ridiculous D).
But the revival of Augustin’s shooting ability is why the Longhorns beat the Aggies so badly. At halftime, Texas A&M coach Mark Turgeon said Augustin had “taken control of the game.”
Augustin put himself back into the Big 12 Player of the Year sweepstakes with this performance. Most analysts have already given the award to Kansas State’s Michael Beasley, who some say is having a Kevin Durant-esque year up in Manhattan.
I have a feeling, though, that next Monday’s matchup between the Longhorns and Wildcats will help determine whether Beasley walks away with the award or whether Augustin still has a shot.
This article appears in February 15 • 2008.