TALE OF THE TAPE
Houston puts 11-game win streak on the line in clash with Kansas
Jan 24, 2025, 11:14 am
Kansas hosts the Coogs this Saturday! Photo by David Becker/Getty Images.
No. 7 Houston Cougars (15-3, 7-0 Big 12) at No. 12 Kansas Jayhawks (14-4, 5-2 Big 12)
Where: Allen Fieldhouse, Lawrence, Kansas
When: Saturday, 6:30 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE
The Houston Cougars look to extend their impressive 11-game win streak as they visit the Kansas Jayhawks in a marquee Big 12 showdown. Houston, sitting undefeated in conference play, will face one of their toughest tests of the season against a Kansas team that’s nearly unbeatable at home.
SCOUTING THE JAYHAWKS
Kansas comes into the game with a 9-1 record at Allen Fieldhouse, where their stifling defense has been a major factor. The Jayhawks rank third in the Big 12 in scoring defense, holding opponents to just 63.3 points per game and an icy 37.6% shooting from the field. Offensively, Kansas leans on big man Hunter Dickinson, who is averaging 16.8 points and shooting 52.5% over his last 10 games. Zeke Mayo provides a dangerous perimeter threat, connecting on 37.7% of his three-point attempts while contributing 14.9 points per game.
COUGARS ON A ROLL
Houston’s defense has been its calling card all season, and it’s been a nightmare for opponents. Offensively, LJ Cryer has been a consistent force for Houston, averaging 13.8 points per game, while Emanuel Sharp has stepped up recently, scoring 11.7 points per game on 46.7% shooting over his last 10 outings. The Cougars' balanced attack and ability to lock down opponents have made them one of the most feared teams in the Big 12.
KEY MATCHUP
The battle inside will be pivotal, with Houston’s defense aiming to neutralize Dickinson, Kansas' dominant post presence. Kansas’ ability to shoot 48.2% from the field—12.9 percentage points better than Houston allows—will be tested against the Cougars' elite defensive unit. Conversely, Houston’s offense must find ways to crack Kansas’ disciplined defense, which has limited opponents to 37.6% shooting.
WHAT TO WATCH
This game marks the first meeting between the two teams in conference play and promises to be a tightly contested battle between two of the Big 12’s best. Kansas will look to protect its home court, while Houston aims to prove its dominance on the road and stay unbeaten in the conference.
PREDICTION
Both teams are elite on defense, but Houston’s ability to force opponents into tough shots and capitalize on turnovers could give them a slight edge. If the Cougars can control the tempo and keep Dickinson in check, they could leave Allen Fieldhouse with a signature win. Expect a hard-fought contest that may come down to the final possession.
___________________
*ChatGPT assisted with this content.
Most Popular
SportsMap Emails
Are Awesome
Listen Live
Is Jose Altuve’s move to left field overblown?
In Altuve's first start in left field last week, he didn't have a single ball hit in his direction. In his second start in left, Altuve had two opportunities. The first was a ground ball in which Altuve made a throwing error trying to throw out a runner at home. The second opportunity went better, with Altuve making a nice catch at the wall. If Altuve only gets two or three balls hit his way per game, which could very well be the case, will this be a smoother transition than initially thought?
Astros manager Joe Espada is making it clear—if Altuve is moving to left field, it won’t be a temporary experiment. “I would like to leave him at one position for the majority of games,” Espada said. “The back and forth is something that I am going to avoid.”
Barring injuries or roster changes, Espada expects Altuve to get more starts in left field than at second base. The shift also allows the Astros to be flexible, potentially opening up DH opportunities when Yordan Alvarez gets some occasional starts in left field.
Outfield depth still a concern
Houston’s outfield situation remains shaky. Ben Gamel has yet to record a hit this spring and has been sidelined with back soreness, though he’s expected to return this week. Jake Meyers, who was also off to a slow start, finally showed signs of life Sunday with a pair of RBI singles. Meanwhile, prospect Jacob Melton has been reassigned to minor league camp but could see more Grapefruit League action down the line.
The offensive struggles don’t end there. Heading into Monday's game, Chas McCormick and Mauricio Dubon had yet to record a hit this spring. However, McCormick did come through with a hit and an RBI on Monday. Yippee!
A call for help?
Outfielder Alex Verdugo is still on the market. Astros GM Dana Brown reportedly checked in on Verdugo several weeks ago, but his price tag appears too rich for Houston as they try to stay under the luxury tax. With Altuve appearing to be a staple in left field, should the club consider adding Verdugo to replace Meyers or McCormick, considering their continued struggles at the plate? Or should Verdugo's disappointing 2024 season be enough to scare the club away from signing him?
Bullpen questions linger
Josh Hader, once a fixture on Buster Olney's top reliever lists, was relegated to the "honorable mention" section this year following a down season. With Houston hoping to manage the workload of Hader and Bryan Abreu, should they have considered bringing back Hector Neris? The veteran reliever recently signed a minor-league deal with Atlanta.
Prospects and pitching notes
While several of the big-league bats have struggled, prospects Shay Whitcomb and Zack Dezenzo have shown some promise. Whitcomb has collected three hits, including a home run, while Dezenzo has five hits in sixteen at-bats with a double.
On the mound, Lance McCullers Jr. faced live hitters and reached nearly 95 mph on the radar gun, a positive sign for his return.
Cam Smith continues to rake, driving in three runs with a triple on Monday. So that's three walks, two homers, and a bases clearing triple. Pretty, pretty good.
With Isaac Paredes (homered over the weekend), Hayden Wesneski (pitched two scoreless innings on Monday), and Smith looking as advertised, the haul for Kyle Tucker is looking good so far!
We're just scratching the surface on everything covered in the video above. Be sure to hit play to watch the full conversation!
The countdown to Opening Day is on. Join Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and Charlie Pallilo for the Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast which drops each Monday afternoon, with an additional episode now on Thursday. Click here to catch!
*Looking to get the word out about your business, products, or services? Consider advertising on SportsMap! It's a great way to get in front of Houston sports fans. Click the link below for more information!
https://houston.sportsmap.com/advertise
*ChatGPT assisted with this content.