“It’s nice,” said Axtell, who finished with six points and four rebounds in 14 minutes of KU’s 82-66 victory Saturday at Allen Fieldhouse. “I went there a year and you always want to beat the team you used to play for.”

Axtell averaged 13.3 points per game in a starting role as a Texas freshman during the 1997-98 season. He developed a reputation for his long-range shooting prowess by knocking down 68 three-pointers.

But Axtell clashed with then-coach Tom Penders off the court, and the fallout was messy. Axtell transferred to Kansas, while Penders ended up at George Washington.

Axtell an Austin, Texas, native said he didn’t have an ax to grind with his hometown school.

“There’s basically nobody there that I have any relationship with at all,” he said. “It’s a new coach and new players. All the people who were in my class when I was a freshman are gone.

“I was more concerned with us just getting the win. If we lose that game, it really hurts our chances of winning the Big 12. I was definitely more concerned about that.”

The third-ranked Jayhawks improved to 18-2 overall and 7-2 in the Big 12, while UT dropped to 16-6 and 5-3.

Axtell said coach Rick Barnes’ UT squad showed little resemblance to Penders’ run-and-gun Longhorns.

“It’s a very different style,” Axtell said. “They’re more deliberate now. When I was there I could put up a shot whenever I wanted to. They’re a good team. It’s a good win for us.”

After clinging to a 34-32 halftime lead, the Jayhawks pulled away by pounding the ball inside in the second half. Forward Drew Gooden scored KU’s first five baskets of the half, and guard Jeff Boschee added a reverse layup that gave Kansas a 61-48 lead with 8:19 remaining.

Then Axtell scored the next four points inside, stretching KU’s lead to 17 points.

Axtell dunked an alley-oop pass from Boschee with 7:57 remaining and added two free throws 27 seconds later.

“Luke came in and still didn’t make any threes, but he took the ball to the basket, got a big lob and did some better things for us today,” coach Roy Williams said.

Axtell missed both the three-point shots he attempted. After making 16 of his first 31 three-point attempts this season, the senior has missed his last 13.

“He’s hurting,” Williams said of the senior, who is battling a bulging disk in his back. “You could see how he was always down at the end of the bench trying to keep his back a little loose before I put him back in.”

When he wasn’t in the game, Axtell stretched out on the sidelines and kept heat on his back.

“I was able to keep it warm and it didn’t lock up on me,” he said. “That’s the biggest concern I have. When I come out of the game I have a hard time getting back up.”

Saturday’s game marked the first time Axtell had faced his former team. He sat out the 1998-99 season under NCAA transfer rules, and last year’s game was one of 14 he missed due to an undisclosed medical condition.

“Things are going great,” he said. “I’ve been through some injuries. It’s nothing I can’t handle through the Lord.”