Texas basketball vs. TCU: Prediction, scouting report as Longhorns return to action

After a five-day break, No. 7 Texas will return to action Saturday with a trip to Fort Worth to face TCU's Horned Frogs (4 p.m., ESPN+, 103.1). This is the second meeting between UT and TCU this season. The Longhorns recorded a 72-60 victory over TCU in Austin last month, and that was the their eighth straight win in this series.

Here's what you need to know about the matchup:

Schedule easing up for Longhorns

Last week, Texas (21-3, 8-3) recorded wins over Kansas State and Baylor teams that were ranked second and 13th by The Associated Press at the time. It was the fourth time in three seasons that Texas had beaten ranked opponents in back-to-back regular-season games.

As it chases Oklahoma (16-6, 10-1) in the Big 12 race, Texas' upcoming schedule won't be as tough. The Longhorns have seven games left on their schedule and only one is against a team currently ranked by the AP (Texas will travel to No. 24 Oklahoma on Feb. 28). Saturday's game at TCU is one of five left against a team currently in the bottom half of the conference standings.

Don't expect the Longhorns to overlook any of their opponents or dwell on last week's wins, though.

"If all we do is walk around and pat ourselves on the back, it won't be long and we'll get popped," Texas coach Vic Schaefer said this week.

More awards for Madison Booker

After a week in which she totaled 42 points against Baylor and Kansas State, Texas freshman Madison Booker was named the Big 12 freshman of the week for the third time this season. She also earned her second USBWA national freshman of the week award.

Among the nation's freshmen, Booker ranks 11th in scoring (15.6 points per game) and fourth in assists (4.7 per game). She and Notre Dame's Hannah Hidalgo are the only freshmen averaging 15 points and four assists.

Booker is also grabbing 5.1 rebounds per game.

"Maddie is truly one of a kind," UT guard Shay Holle said. "Since she stepped foot on campus this summer, her ability to stay so poised and calm while still playing at such a high level has been so impressive and fun to watch. The love Maddie has for the game and her teammates is so evident on the court, and I feel so grateful to get to play with her day in and day out. She is the type of player that makes everyone around her better, and always does it with a smile."

TCU's bench isn't deep, but one reserve must be watched

In the four games since its injury-related forfeits last month, TCU has relied heavily on a six-player rotation that sometimes adds Austin native Jade Clack to the mix. But those depth issues have led to the recent emergence of Sydney Harris. The Central Michigan transfer was sidelined during nonconference play with an ankle injury, and she played a total of five minutes during her first two games of the season.

But over her last five games, Harris has averaged 15.8 points and 23.2 minutes while knocking down 17 of the 36 3-pointers she's attempted. The 6-foot-1 guard has come off the bench in each of those contests.

Texas vs. TCU prediction

Texas last lost in Fort Worth in 2018, and it owns a 24-3 record all-time there. Expect more of the same Saturday.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas, TCU basketball teams meeting for Saturday showdown