The Longhorns are feeling pretty good about themselves after winning at West Virginia on Wednesday, their fourth straight. If not for a one-point loss at TCU, Texas would be tied for first in the Big 12. Instead they are bunched with Kansas in second, one game off the conference lead.
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HOW THE TEXAS LONGHORNS CAN COVER THE SPREAD
Texas did to West Virginia what the Mountaineers usually do to their opponents. The Longhorns locked down on defense and suffocated WVU in their 56-49 win on Wednesday. And they did it against a really good team.
Texas held the Mountaineers to 31.1 percent shooting from the field and 14.3 percent from three-point range. Add that to a Texas offense that only committed eight turnovers against a team more well-known for creating havoc, and you have a recipe for a road upset.
The Longhorns have now won three straight after struggling initially following the loss of Cameron Ridley to injury. Had it not been for an ugly one-point loss to TCU, Texas could be tied for first in Big 12 play. There was little hope for a win this week with No. 3 Kansas up next. Now Texas has a chance to sweep the grueling road trip.
A strong game from Javan Felix, who scored 17 points with just one turnover at WVU, overshadowed an unusually quiet night from leading scorer Isaiah Taylor, who only scored four points. Developing more scoring depth was something Texas desperately needed to do, but having Taylor engaged against the Jayhawks increases the Longhorns’ chances of securing another upset road win.
HOW THE KANSAS JAYHAWKS CAN COVER THE SPREAD
There will be nights like the one the Jayhawks experienced Tuesday. The home team will do things it hasn’t done all season. The whistles all seem to go the other way, and coach Bill Self is looking down the bench for the player who will help power them through to victory. That’s life on the road in the Big 12.
But let’s not overreact here. Kansas is still one of the few very good teams in a year full of good-but-not-great ones. The Jayhawks loss to Oklahoma State won’t derail their quest for a 12th Big 12 crown and doesn’t mean they’re somehow not a Final Four contender.
In two straight road losses, Kansas wasn’t able to match its opponent’s fight. Kansas had no answer collectively or individually. They were missing the guy who could step up and demand more from his teammates. Maybe it’s because they have such balance and depth that no one has separated from the pack.
Having depth is a great luxury, and the Jayhawks will win a lot more games this season because of it. But Kansas will be searching for the guy when, inevitably, it has another night like the one experienced on Tuesday.
ANALYSIS AND ODDS PREDICTION
Kansas has perhaps the best home-court advantage in college basketball and the Jayhawks are happy to be back playing in Allen Fieldhouse after losing two road games in their last three overall. The rowdy home fans give the Jayhawks an energy that was noticeably absent Tuesday in Stillwater, when they were humbled by Oklahoma State, losing by 19 points as a 9-point favorite. Kansas gets everybody’s best and more times than not, the Jayhawks are up to the task of matching the intensity level. Not against the Cowboys, however. Kansas will be tested again by a Texas squad that just knocked off West Virginia in Morgantown, a place where the Jayhawks lost just over a week ago. Kansas will come out with a sense of urgency after losing two of its last three games and playing at home is the deciding factor in what amounts to a Jayhawks victory.
Kansas 72, Texas 65
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