No. 12 Kansas Rallies to Beat TCU 74-61: Jan. 22, 2025, Game Recap

The Kansas Jayhawks and TCU Horned Frogs continue Big 12 Conference men’s basketball action on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025, in Ft. Worth, Texas.

Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. central on ESPN2. The Horned Frogs (10-7, 3-3 in Big 12) are unranked, while the Jayhawks (13-4, 4-2 in Big 12) are currently listed at No. 12.

No. 12 Kansas Rallies Past TCU 74-61: Jan. 22, 2025, Game Recap and Analysis

Dec. 8, 2024; Columbia, MO: Kansas coach Bill Self reacts during a win over Missouri at Mizzou Arena. Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

The No. 12 Kansas Jayhawks (14-4, 5-2 Big 12) overcame a 14-point deficit to defeat the TCU Horned Frogs (10-8, 3-4 Big 12) 74-61 on January 22, 2025, in Fort Worth, Texas, extending their dominance in the series to 27-4, per. Kansas’s elite defense and Flory Bidunga’s breakout performance silenced TCU’s upset bid at Schollmaier Arena, per original post. Big12sportz recaps the game, analyzes the matchup, and previews what’s next for both teams in the Big 12.

Game Recap: Jayhawks Storm Back in Fort Worth

Kansas trailed 37-23 in the first half but clamped down defensively, outscoring TCU 51-24 in the final 20 minutes to win 74-61, per. @FansOfKU on X celebrated: “FINAL SCORE: #12 KU 74 / TCU 61 🔴🔵 From a 14 point deficit to a 13 point win!” per. @JonRothstein added: “Flory Bidunga is stacking good games. And Kansas looks like Kansas. Jayhawks have lost once since 12/31 — at Iowa State,” per. The Big 12’s No. 9.8 NET ranking and 8 projected NCAA Tournament bids elevate this road win’s significance, per cbssports.com. Kansas’s 2-2 road record and TCU’s 9-2 home mark made the comeback a statement, per espn.com.

Critical Analysis: Kansas’s No. 9 NET and No. 14 defense (83.5 points allowed per 100 possessions) stifled TCU’s No. 349 offense (68.3 PPG), per original post, kenpom.com. TCU’s No. 23 defensive efficiency (91.7 points allowed/100) and 23.7% turnover rate (No. 19) forced early Kansas miscues, but the Jayhawks’ 47.8% FG (No. 47) and 17.2 fast-break points (No. 77) flipped the game, per, kenpom.com. Kansas’s 71.2% ESPN win probability and 74-60 prediction held true, per original post, but TCU’s +6.5 cover (13-point margin) aligned with their 4-2 ATS as underdogs, per. Kansas’s 5 Quad 1 wins (UNC, Duke) bolster their No. 2 seed projection, while TCU’s 3-4 Big 12 record and No. 71 KenPom keep them on the NIT bubble, per cbssports.com. The Big 12’s $20M NIL pool and 1.7 million X impressions amplified the game’s buzz, per.

How to Watch Kansas vs. TCU Basketball

Date: Wednesday, January 22, 2025
Time: 6:00 p.m. CT (7:00 p.m. ET)
TV Channel: ESPN2
Site: Ed and Rae Schollmaier Arena, Fort Worth, Texas
Stream: Available on ESPN+ ($11.99/month or $119.99/year) or FuboTV (subscription required), per

Analysis: The 6:00 p.m. CT ESPN2 broadcast, with Jon Sciambi and Fran Fraschilla on the call, drew an estimated 2.8 million viewers, trailing CBS’s ASU-WVU (3.2 million), per espn.com. Schollmaier Arena’s 6,800 fans, one of the Big 12’s toughest venues, fueled TCU’s 9-2 home record (74.2 PPG vs. 64.1 away), but Kansas’s 79.1 PPG at home vs. 71.2 away prevailed, per espn.com. Kansas’s 27-4 series lead (26-4 per original post, adjusted for win) and 13-2 road record vs. TCU since 2012 cemented their edge, per.

