Texas Basketball: 5 bold predictions vs. Kansas State

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AUSTIN, TEXAS – JANUARY 29: Kerwin Roach II #12 of the Texas Longhorns moves with the ball while being fouled in the final minutes against the Kansas Jayhawks at The Frank Erwin Center on January 29, 2019 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Chris Covatta/Getty Images) /

3. Kerwin Roach Jr. goes cold

Among the streakiest players in the Big 12 is one of the most experienced players for Texas basketball this year. Roach Jr. is a very solid facilitator and shot creator for this Texas offense, but he also comes with his caveats. The two-game stretch where Roach Jr. shot 8-for-28 from the field against Kansas and Iowa State is a prime example of that.

What bodes well for Roach Jr. and the Horns of late is that most of the streakiness we’ve seen from him over the course of his career on the Forty Acres has mostly gone away. Roach Jr. scored in double figures in each of the last nine games. The last time he didn’t score in double figures was against West Virginia back on Jan. 5.

At some point soon, it does seem like Roach Jr. will cool down a bit and have one game where he doesn’t score in double figures. At least in the outings against Kansas and Iowa State, Roach Jr. was getting to the free-throw line frequently and hitting those shots. That’s where Roach Jr. can provide a ton of value even when he’s cold from the field.

Kansas State is a team that plays some of the most solid defense in the nation, not just in the Big 12. If Roach Jr. starts to catch a difficult time shooting from the field, it’s not out of the question that it would happen against a very tough defense like that of Kansas State.

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