LAWRENCE, Kan. -- Kansas has issues that it's not sure how to solve.

	Keith Langford, right, and Kansas lost their second straight game Saturday.

And trying to get them sorted out by Monday night's game against Texas isn't a given.

These might not be of the quick fix priority.

First, the Jayhawks can't worry about getting forward Wayne Simien back from his separated shoulder injury. He's out indefinitely and coach Roy Williams doesn't want that to be an excuse.

But something is missing, some sort of intangible that none of the players or staff can put their finger on after a 30-point swing resulted in a 91-74 loss to Arizona Saturday at Phog Allen. That loss comes on the heels of losing at Colorado on Wednesday night. That's two straight losses for the second time this season.

Williams even said after the game that he might have done his "worst coaching job,'' but that was largely because "you have to have your finger on the pulse of kids mentally. I thought we were in good shape at the half but apparently we weren't.''

Williams is taking the rap to avoid putting it on his players. But he doesn't have to because they understand they're not getting it done right now.

"The bottom line is we're not coming out with the right intensity,'' Kansas senior guard Kirk Hinrich said. "We've got to be careful that we're still a confident team.''

How could that be? Kansas looked sensational in the first half, ringing up 52 points and putting Arizona on its heels. But Kansas couldn't get the ball inside in the second half. The Jayhawks couldn't get open on the perimeter.

"The first half was Kansas basketball,'' Williams said. "The second half ...''

Williams said the Jayhawks reverted back, but to where he wasn't so sure. He said he didn't have the answers yet. No one does.

"A lot of the problems we're having are similar to when we lost (two straight in the Preseason NIT),'' Kansas senior Nick Collison said. "We were taking quick shots and not moving the ball. We didn't defend Arizona in the second half. But the big difference is at the beginning of the year, we didn't know we could be a good team. After 10 straight wins (before Arizona), we know we can be good. We've got to get back to playing well. But it's not that easy.''

Depth is clearly a concern. Collison said his life was easier inside with Simien (15.9 ppg, 8.7 rpg). Collison shot over 60 percent in five of the six games prior to Simien's injury. In the six games since Simien has been out, Collison has shot under 50 percent three times. But of more concern to Collison is his playing time. He played 38 minutes against Colorado and 39 against Arizona.

"Jeff (Graves) is doing a great job but he's not as comfortable as Wayne is knocking down the 15 to 18-footer,'' Collison said. "Guys have to go out and play Wayne (but don't do that to Graves). I'm not seeing the same space I would with Wayne. And I could need a break because the past two games I've played a lot of minutes.''

Collison said he and his teammates shouldn't wear down by March because "we're still 18 to 22 years old.'' But depth is a concern. The Jayhawks feel comfortable with the starting five, including Graves (minus Simien for now). Guards Jeff Hawkins and Michael Lee and forwards Bryant Nash and Moulaye Niang produced a total of six points off the bench Saturday.

"We're really thin, but we knew this since day one,'' Williams said. "You don't need more than seven or eight but you do need seven. There's a huge dropoff for us. We've got to get (the bench) to play better. And we can't have silly fouls. Kirk sits out the last six minutes of the first half with three fouls.''

While having Hinrich and Collison return as seniors was a plus, both players are still adjusting to the role of being the stars. It's not as easy without Drew Gooden inside for Collison and Jeff Boschee on the perimeter for Hinrich.

"This is a lot different than last year when I was a complimentary player,'' Hinrich said. "There's a lot of pressure on me to make plays and some nights I haven't shot the ball as well. I'm still shooting the ball with confidence and playing well defensively. I'm scoring more points this season but taking more shots. Coach has been a lot harder on me this year because he expects more.

"Last year, everything came so easy because we had so many scorers,'' Hinrich said. "It seemed like we could outscore every team. It's definitely harder to be a star. A lot of the defense is directed at stopping you.''

Williams said he wondered if Hinrich was putting too much pressure on himself. Collison could be feeling that expectation, too.

"There's more responsibility when a team's game plan is to stop one or two of the best scorers,'' Collison said. "It's a lot harder being those guys. But Kirk and I have been through a lot of things. We can do a better job with the big picture for the team.''

Hinrich said the experience of getting to a Final Four for the five regular starters -- Hinrich, Collison, Aaron Miles, Keith Langford and Simien -- should prove valuable in March. He's confident that the Jayhawks can overcome this latest setback.

But....

"This team showed flashes of being really good and some flashes of not being really good,'' Hinrich said. "If you compare the two halves Saturday there is a world of difference. If we play like we did in the first half we can beat anybody.''

And if they play like they did in the second, they could lose just about anywhere in the Big 12, let alone before New Orleans in the NCAA Tournament.

Andy Katz is a senior writer at ESPN.com.