It’s a battle of Big 12 Basketball teams as TCU and Texas face off once more for a spot in the NIT Tournament finals. Will the Horned Frogs get the sweep over the Longhorns?
TV schedule: Tuesday, April 2, 9:00 pm ET. ESPN
Arena: Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York
While the Texas Tech Red Raiders represented the Big 12 to make the program’s first-ever Final Four appearance, two other teams in the same conference are still alive in the postseason as well in both TCU and Texas. Both teams had legit arguments to make the Big Dance as at-large teams but had to settle for the NIT.
Texas (19-16) nearly fell multiple times on their way to Madison Square Garden, barely getting by South Dakota State and needed overtime to defeat Xavier. It was easier in the quarterfinal matchup, beating Colorado by 13 points. Like in the regular season, it’s been a balanced effort for the Longhorns offensively. Dylan Osetkowski led the team in scoring two of the three games, while Kerwin Roach and Courtney Ramey providing solid scoring.
They take on TCU (23-13) again, who had a much easier time in the NIT so far at home. All of their wins have been by at least 13 points, including beating Creighton 71-58. Kouat Noi was the star in that game with 25 points, while Desmond Bane dropped 30 to beat Nebraska in the earlier round. It was more of a balanced effort to beat Sam Houston State to open the NIT.
Because these teams play in the same conference, the players and staffs are familiar with one another. Hopefully, the Longhorns have figured out a way to beat TCU, after losing both games to them in the regular season. Noi and Bane combined for 32 points in the 65-61 victory at home, before going to Austin and beating Texas 69-56 in the regular season finale, led by Bane’s career-high 34. The win wasn’t enough to get the Horned Frogs to the NCAA Tournament, while it likely put the nail in the Longhorns’ coffin.
Both teams are optimistic for next season, returning some quality underclassmen talent. Like Mississippi State a year ago, a run in the NIT could propel both teams for 2019-20. For this matchup, TCU’s offense likely will be too much once again for the Longhorns. Beating the same team three times is hard but look for the Horned Frogs to do just that.