TCU vs. Baylor: College basketball game preview, TV schedule
TCU and Baylor are two teams who each lost their Big 12 basketball opener. Which team avoids falling to 0-2?
TV schedule: Tuesday, Jan. 2, 7:00 p.m. ET. ESPNEWS
Arena: Ferrell Center in Waco, Texas
Before the weekend, the nation’s longest winning streak belonged to TCU 12-1 (0-1), dating back to the start of the team’s NIT title run. The Horned Frogs used the momentum to go undefeated during the non-conference schedule, including wins over Nevada and SMU.
Unfortunately for Jamie Dixon and the team, they ran into the buzz-saw known as Trae Young, whose 39 point, 14 assist masterpiece helped the Oklahoma Sooners give TCU their first defeat of the season in a 90-89 shootout.
Kenrich Williams had 22 points to lead the team, but Jaylen Fisher was a no-show, going scoreless in the game. The 89 points make it now eight games with at least 84 points scored in a contest, revealing the Horned Frogs as one of the top offenses in the league. The loss to Oklahoma actually continues another streak for TCU — an eight-game losing skid in the Big 12 regular season.
The Baylor Bears 10-3 (0-1) are the opposite of TCU, with their defense leading the way. That unfortunately didn’t work for them in their conference opener, suffering a 77-53 defeat in Lubbock to Texas Tech.
Baylor received a mix of good and bad news before the game. Terry Maston was available for the game and played limited minutes after missing a month with a broken hand. However, Jo-Lual Acuil was a scratch, with a left foot sprain. His status for this game is uncertain, and his absence leaves a giant hole inside for the Bears to fill.
This game will be a matchup of a couple of talented point guards who struggled last time out, as Manu Lecomte of the Bears went 3/11 against the Red Raiders.
This might sound extreme considering how early it is in conference play, but this is a must-win for TCU. The Horned Frogs are under a lot of pressure to make the NCAA tournament after being absent from the event for over 20 years, and that had to play a role in last season’s collapse down the stretch. An 0-2 start could start to affect the psyche of these players.
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This game is in Waco, but TCU has more weapons than the Bears even if Fisher struggles. Unless Lecomte has a huge game, the Horned Frogs will snap the Big 12 losing streak.
Prediction: TCU 78 – Baylor 66