Horned Frogs vs. Jayhawks Second Big 12 Match-up
After three straight postponements, the TCU Horned Frogs will finally be back in action vs. the number 15 Kansas Jayhawks. Both teams enter with three straight losses on their resumé, so somebody is going to get a win finally.
TCU is also currently at 8th in the Big 12 standings and sitting right above them at 7th is Kansas. Both teams are desperate for a win, with TCU trying to get back into the race and Kansas needing to get out of their funk in a bad way.
TCU VS. Kansas Match-up
If we look at the matchup between the two earlier in the year, TCU really depended on fast breakpoints and scoring early in the possession before Kansas had a chance to set up on defense. Kansas, however, took advantage of this and stole some easy buckets by picking off errant passes.
The big matchup will be down low with Kevin Samuel and Jalen Wilson. Neither team need those guys to score but to steal possessions. Offensive rebounds will be a premium, and second-chance points will be vital down the stretch.
Defensively it’s pretty simple for both teams. For TCU, it comes down to stopping Kansas from getting to the rim and contesting shots. In their previous games, Kansas got way too many easy baskets coming off screens because the TCU defense would not rotate to the basket.
For Kansas, it will come down to stopping TCU fast breaks to the basket and then not allowing uncontested threes. RJ Nembhard was left on an island when Kansas would collapse the lane, and he knocked down several easy threes early in the game.
TCU also cannot fall behind early. In their losses to Kansas and Oklahoma, they were down 14 at half both times and wound up losing both times badly. But in their game against Baylor, they led 29-28, entering the second half, and ended up losing by 16, which is not bad considering Baylor is the No. 2 school in the land.
Kansas is also deadly with a lead. Since Bill Self took over the program in 2003, the Jayhawks consistently have had one of the better defenses in college basketball, and they hold leads better than most.
TCU vs. Kansas Conclusion
If TCU manages to defend the inside, steal possessions with offensive rebounds, and work to stay ahead, they have a real good shot at an upset victory. But in the end, Kansas is given an 86.4% chance by ESPN, and it’s for a reason. And I have Kansas handling their business, winning 76-64 against the Horned Frogs.
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Story By: Ryan Scott, Campus Live Intern