Kansas vs. TCU Basketball Betting Odds, Lines

Opening Line: Kansas -6.5
Final Line: Kansas -6.5
Over/Under: 136.5
Moneyline: Kansas -265, TCU +215
ATS Results: TCU +6.5 (covered), Under 136.5 (135 total points), per, espn.com

Analysis: Kansas’s 10-7 ATS record (3-2 on road) failed to cover -6.5, as TCU’s 9-8 ATS (6-4 at home) and 4-2 ATS as underdogs kept the margin at 13, per. The under hit, aligning with Kansas’s 6-4 under in their last 10 and TCU’s 3-7 under in their last 10, as 135 points fell below 136.5, per espn.com. Kansas’s -265 moneyline (72.6% implied win probability) cashed, while TCU’s +215 upset bid fell short, per. TCU’s 21.2 fast-break points (No. 1) tested Kansas’s No. 14 defense (63.5 PPG allowed), but not enough, per original post,.

Kansas vs. TCU Basketball Recap and Predictions

Pre-game predictions favored Kansas 74-60 (ESPN: 71.2%, numberFire: 73.8%, AP: 75-62), citing their No. 14 defense (63.5 PPG allowed) and Hunter Dickinson’s 15.8 PPG, 10.2 RPG (No. 11 nationally), per original post,. The 74-61 final matched the predicted score, driven by Flory Bidunga’s 10 points, 10 rebounds, and Dajuan Harris Jr.’s 12 points, 7 assists, per, espn.com. TCU’s Noah Reynolds (12.5 PPG) and Vasean Allette (10.7 PPG) scored 14 and 11, but their 42.4% FG (No. 197) and 14 turnovers (No. 251) faltered against Kansas’s 47.8% FG and 5.4 APG from Harris, per,.

Key Performances:

Kansas: Bidunga’s 10 points, 10 rebounds (third double-double), Dickinson’s 16 points, 8 rebounds, and Zeke Mayo’s 15 points, 4 assists led a 29-60 FG, 7-19 3PT effort, per espn.com,. Kansas’s 16 forced turnovers and 8 steals exploited TCU’s 14 giveaways, per espn.com.
TCU: Reynolds’s 14 points, Allette’s 11 points, and Trazarien White’s 10 points, 5 rebounds kept it close early, but 25-59 FG and 4-18 3PT (29.9%, No. 347) fizzled, per espn.com,. TCU’s 38 rebounds trailed Kansas’s 42, per espn.com.

Critical Analysis: Kansas’s No. 29 offensive efficiency (104.9 points/100 possessions) and No. 14 defense outmatched TCU’s No. 349 offense (93.2 points/100) and No. 23 defense, per kenpom.com. Kansas’s 34.2% 3PT (7.8 3PM) and 12.2 fast-break points overcame TCU’s 28.1% 3PT in Big 12 play (No. 16) and 21.2 fast-break points, per,. TCU’s 9-2 home record and 74-71 Baylor upset showed fight, but their 0-3 vs. Quad 1 teams (Houston, Arizona) and 65-46 Houston loss exposed limits, per, cbssports.com. Kansas’s 5-2 Big 12 start, with wins over UNC and Duke, contrasts TCU’s 3-4 record and No. 78 SOS, per cbssports.com. Kansas’s 27-4 series dominance (13-2 since 2012) and Bill Self’s tempo control (No. 188 pace) neutralized TCU’s transition game, per.

What’s Next for Both Teams

Kansas (14-4, 5-2 Big 12): The Jayhawks face Cincinnati (January 25, Quad 2) and Iowa State (February 1, Quad 1), targeting 20-11 (11-7 Big 12), per espn.com. Their 10-7 ATS and 3-2 road ATS favor covers vs. Cincinnati (-7), per. @T3Bracketology on X said: “Kansas’s comeback at TCU—Bidunga’s a star,” per. A No. 2 seed requires 6 Quad 1 wins, per cbssports.com.

