Can KU basketball capture first Big 12 win by beating TCU? Here’s a prediction
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Kansas seeks first Big 12 win Tuesday at Allen Fieldhouse against TCU.
- TCU defends strongly (No. 19 adjusted efficiency) but shows offensive inconsistency.
- KU defense must rebound after UCF loss, while Flory Bidunga must boost offense.
The Kansas Jayhawks men’s basketball team will look to bounce back from a loss Tuesday against TCU.
The No. 22 Jayhawks (10-4) lost to UCF on Saturday, while TCU beat Baylor.
Here is more about Tuesday’s game, including a scouting report and prediction:
Kansas basketball vs. TCU: Game details
When: 8 p.m. Central on Tuesday, Jan. 6
Where: Allen Fieldhouse (Lawrence)
TV/streaming: ESPN
Opponent’s record: 11-3
KenPom (Ken Pomeroy) ranking: 45
Betting line: KU is a 7.5-point favorite.
All statistics are from KenPom.com and EvanMiya. KenPom stats include only Division I competition.
TCU Strengths
- Elite defense: TCU ranks No. 19 nationally in adjusted defensive efficiency (97.3), which measures the amount of points given up per 100 possessions, adjusted for opponent.
- Nothing easy inside the arc: The Horned Frogs are holding to opponents to just 46.5% on 2-pointers, ranking No. 42 overall.
- Glass cleaners: TCU ranks No. 66 in offensive rebounding percentage (35.1).
TCU Weaknesses
- Struggles from deep: TCU ranks No. 157 in 3-point percentage (34.2%)
- Free-throw struggles: The Horned Frogs rank No. 142 in team free-throw percentage (73.1%)
- Lack of bench trust: TCU doesn’t use the bench much, ranking No. 278 in bench minutes percentage (29.1)
TCU Name to Know
6-foot-7 sophomore forward David Punch (No. 15)
+ Solid scorer (14 points per game)
+ Good rebounder (7.7 per game)
+ Shot blocker (2.4 per game)
- Average free-throw shooter (70.4% at the line)
- Struggles from deep (23.5% on 3-pointers)
- Not much of a passer (1.9 APG)
Kansas-TCU game prediction
After a tough loss to UCF, the Jayhawks will try to notch their first Big 12 win Tuesday.
Luckily for the Jayhawks, KU matches up well against the Horned Frogs. By most metrics, TCU is mediocre on offense, which bodes well for a Kansas defense looking to get back on track.
KU’s defense is elite by nearly every metric, and coach Bill Self called out his team after a poor performance vs. UCF. Don’t be surprised if Kansas answers by flipping the script on the Horned Frogs.
Meanwhile, pay attention to KU’s offense. Not only does TCU have a good defense, but Kansas looked out of sync on offense in Darryn Peterson’s return.
Self has talked about that topic quite a bit in recent days. The Jayhawks need to get on track offensively when their star guard plays, and Tuesday will offer the next chance for that to be the case.
Prediction: Kansas 76, TCU 65
Shreyas’ pick to cover the spread: Kansas (-7.5)
Shreyas’ season record: 12-2
Shreyas’ record against the spread: 11-3
KU Player to Watch: Flory Bidunga
Look, KU big man Flory Bidunga is clearly having a good season. Still, he could be even better. He’s had too many games where his impact wasn’t felt, especially on offense.
A prime example was KU’s loss to UCF. Bidunga got in foul trouble in the first half, and when he did play, he didn’t do much on offense. He finished with eight points on five shots.
Self wants him to be KU’s second option on offense, but he’s yet to string together a long stretch of games where that’s been the case. Let’s see if he can get back on track vs. TCU.
