The Baylor Bears extend their winning streak to seven, while the Texas Longhorns continue a streak of their own.
College Basketball Report: Week 6
Dec 17, 2019, 6:51 am
The Baylor Bears extend their winning streak to seven, while the Texas Longhorns continue a streak of their own.
Adding to the win column. đ¤ #AllForTexas | #HookEm https://t.co/0o8GUgIGcEâ Texas Men's Basketball (@Texas Men's Basketball) 1576439184.0
Last week (1-0): W-Central Michigan 87-76
This week: Saturdayvs. Providence
The Texas Longhorns had a short week but continued their winning ways against Central Michigan on Saturday. The Longhorns extended their winning streak to five in an 87-76 victory over the Chippewas.
It was a backcourt affair inside the Frank C. Erwin Jr. Center in Austin as Texas' junior guard, Jase Febres posted a game-high 23 points (7-11 FG, 7-10 3PT), while second-year guard Courtney Ramey added in a career-high 20 points in the win. Following the victory, the Longhorns will return to action on Saturday for a road match against Providence in Rhode Island
The plays that made the difference đź #GigEm https://t.co/9ohkJSYBl7â Texas A&M Basketball (@Texas A&M Basketball) 1576459200.0
Last week (1-0): W - Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 63-60
This week: Saturday vs. Oregon State
The Texas A&M Aggies ended their four-game losing skid in a 63-60 victory over the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders on Sunday. It was a big come from behind win for the Aggies, as Texas A&M trailed by 11 early in the second half. They went on to outscore the Islanders by 10 in the second half (39-29), as Emanuel Miller scored 20 points while shooting 7-8 from the floor.
After allowing nine made 3-point field goals in the first half, the Aggies picked up their defensive intensity and held the Islanders to shoot 20% (2-10 3PT) from behind the arc in the second half. With one game on the schedule, the Aggies will look to make it two straight wins on Saturday when they take on Oregon State.
Final score presented by @thejointchiro @calebmills_3 leads with 23 pts, @thatup_coming11 with 11 pts & 9 rebs NE⌠https://t.co/gzvyXnS2m0â Houston Men's Hoops đ đž (@Houston Men's Hoops đ đž) 1576447830.0
Last week (1-1): W - UT Arlington 71-63, L - Oklahoma State 61-55
This week: Thursday vs. UTEP, Sunday Portland
The Houston Cougars had one heck of the week that ended in heartbreak. The Cougars extended their winning streak to four in a 61-55 victory over the UT-Arlington Mavericks on Wednesday. It was a wire-to-wire victory on a night where sophomore guard, Nate Hinton, scored a career-best 25-points (9-15 FG, 4-8 3PT) and 10 rebounds in the win.
Unfortunately, Houston's win streak came to a halt on Sunday in a 61-55 loss to the Oklahoma State Cowboys. On a night where the Cougars struggled to buy a basket, freshman guard, Caleb Mills, was one of two players who scored in double-figures with a career-best 25 points in the loss. Mill's performance against OSU was enough to award him with the American Athletic freshman Player of the Week.
Following the win, the Cougars will return to the Fertitta Center for a contest against UTEP before opening their Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic on Sunday against Portland.
In case you missed last night's game, here are some highlights from the victory over Houston Baptist. #GoOwlsđ x⌠https://t.co/eqwWctRjLEâ Rice Basketball (@Rice Basketball) 1576436683.0
Last week (1-0): W - Houston Baptist 96-84
This week: Thursday vs. St. Thomas
The Rice Owls overcame a 29-point performance from Houston Baptist' Ian DuBose to pick a victory over the winless Huskies on Saturday in a 96-84 win. Senior guard Robert Martin led the Owls with 20 points while shooting 8-for-9 from the field, 3-for-4 from behind the arc.
Following the win, the Rice Owls will return to Tudor Fieldhouse for a match against the St. Thomas Celts.
