Texas basketball preview, prediction: Longhorns return home against Oklahoma State
With its road win over Texas Tech Tuesday, Texas basketball strengthened its NCAA Tournament at-large hopes and planted itself firmly in the middle of the Big 12 pack, which means the Longhorns (18-10, 7-8 Big 12) would get a bye in the first round of the conference tournament that starts March 12 in Kansas City.
However, a loss to last-place Oklahoma State (12-6, 4-11) Saturday at 1 p.m. (ESPN2, 1300) could undo all of that.
Here’s what to watch as Texas tries to win two consecutive Big 12 games for the first time this season.
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Chendall Weaver: Knitting together a big game
Coming off the bench for the first time in almost two months, guard Chendall Weaver produced one of his best games of the season in one of the biggest contests of the year. The 6-foot-2 sophomore tied his season high with 15 points while hitting a career-best 9-of-11 free throws and pulling down a season-best eight rebounds in 31 minutes. Over the last 10 contests, Weaver has averaged 9.5 points and 4.9 rebounds in 25.4 minutes per game while shooting 49.2% from the floor and 32-of-45 from the foul line. Although head coach Rodney Terry started Ithiel Horton in place of Weaver in an attempt to open the game with more offense, he said Weaver “is just like a starter. It doesn’t matter if he starts or comes in (off the bench) because he’s going to play 30 minutes for us.”
More: Texas basketball's win spoiled by drama as Texas Tech fans throw objects onto court
The Big 12 Tournament: Horns seeking round-one bye
Texas needed the win over Texas Tech to stay one game ahead of Central Florida in the Big 12 standings. Why is that important? UCF is currently 11th in the conference at 6-9, and the 11th-place team has to place the last-place team in the first round of the Big 12 tournament. If Texas can avoid falling to 11th, it will get an extra day of rest as well as an easier second-round matchup. Texas closes the regular season at home against Oklahoma State and then visits fourth-place Baylor before the regular-season finale at home against a middle-of-the-pack Oklahoma team. Central Florida has a tougher closing stretch with home games against first-place Houston and second-place Iowa State before a visit to TCU.
Javon Small: Big key for Okie State
The Cowboys have lost back-to-back games at home, including a wrenching 77-71 setback setback to Central Florida Wednesday. But Oklahoma State has shown some danger, knocking off BYU and Cincinnati in recent weeks. Javon Small carries a big load for the Cowboys; the 6-3 junior guard from Indiana leads the team in minutes, points, 3-pointers and assists.
Texas vs. Oklahoma State prediction
Texas. The Longhorns saw what a sense of desperation can deliver in Lubbock Tuesday, and that energy at home should help produce another strong effort.
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas basketball preview, prediction: Longhorns host Oklahoma State
