No. 25 TCU Men's Basketball Preview: Texas
TCU will host Texas at home in Ed and Rae Schollmaier Arena on Saturday at 1 p.m. CT. The Frogs enter at 16-5 on the season and 5-3 in conference following an 85-78 win against No. 15 Texas Tech on Tuesday, extending their conference win streak to three games for the first time since 2020.
Texas will come in following back-to-back losses at No. 21 BYU and in overtime against No. 4 Houston at home. They stand with a 14-7 record overall and 3-5 in conference. The Longhorns are ranked 40th in NET and 35th in KenPom.
TCU will also be retiring Kenrich Williams' jersey at halftime, one of the most legendary players to ever put on a Horned Frog jersey. Notable people who will be in attendance for the ceremony will be OKC Thunder GM Sam Presti, former TCU head coach Trent Johnson, Dr. James Cash, Kurt Thomas, and Desmond Bane. Here are some keys to getting the win in front of the big crowd.
Win The Guard Battle
Texas' Max Abmas and Tyrese Hunter
Texas' backcourt is the backbone of their team, led by star guards Max Abmas and Tyrese Hunter. Abmas specifically leads the Longhorns in scoring and is third in all of the Big 12 at 17.7 points per game. TCU guards have been inconsistent at times this year, so neutralizing the guard production will be a massive factor for the Frogs' success. If Avery Anderson III, Trey Tennyson, and Jameer Nelson Jr. can match or exceed Texas' backcourt performance, then the Frogs will be in a good position to win the game.
Three-Point Shooting
TCU's Trey Tennyson shoots a three against No. 15 Texas Tech on January 30, 2024.
TCU's three-point shooting has improved much throughout the season, ranking second in the Big 12 at 39.2% since conference play started, only behind Texas Tech. Texas is ranked 210 of 362 in three-point defense in the nation, so they can look to take advantage of the Longhorns' flaw. Look for this to be a point of emphasis Saturday.
Crash The Glass
January 27, 2024; Waco, Texas, USA; TCU Horned Frogs center Ernest Udeh Jr. (8) grabs the rebound against the Baylor Bears during the second half at Paul and Alejandra Foster Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-USA TODAY Sports
The Horned Frogs have an insane height advantage over Texas in this matchup. They rank 42 of 362 in the nation in average height as opposed to the Longhorns' 249 rank. Additionally, Texas ranks 200 of 362 at giving up offensive rebounds, an area where TCU ranks 19th in the country. Look for players like Ernest Udeh Jr. and Emanuel Miller to try to take advantage of this and give the Frogs extra possessions.
This will be the last time Texas comes to Fort Worth for basketball as a member of the Big 12 before they leave for the SEC. If Jamie Dixon can win, he will tie Billy Tubbs for second most wins as a TCU head coach. It will be one of the most loud environments of the season as TCU looks for the last laugh in the rivalry.
How to Watch, Listen, and Stream: TCU vs. Baylor
- Tipoff - 1 p.m. CT, Saturday, February 3
- Television - ESPN2 with Rich Hollenberg and King McClure
- Radio - AM 570 KLIF with Brian Estridge and Collin Boddicker (also available on Sirius XM Channel 81, HFTV, TuneIn, and Varsity)
- Live Stream - fuboTV (Start your free trial)
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