#8 Kansas Jayhawks at Texas Christian Horned Frogs
Daniel-Meyer Coliseum – Fort Worth, Texas
Saturday, January 25, 2014, 9:00 pm Eastern, TV: ESPNU
Opening Line: Kansas -15
Current Line: Kansas -14 1/2
Opening Total: 138
Current Total; 138
Opening Money Line: Kansas -1375 / TCU +918
Current Money Line: Kansas -1300 / TCU +894
The 14-4 Kansas Jayhawks lead the Big 12 with a 5-0 record. Every other team in the conference has at least two losses. Kansas is trying to win at least a share of the Big 12 title for the tenth straight season. The Jayhawks travel to the 9-9 TCU Horned Frogs who are in last place in the conference at 0-6. The Horned Frogs are the only team in the conference without a winning record.
Kansas leads the series 5-1 against TCU. The Horned Frogs stunned the Jayhawks 62-55 in Fort Worth last season. It was the first ever Big 12 win for TCU who joined the conference last season along with West Virginia, and one of two conference wins all season. Kansas would crush TCU 74-48 in Lawrence later in the season last year.
Kansas is coached by Bill Self. The Jayhawks have losses to Villanova in the Bahamas, at Colorado and Florida, along with a home loss to San Diego State. All four losses are by 6 points or less to teams ranked #21 or higher. Villanova, Florida, and San Diego State are all in the top ten. Kansas has key wins over Duke in Chicago, Wake Forest and UTEP in the Bahamas, New Mexico in Kansas City, plus home wins over Georgetown, Toledo, Kansas State and Oklahoma State, and Baylor 78-68 last Monday and road wins at Oklahoma and Iowa State. The Jayhawks have won 8 of the last 9 games including 5 straight games. Kansas is 8-9-1 ATS and the the total is 10-7 this season.
Kansas is outscoring teams 79-69 this season. The Jayhawks are #39 in scoring nationally. Kansas is shooting 50.6% from the field and 35.2% from 3 point range. The Jayhawks are #4 nationally in field goal percentage. Kansas makes 69.9% of their free throws. Jayhawk opponents are shooting 40.3% from the field and 34.1% from 3 point range. Kansas averages 38.2 rebounds per game and opponents average 28.8. Kansas averages 15.6 assists, 5.6 steals, 6.4 blocks, and 14.2 turnovers per game, and opponents average 11.3 assists, 6.6 steals, 2.2 blocks and 11.2 turnovers per game.
Freshman guard Andrew Wiggins is projected to be an NBA lottery pick. Wiggins averages 15.2 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1 steal and a block per game. Forward Perry Ellis averages 13.2 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game. Center Joel Embiid averages 11.1 points, 7.4 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 2.8 blocks per game. He is also a likely lottery pick. Guard Wayne Selden, Jr. averages 9.8 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game. Guard Naadir Tharpe averages 9.5 points, 2.5 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game. Frank Mason and Jamari Traylor also get significant minutes in the rotation.
TCU is coached by Trent Johnson. The Horned Frogs have losses to SMU, Longwood, to Harvard in the Great Alaska Shootout, at home against West Virginia, Kansas State and Texas Tech, plus road losses at Baylor, Oklahoma State and Oklahoma 77-69 Wednesday night. The Horned Frogs have lost six straight games. TCU has key wins over Tulsa twice (one at home, the other in Anchorage), at Washington State and at Mississippi State. The Horned Frogs are 6-6 ATS and the total is 3-8 this season.
TCU is being outscored 69-66 this season. The Horned Frogs are #301 out of 351 teams in scoring. TCU is shooting 41.3% from the field and 30.2% from 3 point range. The Horned frogs are #290 or worse in both categories. TCU makes 71.9% of their free throws. Horned Frog opponents are shooting 41.5% from the field and 34.3% from 3 point range. TCU averages 32.7 rebounds per game and opponents average 35.3 per game. The Frogs are #292 or worse in both categories. TCU averages 12.3 assists, 11.3 turnovers, 6.1 steals and 3.4 blocks per game. Opponents average 13.9 assists, 13.1 turnovers, 5.3 steals and 3.6 blocks per game.
Guard Kyan Anderson averages 15.1 points, 2.6 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 1.5 steals per game. Forward Amric Fields averages 13.8 points and 5.5 rebounds per game. Forward Brandon Parrish averages 10.2 points and 3.6 rebounds per game. Guard Jarvis Ray averages 9.6 points, 4 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 1.2 steals per game. Center Karviar Shepherd averages 8.4 points, 7.6 rebounds, 1.1 assists, and 2.1 blocks per game. Michael Williams and Christian Gore will also get significant minutes in the rotation. Four TCU players are out for the season, including guard Charles Hill, Jr, forwards Chris Washburn and Devonta Abron, and center Aaron Durley.
Kansas is 13-2-1 ATS in Big 12 games and 3-1-1 overall.
TCU is 16-35 against Big 12 teams, 18-42 at home, 1-4 after a straight up loss, 3-13 in Saturday games, 1-5 after a cover, overall, and against teams with winning records.
Kansas should roll in this game, but the Jayhawks could overlook this team with Iowa state coming up this week. The jayhawks did the same thing last year as they stumbled in Fort Worth. Even though all five Jayhawk starters from that game are gone, there are still reserves who remember what happened and will be out for revenge.
