Men's Basketball: TCU Returns Home Seeking Win, Season Sweep of Baylor
TCU (17-7 overall, 6-5 Big 12) will try to avoid its longest losing streak of the season and complete the season sweep of No. 14 Baylor (18-6, 7-4) Saturday at Schollmaier Arena.
The No. 17 Horned Frogs dropped a second-straight conference game at Kansas State, 82-61, earlier this week. Baylor, meanwhile, has won eight of its last nine games.
During that stretch, the Bears have averaged just 8.4 turnovers per contest and beat No. 9 Kansas and Arkansas in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge. The only blemish was a five-point loss at No. 5 Texas.
Without preseason All-Big 12 guard Mike Miles Jr., TCU has struggled on offense. The Horned Frogs committed a season-high 19 turnovers which turned into a quick pace favoring Kansas State. Miles has been out since hyperextending his knee on January 18.
Center Eddie Lampkin returned from an ankle injury but had minimal impact. Lampkin recorded 1 rebound, 1 assist, 1 block, and two turnovers in 18 minutes. Forward Emanuel Miller did his best to control the paint with 9 rebounds and 10 points.
Kansas State ultimately outrebounded TCU 40-28, including 13 to 6 on the offensive glass, and held the nation’s top-fast break team to 10 points.
Miles’ absence has allowed different teammates to lead the scoring attack. Guard Damion Baugh scored 16 points against Kansas State while Micah Peavy and JaKobe Coles chipped in 11 points.
Coles, in particular, has taken advantage of increased playing time (22 minutes up from 14.5). He has scored 10 or more points in four straight games, on 52% shooting (20-of-38). Prior to this, Coles averaged 7 points per game.
When Baylor and TCU met in Waco earlier this season, Miles’ career-high 33 points played a major role in the win. Someone else must step up if the Horned Frogs have any chance at slowing down one of the Big 12’s hottest teams.
Especially since the Bears are the conference's second-best scoring offense (79 points per game).
Baylor boasts two of the conference’s top 10 scorers in guard Keyonte George (17.2 points) and guard Adam Flagler (15.1). George and Flagler also combine for five made 3-pointers per game.
George paced the Bears with 23 points in an 82-72 win over Oklahoma on Wednesday. Flagler chipped in 20 points and four assists while guard Langston Love added 19 points.
Baylor played the second half without guard LJ Cryer, who averages 14 points per game, and forward Caleb Lohner due to injuries. This opened the door for Love, who hit 7-of-9 shots, including 2-of-2 from behind the three-point line.
After opening conference play with three straight losses, including an 88-87 loss versus TCU, Baylor has moved into a four-way tie for second place in the conference standings.
TCU and Baylor will face off at 3pm and the game will be televised on ESPN2.
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