LAWRENCE, Kan. -- Kansas senior forward Nick Collison got to Allen Fieldhouse early Monday, ensuring that his shot felt good before tipoff Monday night.

He got in a decent sweat for more than an hour because the Jayhawks don't do home game shootarounds.

Sunday night, Texas stayed late at Allen Fieldhouse taking plenty of shots with sophomore point guard T.J. Ford getting a feel of this historic place for the first time.

The work ethic of both players -- two of the finest in college basketball this season at their positions -- paid off Monday night in delivering one of the best games of the season.

This was better than Indiana-Maryland back in December. The atmosphere rocked, even louder than Duke-Maryland a few weeks ago. There was no need for last-minute drama or a buzzer-beater. This was just one of those games that makes college basketball the most frenzied sport on our crowded landscape.

	“	One of the best college games I've ever seen was when we played Texas last year in Austin. I didn't think we could ever top that, but tonight we might have. ”
		— Roy Williams, Kansas head coach

And, at the end of the night, Collison had poured in an unbelievable 24 points and grabbed 23 rebounds, a career-high. Ford was just as sensational, scoring 25 points, dishing out 10 assists, committing just two turnovers and getting to the line to make 8 of 11 free throws.

But Kansas prevailed 90-87 in a game that meant more to the Jayhawks' survival in the Big 12 race. The Jayhawks couldn't afford a second Big 12 loss to stay with previously undefeated Texas and still unblemished Oklahoma State. Their confidence probably couldn't have taken a third-straight loss overall and two straight losses at Allen Fieldhouse.

"One of the best college games I've ever seen was when we played Texas last year in Austin," Kansas coach Roy Williams said of the Jayhawks' 110-103 overtime win over the Longhorns in 2002-03. "I didn't think we could ever top that, but tonight we might have."

And the rest of us learned a lot about both teams. Intangibles that will go a long way to determining if either one of these teams, or both, have what it takes in March to get to New Orleans.

The Jayhawks found out that Collison can deliver a performance like few others in the college game when pressed. Williams said he had never seen a player be so relentless on the boards, and "if those NBA scouts sitting there tonight say there is anybody in the world who has a bigger heart than that sucker, than they are damn blind."

Kansas' Keith Langford said the team needs Collison, and to some extent Kirk Hinrich (who was 3 of 6 on 3s for nine of his 25 points after going 2 for 10 against Arizona Saturday) to perform like they did Monday every game.

"I've never done it before, so it's not going to happen a lot," said Collison said of the 23 rebounds. Collison added that he was able to save his strength defensively by not banging with James Thomas underneath and was instead chasing Brian Boddicker and Jason Klotz around the perimeter. "We've got to have guys step up and play and find a way to win."

Collison and Hinrich were the tandem that everyone expected Monday night, but the difference was they got the help that they desperately needed. Both players said Saturday afternoon that they were feeling the pressure of being the go-to players. But that was in large part because neither was getting much help. Point guard Aaron Miles followed two poor performances -- 0 for 7 against Colorado and 1 for 6 against Arizona -- with a 7-for-14 game (15 points).

And forward Jeff Graves played his toughest game with five boards and two blocks, including a critical pin job on a Ford layup. Graves says he has benefited from Wayne Simien being injured with a separated shoulder. The minutes have given him confidence, so when Simien does come back, the junior will be even more productive. Simien is still questionable to return for Saturday's game against Nebraska. He was making plenty of shots in practice Sunday and Monday, but he tweaked his right shoulder last week during a practice, which has him a bit hesitant to get back on the court.

Kansas doesn't need him until March, if Collison and Hinrich get can get help from Miles, Langford and Graves. A healthy Simien for the NCAA Tournament means the Jayhawks aren't such a longshot to return to the Final Four.

The Longhorns, meanwhile, are waiting for senior forward Deginald Erskin to get healthy. He's been out with a bum ankle throughout the Big 12. Once he returns, the Longhorns get a tough, senior leader who gives them heart underneath the basket.

Ford is giving Texas more than enough, but he can't do it alone. He got plenty of help on the perimeter from Boddicker, who nailed a career-high 20 points and made 6 of 9 3s.

	“	It was a heck of a basketball game. ... I'm upset, but this was such a great basketball game. ”
		— Rick Barnes, Texas head coach

"I'll look for him every time because he plays so hard," Ford said of the 6-8 Boddicker.

But the Longhorns need more out of Thomas. He whiffed on a few layups and was just 1 of 4 from the field. He got to the line to make 8 of 10 free throws and grabbed 14 boards. But the Texas staff wasn't pleased with his inability to finish. Brad Buckman banged with Collison, and Klotz and was a plus with three blocks. But the Longhorns need to learn how to finish games or else they could come up a game or two short in late March.

The Longhorns' two setbacks going into Monday night were by a combined eight points -- at Arizona and (73-70) and to Notre Dame (98-92) in D.C. in December. But they hadn't really been tested since the loss to the Wildcats on Dec. 15.

"If we could finish in the last four minutes, we'd be undefeated," Boddicker said. "This loss might be the difference in the Big 12 championship. We didn't execute down the stretch."

Ford said the Longhorns didn't make shots in the final minutes and they were short on a few attempts. They didn't get many second shots in the final few minutes, either.

But Texas shouldn't hang their heads and the Longhorns know it. They left Allen Fieldhouse a better team because they found out they are still tough enough to compete on the road.

They've also got one of the five best players in America.

So, too, does Kansas. And make it two, when Hinrich is on.

"It was a heck of a basketball game," Texas head coach Rick Barnes said. "T.J. was terrific and I wouldn't trade him for anybody. He's the best point guard in the country and he can just control the game. I don't know how anyone can guard him. I'm upset, but this was such a great basketball game."

So, we learned that Kansas and Texas can get to the Final Four. We underscore the word could. If either plays like it did Monday night -- for 40 minutes -- and they've got a chance to chase Arizona.

They just have to get in line with Pittsburgh, Florida, Kentucky, Maryland, Duke, Wake Forest, Georgia, Oklahoma State, Oklahoma, Louisville, Connecticut, Syracuse and ...

Andy Katz is a senior writer at ESPN.com.