‘Healthy’ TCU men set to open Big 12 play at Oklahoma State

The dress rehearsals are finally over. The TCU men’s basketball team begins the new year by opening Big 12 play Saturday at Oklahoma State.

Tipoff is set for 3 p.m. at Gallagher-Iba Arena in Stillwater, Okla.

“It’s going to be fun,” TCU coach Trent Johnson said. “It’s big boy basketball from here. The bottom line is we’re as healthy as we’ve been in terms of guys who returned [from last year].

“It should be interesting moving forward.”

Washburn was effective last season as a sophomore, posting double figures in eight games — including a team-high 16 points in a victory over Kansas State in the first round of the Big 12 Tournament.

He finished the season ranked among the top 10 in the conference in blocked shots and steals.

Also expected to return is Devonta Abron, who sat out Monday’s game as a precaution. It is unknown whether Dalton Dry (ill) will make the trip.

Oklahoma State (8-4) likely will be without senior guard Phil Forte, who has missed the past nine games with a torn ligament in his left elbow. His official status is “out indefinitely,” but it’s looking more and more like his season is over — though no one with the team has suggested that.

Forte was expected to be one of the Cowboys’ top scoring options this season. Instead, Jeff Newberry and Leyton Hammonds — a Richland High product — are two of three players averaging double figures for Oklahoma State.

The Horned Frogs (8-4) have lost their last five conference openers and are just 6-19 since the breakup of the Southwest Conference in 1996.

This story was originally published January 1, 2016 at 8:28 PM with the headline "‘Healthy’ TCU men set to open Big 12 play at Oklahoma State."