Four things to know about TCU’s next opponent, No. 2 Kansas
There’s no easing into conference play for TCU as the Horned Frogs’ men’s basketball team begins Big 12 play on the road at No. 2 Kansas on Saturday.
It’s one of three straight games against opponents ranked No. 11 or higher. The Jayhawks (12-1) have shown all the makings of being a Final Four caliber team with wins over Kentucky, Tennessee and UConn during the non-conferene portion of their schedule.
TCU (11-2) showed potential during the first stretch of the season, but lost to quality opponents Clemson and Nevada at neutral sites. The trip to Lawrence is another opportunity for the Horned Frogs to score a quality win and make a case as a top-25 team.
Here’s four things to know about the Jayhawks ahead of TCU’s Big 12 opener:
Player of the Year?
Michigan transfer Hunter Dickinson has provided a significant boost to Kansas with an All-America caliber season. The 7-foot-2 senior center is averaging 18.5 points and 12.5 rebounds per game while shooting 60 percent from the field. Dickinson is even knocking down long distance shots and has hit over 50 percent of his 3-point attempts.
Even with the expanded range, Dickinson is going to do most of his work right in front of the basket with his size and well developed skills. He also provides rim protection with 1.3 blocks per game. Aside from a comfortable win against Yale, Dickinson has scored at least 13 points in every game this season including 27 against Kentucky.
The closest big TCU has seen to Dickinson was Clemson’s P.J. Hall, who scored 17 in the Horned Frogs’ 74-66 loss on Dec. 9. But more than half of Hall’s 11 field goal attempts were 3s, don’t expect the same from Dickinson. TCU will need its three man rotation of Ernest Udeh, Xavier Cork and Essam Mostafa to play their best game of the year.
A breakout star
The Jayhawks leading scorer is senior forward Kevin McCullar Jr. A fifth-year super senior, McCullar has gone from a capable starter to the Big 12’s leading scorer at 20.4 points per game along with 6.9 rebounds and 4.6 assists. He’s doubled his production from last year when he averaged a respectable 10.7 points per game.
Where McCullar has shown the most progress is as a shooter and playmaker. He’s knocking down a career-high 37.7 percent of his 3s on four attempts, also a career-high. McCullar has always been a willing passer, but now he’s essentially the secondary playmaker behind point guard Dajuan Harris Jr.
Like Dickinson, this will be the best wing TCU has faced all season, but the Horned Frogs can counter with one of the top defenders in the league in Micah Peavy plus Emanuel Miller.
One exploitable area?
Kansas is well-coached and has one of the most efficient offenses in the country. As a team the Jayhawks are shooting 50 percent from the field and 37 percent from 3, top-60 nationally. Along with two of the best players in the country in Dickinson and McCullar Kansas also has another double-digit scorer in K.J. Adams (12.2 ppg).
There’s a clear hierarchy and offensive identity which is why Kansas has excelled so far this season. However if there’s one area TCU could take advantage of is Kansas’ turnovers. The Jayhawks average over 12 a game which is far from worst in the country, but Kansas is going up against a TCU defense that is top-10 in steals. Steals lead to transition where the Horned Frogs still have the country’s best fast break offense by a large margin.
In the Jayhawks’ lone loss to Marquette Kansas turned it over 18 times which led to 20 points for the Golden Eagles in their 73-59 win. TCU will need to create the same type of havoc to pull off the upset.
Udeh’s return
If there’s a X-factor for TCU’s Big 12 opener it’s Ernest Udeh, the Kansas transfer. Udeh appeared in 30 games for the Jayhawks last season, but only averaged 8.3 minutes a game. Udeh arrived in Fort Worth for a bigger role and he’s gotten it with starts in every game, but the production hasn’t been there consistently.
In Monday’s win over Texas A&M-Commerce Udeh had his best game of the season with 13 points, 18 rebounds and three blocks. Having a performance like that against Dickinson would be huge, but might be asking for a lot. Instead TCU needs Udeh to maintain the same type of motor he showed against TAMU-C, when he hustled for loose balls and kept offensive possessions alive with rebounds.
His defense on Dickinson could end up being the difference as well. This is the type of stage Udeh wanted to be on when he transferred to TCU and now he’ll have his moment.
