Kansas Jayhawks game prediction: Why TCU matchup could test freshman Flory Bidunga
The No. 12-ranked Kansas Jayhawks men’s basketball team is set to play TCU on Wednesday.
KU beat Kansas State on Saturday, while TCU beat Baylor on Sunday.
Below is a scouting report and prediction of the game.
No. 12 Kansas vs. TCU game details
When/where: 6 p.m., Schollmaier Arena (Fort Worth)
TV/Streaming: ESPN2
Opponent’s record: 10-7
KenPom (Ken Pomeroy) Ranking: 79
Betting line: Kansas is a 6.5-point favorite
All statistics are from KenPom.com and EvanMiya. KenPom stats only include Division I competition.
TCU team strengths
Great defense: The Horned Frogs rank No. 28 in adjusted defensive efficiency (96.6). Adjusted defensive efficiency is the number of points given up per 100 possessions, adjusted for opponent. KU ranks No. 4 in the same metric.
3-point defenders: Opponents only shoot 29.5% on 3-pointers vs. TCU, ranking No. 26.
Tough schedule: TCU’s strength of schedule ranks No. 26 overall.
TCU team weaknesses
Nothing easy inside: TCU ranks No. 255 in 2-point percentage (48.7%).
Nothing easy at the line: The Horned Frogs struggle at the free throw line, shooting 63.5%. That ranks No. 354 overall.
Shot-making struggles: TCU ranks No. 238 in effective field goal percentage (49.2%).
TCU Name to Know
6-foot-3 senior guard Noah Reynolds (No. 21)
+ Quality scorer (12.5 PPG)
+ Solid passer (3.4 rebounds per game)
+ Solid 3-point shooter (34.1% career 3-point pct)
+ Doesn’t turn the ball over much (1.1 TPG)
- Average free throw shooter (FT % of 71.9)
- Not much of a rebounder (2.4 RPG)
Tale of the tape
Although TCU ranks No. 256 in 3-point rate (36.2), one Horned Frog loves to shoot 3-pointers: Brendan Wenzel. He averages 4.9 3-pointers per game while shooting a blistering 45.6% from deep.
On his game-winning shot against Baylor, he illustrated that shot-making prowess. In a clutch situation, Wenzel caught the pass in the left corner and drained the corner 3-pointer before the defender could properly contest.
For the Jayhawks, chasing Wenzel off the 3-point line is key. He’s one of the few TCU players who can generate his shot and gives the Horned Frogs a chance of keeping up with the Jayhawks’ offense.
Wenzel is 6-foot-8, so if freshman Flory Bidunga guards him, it’ll be a big challenge for the freshman.
Game Prediction
On paper, these teams are similar. Both teams’ strengths lie on the defensive end.
That said, TCU is one of the worst offensive teams in the Big 12. The Horned Frogs struggle to generate quality shots.
The offensive gap between KU (a good but not elite offensive team) and TCU is massive. It’s hard to imagine the Jayhawks losing this game unless Kansas is completely shut down on the offensive end.
I like the Jayhawks to win and cover.
Kansas 76, TCU 66
Shreyas’ pick to cover the spread: Kansas (-6.5)
Shreyas’ season record: 14-3
Shreyas’ record against the spread: 10-7
KU Player to Watch: Flory Bidunga
KU freshman big Flory Bidunga made his first-ever start vs. Kansas State. He finished with six points, nine rebounds and two assists in 25 minutes.
Still, he did finish with four fouls.
To hear it from coach Bill Self, the Bidunga and Hunter Dickinson combination is part of KU’s best lineups. With KJ Adams missing another game, let’s see how Bidunga looks in his (likely) second start — and first on the road.
