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Big 12 Tournament Championship: Kansas, Texas Meet In Highly Anticipated Rematch

LAWRENCE KS - JANUARY 22:  Markieff Morris #21 of the Kansas Jayhawks battles Gary Johnson #1  of the Texas Longhorns during the game on January 22 2011 at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence Kansas.  (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
LAWRENCE KS - JANUARY 22: Markieff Morris #21 of the Kansas Jayhawks battles Gary Johnson #1 of the Texas Longhorns during the game on January 22 2011 at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence Kansas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
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Going into the Big 12 Tournament, fans across the nation were hoping to see a rematch of the epic game between the Texas Longhorns and Kansas Jayhawks. In that January 22 game in Lawrence, the Horns came back from a 15-point first half deficit to beat the Jayhawks and snap their 69-game home winning streak.

The Longhorns are hoping to snap another KU streak tonight in the conference tournament championship game. Though Texas has been the second winningest team in the history of the Big 12, they have never won the Big 12 Tournament, thanks in large part to KU's dominance in the tournament.

The Jayhawks have won a record seven Big 12 Tournament championships, with three of the championship game victories coming against the Longhorns.

For Texas to sweep the season series against the top-seed and second ranked Jayhawks the Horns need to continue to play the stifling defense that got them to the championship game. In last night's victory, UT held the Texas A&M Aggies to 35.4 percent shooting from the floor and outrebounded A&M 36-28.

KU got to the championship outlasting the Colorado Buffaloes. In another game where KU got out to a hot start, the Jayhawks led the Buffs by 18 early in the second half, but let the Buffs back into the game, finishing with a 90-83 win.

As for predictions, I like the Texas guards, but the Jayhawk forwards. I think the two headed, twin monster of Marcus Morris and Markieff Morris will be too much for the likes of Tristan Thompson to handle. If UT wins, it's because Jordan Hamilton shoots better than his season field goal percentage average of 44.2 percent.

The game tips tonight 5:00 p.m. CT and can be seen nationally on ESPN.