COLLEGE BASKETBALL REPORT

NCAA hoops: Aggies keep rolling; tough loss for UH

A.J. Hoffman
Dec 18, 2017, 9:04 pm
The Longhorns picked up a win and a loss. Jamie Squire/Getty Images

TEXAS LONGHORNS (7-3)

Last week (1-1): L-Michigan 59-52, W-Louisiana Tech 75-60

This week: Monday vs. Tennessee St., Friday vs. Alabama

The root of the problems with last season’s Texas basketball team was poor shooting. The Horns had a nightmarish flashback to that in the Michigan game on Tuesday, shooting 36.5% from the field in a 59-52 loss. The offense struggled in their first game without leading scorer Andrew Jones, who Shaka Smart hopes to have back before the New Year. Dylan Osetkowski led the Horns with 17. Osetkowski would also lead them on Saturday, scoring 22 points and pulling down 7 rebounds in a 75-60 win over Louisiana Tech. Texas shot 42%  from 3-point range in the win. Texas finishes their non-conference schedule this week hosting Tennessee State on Monday and a solid Alabama squad on Friday.

TEXAS A&M AGGIES (9-1)

Last week (1-0): W-Savannah State 113-66

This week: Tuesday vs. Northern Kentucky, Thursday vs. Buffalo 

Texas A&M had a memorable performance against Savannah State in a 113-66 win. The 113 points were the most put up by an Aggie team since 1989, and they also set a school record for made 3-pointers in a game with 16. DJ Hogg hit 5 3-pointers as part of his team high 18 points. The Aggies should go into SEC play with a strong 11-1 mark, assuming they take care of business this week against Northern Kentucky and Buffalo. 

HOUSTON COUGARS (9-2) 

Last week (1-1): L-@ LSU 80-77, W-Prairie View A&M 92-72

This week: Wednesday vs. Providence

Houston had one of their most disappointing performances of the season, and still almost pulled out a victory against LSU, dropping to the Tigers 80-77 in Baton Rouge. Rob Gray put up 20 points, but shot only 1-6 from 3-point range. The Cougars were out-rebounded for the first time this season. Houston got back on track against Prairie View A&M, with a crushing 92-72 win. Armani Brooks scored 24 in the win, and the Cougars shot better than 50% from 3 in the game. Houston only has one game this week, taking on a strong, but injured Providence team.

RICE OWLS (3-8)

Last week (1-1): W-St. Edwards 91-86, L-@ Texas Tech 73-53

This week: Tuesday @ New Mexico. Friday vs. Texas State

Mixed results for the Owls this week. They got a win over St. Edwards, 91-86, but edging out a lower division school isn’t exactly screaming that things are getting better. Connor Cashew matched his career-high with 27 points in the win. Cashaw had 21 points and 12 rebounds against Texas Tech, but the Owls got hammered 73-53 in Lubbock. The Owls lost the turnover battle 26-9 and were dominated on both ends. Rice travels to New Mexico and hosts Texas State before starting a potentially rough Conference-USA schedule. 

BAYLOR BEARS (9-2)

Last week (2-0): W-Texas Southern 99-68, W-Savannah State 118-86

This week: Wednesday vs. Southern

Baylor continues to punish inferior competition this season, pulling in 2 more blowout wins last week. The first was a 99-68 win over Texas Southern, that saw the return of Manu Lecomte who put in 22 points after missing a game with a sprained thumb. Nuni Omot also had 22 in the win. Sunday’s 118-86 dismantling of Savannah State was the Jo Lual-Acuil show. The Baylor center had a career high 31 points and 20 rebounds in the win. Lecomte added 25 points. The Bears just have one game left before Big XII play starts up, Wednesday night against Southern. 

TCU HORNED FROGS (12-0)

Last week: IDLE

This week: Monday vs. Texas Southern, Friday vs. William & Mary

Jamie Dixon’s team will look to finish the non-conference season unbeaten with games against Texas Southern and William & Mary this week. 

TEXAS TECH RED RAIDERS (9-1)

Last week (0-1): W-Kennesaw State 82-53, W-Rice 73-53


This week: Tuesday vs. Florida Atlantic, Friday vs. Abilene Christian

The Red Raiders had little trouble this week, with blowout wins over Kennesaw State and Rice. 14 players got time on the floor in the 82-53 win over the Kennesaw State Owls. Keenan Evans led the Raiders with 16 and they doubled up Kennesaw on the glass. The Rice Owls didn’t fair much better, as the Raiders smashed their former Southwest Conference opponents 73-53. The Red Raiders shot 49% from the field and forced 26 turnovers. Wins over Florida Atlantic and Abilene Christian would send Tech into conference play with a top 20 ranking. 

