LAWRENCE, Kan. -- There were moments of frustration for Kansas coach Bill Self, moments where hed angrily call a timeout or attend a post-game news conference and glumly bemoan another uneven performance. There never was a moment where he lost faith in his team. Now, after enduring the nations most brutal non-conference schedule, the sixth-ranked Jayhawks are proving to be exactly what the pundits thought theyd be: The Big 12s premier team, one that already has a substantial lead in the conference as the race nears its midway point. "We have grown, but were just now to the middle of the season. Thats whats so strange," Self said. "The big thing is that were playing with more energy and were starting to understand how were going to score -- not just running an offence to run an offence. Were not a tough team by any stretch, but are playing tougher than we did earlier in the season." Thats certainly been evident in the results. After a loss to fifth-ranked San Diego State ended the Jayhawks 68-game non-conference winning streak at Allen Fieldhouse, Kansas has ripped off seven straight wins through arguably the toughest part of its league schedule. It began with a win at No. 23 Oklahoma, and continued with wins over four straight teams that were ranked in the Top 25 -- Kansas State, Iowa State, Oklahoma State and Baylor. After a blowout win at TCU, the Jayhawks beat the No. 16 Cyclones for a second time on Wednesday night. Now, theyll head to No. 25 Texas with essentially a two-game lead in the Big 12. You catch the game on TSN2 on Saturday at 12am et/9pm pt. "Im not surprised at all," junior guard Naadir Tharpe said. "I knew it was going to be a matter of time until everybody just let water run off their back and start going out there and just playing. That is what I feel like dudes are doing right now." The most important of them may be Andrew Wiggins, the highly touted freshman. After fits and starts to begin his college career, the 6-foot-8 swingman and projected lottery pick in the June draft has gone on a tear. Wiggins scored a career-high 27 points in the win over the Horned Frogs, and then bested it with 29 points against the Cyclones earlier this week. Hes averaging more than 24 points over his past three games. "I would say I feel more comfortable on the court," Wiggins said this week. "A lot of things are slowing down for me and my teammates are looking for me." Hes also starting to create his own shot, something that he was reticent to do early in the season, prompting Iowa State coach Fred Hoiberg to say hes "oozing with confidence. "Thats scary," Hoiberg said. "With that athleticism, that length and that speed, the kids got it all. When hes knocking down shots, not too many better." There arent many teams better than the Jayhawks right now. Since the start of league play, the nine-time defending champions are putting up a Big 12-leading 84 points per game. Theyre just a half-point out of second place in scoring defence, and their scoring margin of 12 points per game is seven better than second-place Oklahoma State. The Jayhawks (16-4, 7-0 Big 12) also lead the league in field-goal and 3-point percentage, rebounding defence and margin, blocked shots, assists and, well, you get the idea. "They have a special group," TCU coach Trent Johnson said. "At every position, they have somebody who can score. They can attack you, so you really have to be on your toes." After the Jayhawks, Texas may be the next hottest team in the Big 12 heading into Saturdays game. The Longhorns (16-4, 5-2) have rattled off five straight wins, the last three coming against ranked teams in Iowa State, Kansas State and Baylor. The Jayhawks will represent the first time in school history that Texas will have played four consecutive Top 25 opponents. "Theyre young. Theyre not quite as young as we are, but theyre young and fast, probably as fast as any team well play," Self said. "Theyre obviously playing their tails off." Adidas NMD Pharrell Williams Human Race Yellow . Billy Hamilton finished off Cincinnatis biggest comeback of the season for a doubleheader sweep. Adidas NMD Wholesale China . -- Down to 10 men and behind on the scoreboard, Toronto FC displayed its perseverance. http://www.cheapnmdonline.com/wholesale-...-china.html.com) - The Denver Nuggets snapped a losing streak last time out and will try to carry that momentum Saturday night when they welcome the Indiana Pacers to the Pepsi Center. Cheap NMD Online . Poti played in 824 regular NHL games with four teams in his career; the Edmonton Oilers, New York Rangers, New York Islanders and the Washington Capitals. Adidas NMD Mens Black and White .com) - Minnesota Vikings fans would surely concede Teddy Bridgewater is not Peyton Manning. PHILADELPHIA -- Domonic Browns misplay ruined another strong outing by A.J. Burnett. Jarrod Saltalamacchia hit a two-run double, Henderson Alvarez threw 6 2-3 sharp innings and the Miami Marlins beat the Philadelphia Phillies 3-2 Wednesday night. Burnett (5-7) gave up three runs and five hits, striking out eight in seven innings. Brown cost Burnett three runs in the fourth inning when he failed to make a routine catch. The Marlins had runners on first and second with two outs when Marcell Ozuna hit a liner to left that should have ended the inning. But Brown froze on the ball instead of taking a step back and it sailed over his head for an RBI double. "That play has to be made," Brown said. "I told A.J. I was sorry about it. It was a hard-hit line drive. I made a break on it in and that definitely was a big mistake. Im definitely upset at myself." Saltalamacchia followed with a two-run double to left-centre to make it 3-0. He was 1 for 15 with nine strikeouts off Burnett before the hit. "I felt like I should have picked him up the next at-bat," Burnett said. "Thats what we do. You pick each other up. The pitch is a little bit lower to Salty, then you pick him up. He plays hard. He comes in every day and prepares and he goes about his business. Its not like hes trying to miss balls out there." Brown, an All-Star last year when he led the Phillies with 27 homers, has played shaky defence. He is hitting just .217 with five homers. "Well Domonic is our left fielder as we speak, capable of swinging the bat," Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said. "Every time he goes up there I have confidence that it might be the time where he pops one and drives in two, three runs.&qquot; Alvarez (5-3) allowed two runs -- one earned -- and seven hits.dddddddddddd He is 3-0 with a 0.78 ERA in his last seven starts. The Marlins have won two of the first three in the four-game set. They had lost eight of their previous nine games in Philadelphia before this series. Steve Cishek struck out the side in the ninth for his 18th save in 19 tries. The Phillies are 1-4 since a season-high five-game winning streak that included a three-game sweep at Atlanta and two wins in St. Louis. They are just 17-23 at home. Miami improved to .500 at 39-39 and trails NL East-leading Washington by only 2 1/2 games. The Phillies scored an unearned run in the fifth to cut it to 3-1. Ben Revere reached on second baseman Derek Dietrichs throwing error and scored on Chase Utleys sacrifice fly to deep centre. Browns RBI single in the sixth got them within 3-2. Marlon Byrd started the inning with his third hit and advanced on a groundout before scoring on Browns liner to right-centre. Burnett began his career with the Marlins, going 49-50 in seven seasons. He is 2-2 with a 2.59 ERA in his last four starts after going 1-4 with a 7.25 ERA in his previous six. Alvarez pitched out of a jam in the second. He struck out Brown with one out and runners on first and third. He then retired Burnett on a bouncer to third to leave the bases loaded. NOTES: Phillies OF Tony Gwynn Jr. struck out as a pinch hitter in the seventh. Hes hitless in his last 23 at-bats. ... Injured Phillies ace Cliff Lee (elbow strain) will face hitters Friday. He could make a rehab start next week. ... The series finale is Thursday night, with Cole Hamels (2-4, 2.76 ERA) going for the Phillies against Tom Koehler (5-6, 3.74 ERA). ' ' '