Texas Christian @ Texas preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 23, 2019 ) Texas 61, Texas Christian 65

Two teams straddling the NCAA Tournament bubble and in desperate need for a victory square off Saturday when TCU visits Texas. The Horned Frogs, who have lost six of their last seven games and are down to seven scholarship players, will be trying to sweep the Longhorns for the second time in three seasons.

The Longhorns once again are expected be without senior guard Kerwin Roach II, who has scored 1,318 points in his career and leads the team in scoring with a 15.0 per-game average but has been suspended for the last four games. Speculation is Roach, who had 32 points in a 92-89 win over then No. 7-ranked North Carolina in November, could be back for next week's Big 12 Tournament where depending on which bracketology you follow Texas may need to win at least once to get into the Big Dance. A win over TCU would put the Longhorns at .500 in the in the ultra-competitive Big 12 along with impressive non-conference wins over the Tar Heels and Purdue (72-68). The injury-plagued Horned Frogs seemed like a sure bet for the NCAA tourney three weeks ago but have had two three-game losing streaks sandwiched around a 75-72 home win over Iowa State and will go into the Big 12 Tournament as the No. 8 seed.

TV: Noon, ESPN2

ABOUT TCU (18-12, 6-11 Big 12): The Frogs come in off back-to-back home losses to conference co-leaders Texas Tech (81-66) and Kansas State (64-52) and likely need another win or two to earn an NCAA bid. "It's about going and trying to be a little bit better," head coach Jamie Dixon told the Dallas Morning News. "I know it's hard to fathom that you can get better at this time of year, but that has to be our attitude, that has to be our energy and that has to be our thoughts." Junior guard Desmond Bane leads the team in scoring (14.6) while sophomore forward Kouat Noi is averaging 14.5 points and five rebounds and had 15 points and 11 rebounds in the first game against Texas.

ABOUT TEXAS (16-14, 8-9): Texas coach Shaka Smart, reported to be on the hot seat if the Longhorns miss the NCAA Tournament, said the team will have a statement next week about Roach's status for the Big 12 Tournament and that Roach will be honored in a pregame ceremony along with fellow senior Dylan Osetkowski. The 6-9 Osetkowski is second in scoring (10.2) while grabbing a team-leading 7.6 rebounds, and sophomore guard Matt Coleman III (10.1) and 6-11 freshman forward Jaxson Hayes (10.0) also are averaging in double figures. Sophomore guard Jase Febres has helped fill the big void created by Roach's suspension averaging 21.3 points over the first three games before being held to just four points on 1-of-10 shooting in a 70-51 loss at Texas Tech on Monday.

TIP-INS

1. TCU PG Alex Robinson ranks seventh in the nation in assists with an average of 7.0 per game.

2. Texas is 49-19 at home during the Smart era, including a 12-5 mark this season.

3. Hayes, considered a potential NBA lottery pick and the son of former NFL tight end Jonathan Hayes, is shooting 72.5 percent from the field and had a school-record consecutive FG-made streak of 18 earlier this season.

PREDICTION: Texas 73, TCU 66