SMU MUSTANGS (8-3)

Last week (1-0): W-New Orleans 79-66

This week: Monday vs. Boise St., Tuesday vs. Cal Poly

Jimmy Whitt led the Mustangs with 19 points and 8 assists en route to a 79-66 win over New Orleans, improving SMU to 7-0 at home this season. The guard-heavy Ponies shot 11-22 from 3-point range. SMU will look to extend their home winning streak with back to back games against Boise State and Cal Poly on Monday and Tuesday before starting up AAC play. 
 

LSU TIGERS (6-3)

Last week (1-1): W-Houston 80-77, L-Stephen F. Austin 83-82

This week: Tuesday vs. Sam Houston State, Friday vs. North Florida

LSU impressed with a big win over a strong Houston Cougar team, 80-77. Aaron Epps had a career-night, setting personal highs in points (26) and rebounds (16). Tremont Waters had 17 points and blocked the game-tying 3-point attempt with seconds remaining. Epps followed up his hero performance with a rough finish in a 83-82 loss to Stephen F. Austin. Epps missed a game-winning layup at the buzzer for a disappointing finish to a 16 point, 10 rebound effort. The Tigers get Sam Houston State and North Florida this week. 

Most Popular

SportsMap Emails
Are Awesome

Listen Live

ESPN Houston 97.5 FM

EVERY-THING SPORTS

Here's why we should expect a breakout performance from this Texans rookie

Keep an eye on Tank Dell this Sunday. Photo by Alex Bierens de Haan/Getty Images.

I remember thinking how in the world can these little frail guys survive at the NFL level? I mean, I saw Joe Theismann and Ed McCaffrey's legs snap. Drew Bledsoe got his chest caved in. Seeing 300-plus pound men cry when injured is humbling. So when a guy like Tank Dell comes along, I'm always a bit apprehensive. Especially when they come with a ton of hype.

For every eight to ten big strong players that get hurt, there's one or two little fellas that have relatively healthy careers. The comp that came to mind when looking at Tank was DeSean Jackson. Listed at 5'10 and weighing a heavy 175 pounds, Jackson was arguably the best “small guy” in NFL history. Dell being about two inches shorter and about ten pounds lighter, while also playing a similar role, is in line to be a similarly electrifying type of player. I put my assessment on the line and doubled down with my predictions on what his, and others' season totals will look like last week:

Tank Dell: 68 catches, 1,105 yards and 6 touchdowns- Dell will be a really good slot, but has some outside skills. Namely, his speed. He's more slippery than if Mick had greased that chicken before Rocky tried catching it. I could see his production going up as the season gets longer because Stroud will begin to look for him more and more as they build chemistry. Yes, I know I only have him with six scores. Keep in mind this is a run first offense. At least that's what we can deduce from looking at where it came from in San Francisco.

In his debut game last week vs the Ravens, he notched three catches for 34 yards on four targets. He was tied for third on the team in targets with Noah Brown and Mike Boone. While Robert Woods and Nico Collins were one and two in targets last week, I think Dell will ascend that list starting this week. Word came down that Noah Brown is headed to IR, meaning he'll miss at least the next four weeks. The chemistry he and fellow rookie C.J. Stroud have developed is palpable. From working out together, to attending UH games together, these two seem to have a nice bond already.

Woods is a solid vet two years removed from an ACL injury. Collins was a third rounder with size who hasn't done a whole lot. Dell is easily the most exciting option at receiver this team has. John Metchie III was expected to be the next guy up. Unfortunately, cancer had him take a backseat, until now. Metchie is back at practice this week, so a debut is imminent. He could potentially challenge for more playing time, but it may take him some time to get used to things and get going again.

As far as my statistical prediction for his season, he only needs to average four catches for 67 yards per game, and get a touchdown every two to three games for the remainder of the season. Given Brown being out the next few games, Metchie not quite being up to speed, Woods being an older player on a short-term deal, and Collins not really being what everyone thought he could be, it leaves things wide open for Dell to step up.

Playmakers come in all shapes and sizes. Levon Kirkland was a 300-pound middle linebacker in a 3-4. Doug Flutie led teams to playoff wins as a 5'9 quarterback. In football, size matters. The bigger, stronger guys normally win out. When it comes to receiving and returns, you want speed, quickness, and agility. Dell has that in spades. Add his competitive nature and chemistry with his quarterback and you have a recipe for a star in the making. I know I'm not the only one hoping the Texans continue Tank-ing.

houston texansnfltexans

SportsMap Emails
Are Awesome