Kansas basketball vs. TCU could be a ‘trap game’ for Jayhawks
Kansas basketball takes on a struggling TCU team this Saturday, and it has all of the makings of a trap game for the Jayhawks.
Kansas basketball’s game this Saturday on the road against TCU is a trap game if there ever was one. The Horned Frogs have been struggling lately, plus given the timing of the game and the fact that the Jayhawks are on a streak, it could become an easy loss for Kansas if they aren’t careful.
First of all, TCU is on a four-game losing streak, and they’ve lost six of their last seven. That isn’t to say that the Horned Frogs are “due for a win,” but that Kansas could easily go in with a “we’ve got this” type of mindset. If the Jayhawks drift into overconfidence, it could be the first step in an embarrassing road loss.
Going along those same lines, the Jayhawks have to stop Desmond Banes, who’s averaging 16.2 points per game this season for the Frogs. While one superstar player from a team shouldn’t really scare fans due to the amazing defensive skills of Marcus Garrett, that doesn’t mean Bane won’t go off. Plus, Garrett has been dealing with injuries all season, just look back at the effect his absence had on the Villanova game where Kansas lost by one point.
Another key factor for this game is the time and place. It’s an 11:00 a.m. tip (which should be illegal), and it’s a road game. Early morning games can be tough for players to get up for, and there certainly seems to be a correlation with getting off to slow starts and morning games. If TCU can keep the game close down the stretch at home, anything can happen.
Finally, Kansas is on a nice winning streak after dropping a home game to Baylor on January 11. The Jayhawks have won seven in a row, and this figures into the point about Kansas coming in with some swagger. There’s nothing wrong with being confident, but it can be hard for teams to stay focused against inferior opponents like TCU.
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Kansas basketball must stay focused against TCU to pick up the win. They lead the Horned Frogs in basically every statistic, so there isn’t really a question of which team is better on paper. If there’s one thing Bill Self has proven time and time again though it’s that he can keep his guys focused and ready to go. This game might be a challenge though.
The Jayhawks and TCU are set to begin play at 11 a.m. in Fort Worth this Saturday. The game will be broadcast on ESPN2.