âšď¸ââď¸đ¨ Fast Break: Vol. 7 Hustle + Effort = Another Top 20 Win đŞ #SicEm đť | #1TGF đ https://t.co/uuhoUDWlL4â Baylor Basketball (@Baylor Basketball) 1576117275.0
Last week (1-0): W - Butler 53-52
This week: Wednesday vs. Tennessee-Martin
The sizzling Baylor Bears continued their early-season success with a 53-52 victory against the No. 11 Butler Bulldogs on Tuesday. Junior forward Mark Vital sealed the one-point victory for the Bears with a game-winning block on Butler's Kamar Baldwin with 1.5 seconds remaining in the second half.
It was a total team effort by Baylor as guards MaCio Teague and Devonte Bandoo led the Bears in scoring with 10 points apiece.
Win the win, Baylor has extended their winning streak to seven, ahead of their home match against the Tennessee-Martin Skyhawks on Wednesday.
Funky Films | vs. Lamar #GoFrogs đđĽ https://t.co/DDMIElAFa2â TCU Basketball (@TCU Basketball) 1576451769.0
Last week (2-0): W - Winthrop 70-60, W - Lamar 79-50
This week: Sunday vs Xavier
After a heartbreaking loss to USC, TCU picked up back-to-back convincing wins over Winthrop (70-60) and Lamar (79-50) last week. Both the Eagles and the Cardinals did not have an answer to slowing down the Horned Frogs, as TCU shot 47.3 from the floor, 34.4% from deep. Sophomore guard R.J. Nembhard averaged 14.0 points on 42% shooting from the floor, to go along with 6.5 rebounds in a two-game sweep.
TCU will return to action on Sunday to face off against the Xavier Musketeers.
Spicy. đ´@davide25moretti | #WreckEmâŤď¸ https://t.co/jTF2HxfZ1Xâ Texas Tech Basketball (@Texas Tech Basketball) 1576549552.0
Last week: (2-0) W - Louisville 70-57, W - Southern Mississippi 71-65
This week: Saturday vs. UTRGV
The Texas Tech Raiders ended their three-game losing skid in a convincing 70-57 victory over No. 1 ranked Louisville Cardinals. The win over the Cardinals was the first victory against a top-ranked team in the Red Raiders' program history.
Texas Tech completed the upset with a great defensive performance, as the Red Raiders held the Cardinals to 34.0% shooting from the field, and an unpleasant 17.6% from behind the arc. Following their second straight win over Southern Mississippi (71-65), Texas Tech will return to the court on Saturday for a showdown against the TexasâRio Grande Valley Vaqueros.
Canât wait to get back on the court! đ´âŹď¸đ #PonyUpDallas https://t.co/IxtLa3YFw8â Rick Hart (@Rick Hart) 1576552217.0
Last week (0-0): No Games Scheduled
This week: Tuesday vs Georgia Bulldogs, Monday Georgia State
With no games on the schedule, SMU will return to the floor on Tuesday, December 20th against the Georgia Bulldogs.
Back in action this week! #BootUp đŻ https://t.co/HBWJ4gvbcuâ LSU Basketball (@LSU Basketball) 1576511825.0
Last week (0-0): No Games Scheduled
This week: Wednesday vs East Tennessee St., Saturday USC
With no games on the schedule, LSU will return to the floor on Wednesday against East Tennessee St before taking on USC on Saturday.
While holding oneâs breath that for a change the Astros arenât publicly grossly underestimating an injuryâs severity with Jose Altuve having missed the last game and a half with âright side discomfortâŚâ
The Astros averting a sweep vs. Oakland Thursday was in no way a must-win, but getting the win allowed a mini sigh of relief. The Astros are NOT in the process of choking. Could they collapse? Sure thatâs possible. Also possible is that theyâve just been in one more ebb phase in a season of ebb and flow. They certainly have left the door ajar for the Seattle Mariners to swipe the American League West, but with the M's simply not looking good enough to walk through that door the Astros remain in commanding position. The Astros made a spectacular charge from 10 games behind to grab the division lead. But there was a lot of runway left when the Astros awoke June 19th 10 games in arrears. September 3 the Astros arose with a comfy six game lead over the Mâs. With Seattle blowing a 4-1 eighth inning lead in a 5-4 loss to the Texas Rangers Thursday night, heading into Friday night the Astros' advantage is back up to four and a half games despite the Astros having lost six of their last nine games and having gone just 10-12 over their last 22 games. Not a good stretch but nothing freefalling about it.
