Texas Basketball: 3 keys to Longhorns downing No. 17 Kansas Jayhawks
3. The Longhorns cannot afford any miscues against a Kansas team capable of taking advantage
While the Longhorns are average among Big 12 teams in turning the ball over – they average 13.5 per game, fifth in the Big 12, and average a turnover on 18.9% of their possessions, also fifth – their miscues against West Virginia were deadly, and they must avoid a repeat against a Kansas team capable of scoring off those mistakes.
Against the Mountaineers, Texas turned the ball over 16 times – a turnover on 22.5% of their possessions – which led to a 25-13 edge in points off turnovers for West Virginia. That has been an area of concern for the Longhorns, particularly in close games – they held a narrow 22-16 edge in their loss to Oklahoma State and were actually outscored, 16-13, against Kansas State.
The Jayhawks do not necessarily rely much on scoring off of teams’ mistakes – they scored just two points off of Texas Tech’s nine turnovers, after all – but they are very much capable of scorching teams off of their miscues. Against Kansas State – just a week after Texas played them – the Jayhawks dismantled the Wildcats, maintaining a 29-11 edge.
Valuing the basketball begins with protecting it against Kansas’ backcourt. In the Jayhawks’ five-game win-streak, the trio of Ochai Agbaji, Marcus Garrett, and Christian Braun are averaging a combined 5.6 steals per game. For Texas, that means players like Andrew Jones III – who recorded six turnovers against WVU – and Courtney Ramey and Kai Jones – both of whom had three apiece – must value the basketball.
In fact, points off turnovers was one of the lone areas where Kansas actually enjoyed success in the last meeting between these two teams, outscoring Texas, 14-10, off of 16 Longhorn miscues. Ramey and Greg Brown were responsible for four turnovers apiece – while seven different Longhorns turned the ball over at one point.
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Neither team are in the race for a Big 12 regular-season title, given Baylor’s dominance – but this game very much carries significance by way of national rankings and, ultimately, seeding. The Jayhawks have finally found their way back into the national conversation, and look to pick up a resume-building win – while the Longhorns are desperately in need of a confidence-booster.
This one could go either way – but, guaranteed, the Longhorns are in for a fight after dominating the Jayhawks back in January.