Kansas vs. Texas: 2018-19 college basketball preview, TV schedule

The Kansas Jayhawks aim to move closer to yet another Big 12 title as they take on the underrated Texas Longhorns on Tuesday night.

TV schedule: Tuesday, January 29, 2019, 7:00 PM ET, ESPN

Location: Frank Erwin Center, Austin, Texas

Year in and year out, the expectation for the Kansas Jayhawks is to win the Big 12. This year, that was only meant to be the tip of the iceberg.

For the first time in a decade and a half, however, the Jayhawks are facing real adversity in their quest for another conference title.

Kansas is 5-2 in Big 12 play, with losses to Iowa State and West Virginia. The latter was particularly egregious, as the Mountaineers have taken a ton of hits this year. The Jayhawks are also fresh off a loss to Kentucky – not a conference foe, but not a beneficial result either.

Issues in the frontcourt have plagued Bill Self’s team. Silvio de Sousa seems no closer to gaining eligibility than before, while Udoka Azubuike is out for the year with a hand injury, necessitating the coach to go small with his lineups.

Memphis transfer Dedric Lawson has lived up to expectations, averaging 19.5 points and 11.1 rebounds per game. The surrounding cast has been solid as well. Yet inconsistency continues to plague the Jayhawks.

The Texas Longhorns are grappling with that same inconsistency.

Texas started the season with five straight victories, the last being a neutral court victory over the ranked North Carolina Tar Heels. It seemed as if Shaka Smart was finally breaking through. The Longhorns also have wins over Purdue and Oklahoma, as well as a road demolishment of the Kansas State Wildcats.

But Big 12 play hasn’t always been kind to Texas. None of their conference losses have been by more than six points, but they still have a losing record against foes in the loaded league.

They’re also coming off a loss in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge, losing at a largely lackluster Georgia, still trying to figure it out in Tom Crean’s first year at the helm.

Texas does have four players averaging at least ten points a game, but only one averaging more than 11 (Kerwin Roach II).

These two teams have already met this season in Lawrence. Kansas pulled out a squeaker after Jase Febres missed a game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer.

With Kansas’ inconsistency and Texas’ propensity to play games with constant theatrical endings, this contest is almost guaranteed to be a close one. Frankly, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see it go either way on the basis of one shining – or gloomy – moment.

Prediction: Kansas 72 – Texas 71