UT takes off
DJ Augustin is a classic point guard, the kind basketball sees so rarely anymore. Watching Augustin blossom, you want to press rewind and watch again to fully appre-
ciate what this kid from Sugar Land's Hightower High has.
It was just a month ago when the Longhorns and Oklahoma State staged a game for the ages in Stillwater, Okla., complete with a battle royale between OSU's Mario Boggan and Durant.
The days just keep looking brighter for Texas, too. Trying to figure out how to stop Durant gets a whole lot more complicated when a point guard of Augustin's class puts forth efforts like this one.
It was something less than another scintillating show between teams that just a month ago played a triple-overtime thriller.
But the things Augustin did could not have been more hope-inspiring for Texas fans. Sure, the Longhorns can think about dancing through March on another big run.
Every Longhorns run Monday night was keyed by an Augustin steal, hustle play or assist. He staked Texas to an early edge with a couple of assists, an NBA-range 3 and by managing the game like a pro.
When he picked up his second foul late in the first half, coach Rick Barnes put Augustin on the bench. The offense stagnated and the lead was a mere 31-24 at the break.
It didn't take long for that to change.
Also, coming out of Suitland, Md., Kevin Durant had a chance to play with any point guard in the country, including North Carolina's Tywon Lawson, with whom Kevin Durant played at Oak Hill Academy in 2005 and whom he considers his best friend.
Nevertheless, Kevin Durant came to Austin to join Augustin, whom Durant saw often on the high school summer circuit and joined at numerous elite all-star camps. Durant also has called Augustin the most important player on this Texas team.