While the Mariners have the remainder of their four-game series vs. the dead in the water Rangers this weekend, the Astros play three at the lousy Los Angeles Angels. The Astros should take advantage of the Halos, with whom they also have a four-game series at Minute Maid Park next weekend. Since the All-Star break, only the White Sox have a worse record than the Angels 19-31 mark (the White Sox are 6-43 post-break!). Two of the three starting pitchers the Angels will throw this weekend will be making their third big league starts. To begin next week the Astros are in San Diego for a three-game-set against a Padres club which is flat better than the Astros right now. That does not mean the Astros canât take that series. The Mariners meanwhile will be still at home, for three vs. the Yankees.
There are some brutal Astrosâ statistics that largely explain why this is merely a pretty good team and not more. As I have noted before, it is a fallacy that the best teams are usually superior in close games. But the Astros have been pathetic in close games. There used to be a joke made about Sammy Sosa that he could blow you out, but he couldnât beat you. Meaning being that when the score was 6-1, 8-3 or the like Sammy would pad his stats with home runs and runs batted in galore. But in a tight game, donât count on Sammy to come through very often. In one-run games the Astros are 15-26, in two-run games they are 10-14. In games that were tied after seven innings they are 3-12. In extra innings they are 5-10. The good news is, all those realities mean nothing when the postseason starts. So long as youâre in the postseason. In games decided by three or more runs the Astros have pummeled the opposition to the tune of 53 wins and 28 losses.
General Manager Dana Brown isnât an Executive of the Year candidate, but overall heâs been fine this season. Without the Yusei Kikuchi trade deadline acquisition the Astros would likely barely lead the AL West. Brownâs biggest offseason get, Victor Caratini, has done very solid work in his part-time role. Though he has tapered off notably the last month and change, relief pitcher Tayler Scott was a fabulous signing. Scrap heap pickups Ben Gamel, Jason Heyward, and Kaleb Ort have all made contributions. HoweverâŚ
Dana. Dana! You made yourself look very silly with comments this week somewhat scoffing at people being concerned with or dismissive of Justin Verlanderâs ability to be a meaningful playoff contributor. Brown re-sang a ridiculous past tune, the âcheck the back of his baseball cardâ baloney. Dana, did you mean like the back of Jose Abreuâs baseball card? Perhaps Brown has never seen those brokerage ads in which at the end in fine print and/or in rapidly spoken words âpast performance is no guarantee of future resultsâ always must be included. Past (overall career) performance as indicative of future results for a 41-year-old pitcher who has frequently looked terrible and has twice missed chunks of this season to two different injuries is absurd. That Verlander could find it in time is plausible. That of course heâll find it? Absolutely not. His next two starts are slotted to be against the feeble Angels, so even if the results are better, it wonât mean âJV IS BACK!â
Presuming they hold on to win the division, the Astrosâ recent sub-middling play means they have only very faint hope of avoiding having to play the best-of-three Wild Card Series. Barring a dramatic turn over the regular seasonâs final fortnight, Framber Valdez and Hunter Brown are the obvious choices to start games one and two. If there is a game three, it is one game do or die. Only a fool would think Verlander the right man for that assignment. No one should expect Brown to say âYeah, JV is likely finished as a frontline starter.â But going to the âback of the baseball cardâ line was laughable. Father Time gets us all eventually. Verlander has an uphill climb extricating himself from Father Timeâs grasp.
*Catch our weekly Stone Cold âStros podcast. Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and I discuss varied Astros topics. The first post for the week generally goes up Monday afternoon (second part released Tuesday) via The SportsMap HOU YouTube channel or listen to episodes in their entirety at Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.