As the Big12 regular season winds down, Wednesday night’s matchup at Fertitta Center is the one that every college basketball enthusiast is excited for. No.5 Houston (24-5, 12-4 Big12) closes out its home slate against Baylor (15-14, 5-11 Big12).
Currently, the Bears are playing their best basketball of the season. But for Houston, it’s Senior Night, a final home sendoff for a group that has kept Kelvin Sampson’s program among the nation’s elite. For Scott Drew’s Baylor, this could be their final road opportunity to build momentum heading into the Big12 Tournament. So, how will this matchup pan out? Let’s find out.
Prediction
Houston is coming off a 102-62 win over Colorado, snapping a three-game losing streak. Milos Uzan posted 26 points, and Kingston Flemings added 11 points, eight assists, and six rebounds for this win. The Cougars will seek to keep the momentum going and play with renewed purpose on Senior Night. Houston’s defense ranks second nationally in points allowed per game, and Baylor’s inconsistency throughout conference play makes the road environment at the Cougars’ home particularly daunting.
Watch out for how Baylor’s dynamic trio handles Houston’s defensive pressure. Cameron Carr has been scorching hot since his last outing, going 6-of-13 from the floor and 4-of-8 from the deep, and making all 10 of his foul shots to score 26 points. Tounde Yessoufou has surpassed 511 points this season, breaking Baylor’s freshman points record. On the other hand, Kingston Flemings leads Houston with 16.4 points, 5.2 assists, and 1.6 steals per game. He has a unique ability to disrupt passing lanes, which could neutralize Obi Agbim’s playmaking rhythm in critical stretches.
Houston’s home Feritta Center is a tough venue for teams sitting below .500 in conference play. ESPN’s matchup predictor estimates a 91.8% chance for Houston to win this matchup on their senior night.
Lineups
Baylor Lineup
- Cameron Carr
- Obi Agbim
- Tounde Yessoufou
- Michael Rataj
- Issac Williams IV
Houston Lineup
- Kingston Flemings
- Emmanuel Sharp
- Milos Uzan
- Joseph ‘JoJo’ Tugler
- Chris Cenac Jr.
Injury Report
For Baylor, Juslin Bodo Bodo and Will Kuykendall have been listed out for this game. Bodo Bodo has redshirted this season due to an upper arm injury. On the other hand, Arizona transfer Kuykendall has not played this season.
For Houston, Milos Uzan and Emmanuel Sharp still seem probable for this matchup. Uzan is battling two ankle sprains and an injury to the outside of his foot. Though he was a game-time decision for the game against Kansas, he bounced back pretty hard with 26 points against Colorado. On the other hand, Sharp is experiencing hip issues, which led to coach Sampson holding him late in the Kansas loss to preserve him for the stretch run.
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