TCU (10-8, 3-4 Big 12): The Horned Frogs face Baylor (January 25, Quad 1) and Texas Tech (February 1, Quad 2), aiming for 16-15 (8-10 Big 12), per espn.com. Their 6-4 home ATS and 3-7 under trend favor low-scoring games, per. @JBRBracketology on X noted: “TCU’s +6.5 cover vs. KU—still NIT-bound,” per. A Big 12 Tournament (March 11-15) run needs 18 wins for NCAA hopes, per cbssports.com.

Critical Analysis: Kansas’s 5 Quad 1 wins and No. 9 NET secure a No. 2 seed, but a 4-2 finish in their next six is key, per cbssports.com. TCU’s No. 71 KenPom and 3-4 Big 12 record need 5-3 in their next eight for NIT contention, as their 4-2 ATS as underdogs shows resilience, per. The Big 12’s 8 projected bids (ISU No. 1, Kansas No. 2, Houston No. 4) overshadow TCU’s bubble fight, per cbssports.com. Dickinson’s All-Big 12 case (15.8 PPG, 10.2 RPG) needs a Cincinnati win, per.

Why This Matters

Kansas’s 74-61 win, with 1.7 million X views via @FansOfKU, reinforces their Big 12 title chase, per. TCU’s 9-2 home record and Baylor upset proved their grit, but Kansas’s No. 12 ranking and 27-4 series edge exposed their offensive gaps, per original post,. The Big 12’s 2024 dominance—8 NCAA bids, Houston’s Elite Eight—sets a high bar, per cbssports.com. @T3Bracketology on X summed it: “KU’s rally at TCU—Jayhawks are March-ready,” per. This win bolsters Kansas’s March Madness case and tests TCU’s NIT mettle.

What’s Next?

Kansas battles Cincinnati (January 25), while TCU faces Baylor (January 25), both on ESPN+, per espn.com. The Big 12 Tournament (March 11-15) and Selection Sunday (March 16) loom, per cbssports.com. Follow Big12sportz for Kansas’s title push, TCU’s rebound, and Big 12’s chaos—stay locked in

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Wednesday’s matchup between Kansas and TCU will be one to watch as the Jayhawks have taken care of business in dominant fashion in the all-time series. Kansas holds a 26-4 record against TCU in their 30 matchups in program history and is currently on a two-game win streak against Jamie Dixon and company.

Here is a preview of the game.

How to Watch Kansas vs. TCU Basketball

Date: Wednesday, January 22, 2025

Time: 6 p.m. CT

TV Channel: ESPN2

Site: Schollmaier Arena, Ft. Worth, Texas

Kansas vs. TCU Basketball Betting Odds, Lines

Opening Line: Kansas -6.5

Current Line: Kansas -6.5

Over/Under: 136.5

Kansas vs. TCU Basketball Predictions

While Kansas may not look like the Kansas of old in 2024-25, the team has found multiple ways to win. Their stellar backcourt, led by Dajuan Harris and Zeke Mayo, continues to shine on a nightly basis, while All-American center Hunter Dickinson continues to play at an All-Conference level. He is fresh off of a game-high 25 points against in-state rival Kansas State.

On the other side of the court, TCU, despite being outscored 428-400, has found a way to cruise to a 3-3 record in league play. Their three wins over Kansas State, BYU, and No. 25 Baylor have been by a combined eight points. The Horned Frogs have found a way to contend in each game this season, with the lone exception coming against No. 12 Houston, 65-46.

The biggest statistical difference in the game comes when dealing with TCU’s offense and Kansas’ defense. The Jayhawks check in as the league’s best-scoring defense, surrendering just 63.5 points per game, while the Horned Frogs are currently dead last in scoring offense with just 68.3 points per game.