Texas basketball vs. TCU: 3 bold predictions for top 20 Moody matchup

The next matchup on tap for acting head coach Rodney Terry and No. 10 Texas basketball is set to come against longtime head coach Jamie Dixon and the No. 17 TCU Horned Frogs. Texas will host TCU at home at the Moody Center in Austin on Jan. 11.

Terry and the Longhorns will still be seeking out their first Big 12 win at the Moody Center in Austin. Texas’ first attempt at raking in a win at the Moody Center in Austin failed on Jan. 3, in a defensive meltdown where the Longhorns fell short to first-year head coach Jerome Tang and the Kansas State Wildcats in record-breaking fashion by the final score of 116-103.

Since then, though, the Longhorns have looked much better on the defensive end of the floor. Terry and the Longhorns responded to the defensive letdown vs. Kansas State with a solid performance in an important road meeting on Jan. 7 against the Oklahoma State Cowboys.

Texas took down Oklahoma State by the final score of 56-46 last weekend to come into this meeting with TCU with a record of 13-2 (2-1 Big 12). Meanwhile, TCU comes into this game with an identical record of 13-2 (2-1 Big 12) after a tough two-point loss to the Iowa State Cyclones at home on Jan. 7.

Bold predictions for Tyrese Hunter and No. 10 Texas basketball at home against Damion Baugh and No. 17 TCU

Here’s a look at three bold predictions as Texas returns home to the Moody Center to host TCU on Jan. 11.

Tyrese Hunter finds his offensive game again with 15 points

After finding a real spark in the 100+ point outing for the Longhorns in the loss to Kansas State last week, sophomore guard Tyrese Hunter posted another offensive dud in the win over Oklahoma State on Jan. 7.

Against the Pokes, Hunter posted just five points on 1-of-8 shooting from the field, 0-of-3 from beyond the arc, and 3-of-4 from the free-throw line. And for the first time in his collegiate career, Hunter didn’t register a single assist while posting more than two turnovers.

It’s becoming clear that the version of Hunter the Longhorns get at home at the Moody Center is much different than what he plays like on the road.

In two road outings this season, Hunter is averaging just five points per game on 13.3 percent shooting from the field and 0.0 percent on six attempts from deep.

Meanwhile, Hunter is averaging almost 14 points per game in 10 home outings this season on 46.2 percent shooting from the field and 37.5 percent from beyond the arc. He’s also distributed the ball more effectively at home than on the road this season. Hunter is averaging around three assists per game and 1.5 turnovers at home compared to one assist per game and three turnovers on the road.

All in all, I think this is a good spot for Hunter to put some of the poor offensive outings he mustered in the last few weeks behind him as Texas faces a TCU defense that has allowed more than 150 points in the last two contests.