With a back loaded Big 12 slate, Saturday’s games were the calm before the storm of what could be an incredible race to decide the Big 12 regular season champion.
The only game between ranked opponents on Saturday was No. 8 Houston at No. 16 BYU. Houston is one of the best road teams in college basketball while BYU has had trouble of late against ranked teams. There’s an opportunity for Houston to test itself at altitude and an opportunity for BYU to right the ship and claim a second top 25 win this season.
Houston prevailed, 77-66. Those takeaways, and so much more, on a stacked Saturday in the Big 12.
BYU’s Real Problem
If you’re trying to figure out this stretch for BYU, during which the Cougars have lost five of their last six, it isn’t about the offense. It’s about the defense.
Look back at the last four losses. BYU gave up at least 84 points in each game and at least 90 points in each of the last two. Throw out the 84-71 loss to Texas Tech and the Cougars averaged 85.6 points. So, BYU has kept up offensively.
It was hidden in the final score of Saturday’s game because Houston likes to play halfcourt ball and BYU likes to push the pace. The Cougars played better defense, but Houston overcame it by being more efficient offensively and by winning on the offensive glass late in the game. Those offensive boards gave Houston more offensive chances, too.
BYU is an incredible second half team. The Cougars are really a “no lead is safe” team on the offensive end. But for this team to get out of this funk and get back in the Top 25 — which they will surely fall out of on Monday — they must get more stops. If you’re looking for positives, I felt BYU played better on defense.
A.J. Dybansta is getting through everything Big 12 defenses are throwing at him after Texas Tech staggered him a few weeks ago. BYU got a great game from Robert Wright III and could have used more from Richie Saunders.
Teams fire at variable rates throughout the season. BYU’s timing is off right now. I think the Cougars are about to reclaim it — if the defense gets back on track.
Houston’s Growing Strength
I’ve done radio hits throughout the season. I’ve been asked in November, in December and in January about Houston. The questions always seem to be the same. Is there a problem with the Cougars? Is there something we should be worried about? Is Houston’s dominance of the past two seasons an aberration? Well, my answer has been the same every time I’ve been asked those questions.
No, no, and no.
If there was a time for Houston to take a step back it would have been this season. After all, it’s hard to replace guys like L.J. Cryer and J’Wan Roberts. But coach Kelvin Sampson clearly had a plan. That plan has slowly but surely come together.
Houston’s key holdovers, Milos Uzan, Emanuel Sharp and JoJo Tugler have given the Cougars consistent minutes. That has given Houston’s young emerging core of players time to grow.
First, it was freshman guard Kingston Flemings, who came out of the gate and gave Houston a boost from the start of the season. Next, it was freshman forward Chris Cenac, who needed more time to develop his offensive game and is now a major player on both sides of the floor. Finally, another freshman, Isiah Harwell, is delivering good minutes off the bench, especially on the defensive end.
The three freshmen have been perfect fits for Houston. Sampson talks often about the culture he’s built in Houston and how that fitting into that is just as important as talent. All three fit that mold. That’s part of the reason Houston can play eight or nine per game and remain successful.
So, no more questions about whether we’re worried about Houston. We’re not worried about Houston. The Cougars are every bit the Final Four contender they were a year ago.
Meanwhile …
Elsewhere Around the Big 12 Conference… K-State, Yikes
The day started with this.
Then it led into this.
And yet, for nearly 40 minutes, Kansas State was beating TCU in a game that would have all but ended any hopes of the Horned Frogs reaching the NCAA Tournament as an at-large team.
And then…
Kansas State lost, 84-82, in a game it led for nearly 40 minutes even with a short-handed roster. But that’s how it goes when the Wildcats are having this kind of season. Kansas State has lost nine of its 10 Big 12 games, including four straight losses.
After the game?
“I’m frustrated because there are things I feel like I could do better,” Tang said via the Wichita Eagle’s Kellis Robinett. “I’m going to figure that out and do it. It’s a process. We just keep going. This is not what we intended, but this is where we are at … We’re going to respond the right way.”
Suddenly that $18.7 million buyout seems a little smaller, as it all overshadowed Marcus Johnson’s breakout game. He scored 15 points on five 3-pointers.
Meanwhile, TCU gets to live another day as the Horned Frogs try to build a case for the NCAA Tournament. This was a necessary win, fueled by another great game by Xavier Edmonds, who scored 26 points and grabbed 10 rebounds as he nailed down his fifth straight double-double.
TCU has eight games left. A 6-2 record would get the Horned Frogs to 20 wins before Kansas City, which gives them a chance.
Next Saturday in Tucson
The Big 12 is going to get ESPN Gameday on campus for the third time in four weekends when it heads to Tucson, Ariz., as the No. 1 Wildcats will host the No. 13 Texas Tech Red Raiders.
I’m heading to Arizona for spring training on Friday. First stop before Rangers camp will be Tucson. I was going there anyway, but this works out great. The Arizona and Arizona State women play their second Territorial Cup game of the season after Gameday and then the Wildcats and Red Raiders face off.
The only question is whether Arizona will still be undefeated? The Wildcats handled Oklahoma State easily, 84-47. How dominant were the Wildcats? They held OSU’s Anthony Roy to just 10 points. Next for the Wildcats is a trip to Allen Fieldhouse to take on Kansas on Big Monday. It has the potential to be epic. Here’s why.
Irresistible force meets immovable object. Clear your calendars.
