Texas Basketball: 3 Bold Predictions for the Big 12 Tournament

Postseason basketball is here as Rodney Terry leads Texas basketball and the two-seed Longhorns into Kansas City for the Big 12 Tournament.

Texas (23-8, 12-6) wrapped up its best regular season in over a decade with a 75-59 trouncing of the Kansas Jayhawks. The win offered much-needed momentum as the Horns turn to what they hope to be a very successful month of March.

The Longhorns begin their Big 12 Tournament action on Thursday with a 6 p.m. CT tip against the winner of No. 7 Oklahoma State vs No. 10 Oklahoma. If they are to win that game, they will take on the winner of No. 3 Kansas State vs No. 6 TCU on Friday at 8:30 p.m. CT.

Everything sets up well for Texas as they aim to win their second Big 12 Tournament title in three years.

The Longhorns are a veteran-laden squad with (at least) five players on this roster competing for the final time at the collegiate level. This adds an extra level of motivation as these players try to accomplish something only Brock Cunningham and Sir’Jabari Rice have done: win a conference tournament.

As we approach what will undoubtedly be a whirlwind of a week in Kansas City, let’s look at three bold predictions I believe Longhorn fans should keep their eye on.

Three bold predictions for Texas basketball’s trip to Kansas City

1. Marcus Carr and Tyrese Hunter combine for 30+ PPG

At the start of the season, one of the main questions surrounding Texas basketball was how Marcus Carr and Tyrese Hunter would coexist in the backcourt. As it turns out, when you have two capable and talented guards, it typically works itself out.

That is not to say that Carr and Hunter did not deal with some rough patches throughout this season.

Hunter had a 13-game stretch from Jan. 7 to Feb. 18 where he averaged 7.2 points per game while shooting 31.4 percent from the field. The sophomore had lost his spot on the court to close out games and seemed to be dealing with confidence issues. Fortunately for Texas basketball and its fans, Hunter has turned a corner over the last two weeks.

In his last four games, Hunter is averaging 15.8 points per game, shooting 45.2 percent from the field and 50.0 percent from deep. His confidence is palpable as the sophomore guard has a history of stepping up in March.

As for Carr, he comes into the Big 12 Tournament averaging 9.0 points and shooting just over 25 percent over the last three games. I attribute this to nothing more than a blip on the radar. Carr is the best pure scorer on this team, and Hunter’s success will only open up more space for him.

Guards win in March, and I believe we will see the best version of the Carr/Hunter backcourt this week in Kansas City.

2. Brock Cunningham averages 2.0+ made threes per game

Brock Cunningham is the glue that holds this Texas team together. The intangibles he brings to the Texas basketball program are hard to quantify, but they are necessities this team cannot live without.

I believe the culmination of his years as a “glue guy” come together this March when he provides a significant boost to the Longhorn offense.

Do not be mistaken; Cunningham is a very good three-point shooter. This season he has knocked down 23-54 (42.6%) of his attempts from beyond the arc. Although the sample size is not massive, Cunningham has proven he can take and make big shots when it matters most.

Let me make this clear: I have no anecdotal evidence that Cunningham is a player who will succeed in the Big 12 Tournament. He has seen the floor in three total Big 12 Tournament games, scoring ten combined points while knocking down two of his three attempts from deep.

That said, the Austin, Texas native feels poised to hit some massive shots for the Horns this postseason.

With the attention opposing teams will have to pay to guys like Carr, Hunter, Rice, and Timmy Allen, Cunningham should see his fair share of open looks. I expect him to capitalize on those in Kansas City.

3. Texas reaches its 2nd Big 12 Tournament final since 2012

Throwing out arbitrary, quantifiable bold predictions are fun, but what everyone wants to know is, can Texas win the Big 12 Tournament?

In short, yes, I believe they can.

The way the draw sets up, Texas will take on either Oklahoma State or Oklahoma in the quarterfinals. They are 2-0 against both teams this season.

A semifinal game against the winner of Kansas State and TCU will be a battle, but the Horns will be a favorite in either one of those matchups.

Texas held Kansas State to just 66 points in Manhattan during their Feb. 4 win over the Wildcats. As for the Horned Frogs, that is a program that has never reached a Big 12 Tournament final. A healthy Mike Miles Jr makes TCU lethal, but the Longhorns will be kicking themselves for their Mar. 1 two-point loss in Fort Worth and should be motivated for revenge.

I believe Texas will find itself in the Big 12 Tournament final against either the Kansas Jayhawks or the Baylor Bears. Although making the final as the No. 2 seed lines up with bracket predictions, it is certainly a feat that should be celebrated.

For the Horns, it would be just their second appearance in the Big 12 Tournament final since 2012. It would also all but lock them into a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

While I believe Kansas and Baylor have a better chance to cut down the nets in Kansas City, a 2-1 Big 12 Tournament run with some extra motivation thrown in at the end should bode well for Texas in the back half of March.