Kansas vs. TCU: College basketball game preview, TV schedule
Kansas lost a home game to a very good Texas Tech basketball team. Can the Jayhawks rebound to beat a top 15 team in TCU on the road?
TV schedule: Saturday, Jan. 6, 9:15 p.m. ET. ESPN2
Arena: Ed and Rae Schrollmaier Arena in Fort Wayne, Texas
Jayhawk fans hear the rumblings and chatter about the consecutive regular-season championship streak being in danger every year. It’s been quite amazing that it’s lasted as long as it did, especially for a conference that’s had players like Kevin Durant, Blake Griffin, Michael Beasley, and a host of other college greats.
But something seems different this year. Part of it is due to there being no bad teams in this league, and also due to some huge threats, including “Press Virginia,” Trae Young and the Sooners, and, as fans know, Texas Tech.
But there’s another threat, the Horned Frogs of TCU 13-1 (1-1), a team that is determined to make amends for their late-season collapse that sent them to the NIT. Everyone’s back, and they look better than ever, with a top 15 nationally ranked offense that is spread throughout the roster. Eight players average between 7.2-14.8 ppg. With Kenrich Williams as the leader of the team.
After losing the team’s Big 12 opener against Oklahoma, the Horned Frogs were in danger of starting out 0-2 but managed to squeak out an overtime win on the road at Baylor. All five starters were in double figures, led by senior Vladimir Brodzianski with 18 points.
That’s what Kansas 13-1 (1-1) will be dealing with, as mainly six players are in the team’s main rotation. There’s still no telling when either Billy Preston of Silvio De Souza will be available for the Jayhawks, as both are dealing with the NCAA for very different reasons. That leaves Adoka Azubuike once again the only true big man for coach Bill Self to use.
Kansas has a top 20 offense themselves, with four guys each averaging over 15.0 ppg. The engine for this team is senior point guard Devonte Graham, who’s having almost as good a season as his predecessor Frank Mason. He’s averaging 17.9 ppg and 7.5 apg and has put himself in the running for second place in the Big 12 Player of the Year competition.
The key for Kansas in Saturday’s game will be Legerald Vick, who is a guard that plays much bigger than his 6’3 frame. The Horned Frog guards have struggled defensively against players like him, and he could go off for a big game.
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It’s weird to say that Kansas is desperate at 1-1, but a loss will put them two games behind the winner of West Virginia-Oklahoma, which in this league could be made up in a week, or be too much to overcome. Either way, the Jayhawks need this win. In a shootout, I’ll go with Kansas.
Prediction: Kansas 87 – TCU 84