Roundup: College Basketball Tipped off Monday

SAN ANGELO, TX — The 2022-23 NCAA men’s basketball season is here. The games tipped off on Monday night, Nov. 7, across the nation, and several Texas teams are stacked and ready to pursue a title. Several teams have legitimate national title ambitions, with five Texas Universities in the Top 25 in the country, all in the Big 12.

No. 3 Houston Cougars (1-0): The Cougars matched up with Northern Colorado at Houston on Monday. The Cougars won easily, 83-36. Next Up: Houston travels to Philadelphia, PA, to play St. John’s University on Friday, Nov. 11, at 5 p.m. 

Guard Marcus Sasser led the Cougars with 21 points, four steals, and three assists.

No. 5 Baylor Bears (1-0): The Bears hosted Mississippi State Delta on Monday. Baylor crushed the Delta Devils at home 117-53. Baylor scored 62 points by halftime and started the year off strong. The Bears return to action on Friday, Nov. 7, in Waco against Norfolk State at 7 p.m.

Guard Adam Flagler led the Bears with 21 points, eight assists, and two rebounds.

No. 12 Texas Longhorns (1-0): The Longhorns hosted the UTEP Miners in Austin on Monday, Nov. 7, and won by 15, 72-57. Now in his second year as head coach, Chris Beard needs to keep moving the Longhorns in the right direction this season. Texas hosts Houston Baptist University on Thursday, Nov. 10, at 8 pm. 

Guard Tyrese Hunter led the Longhorns with 18 points, five rebounds, and one assist. 

No. 14 TCU Horned Frogs (1-0): TCU narrowly avoided disaster to start the year when they hosted Arkansas-Pine Bluff in Fort Worth on Monday, Nov. 7. Rallying late, the Horned Frogs avoided the loss, 73-72. TCU has to play better moving forward, or their days in the top 25 are numbered. TCU hosts Lamar University on Friday, Nov. 11, at 7 p.m.

Forward Emanuel Miller led the Horned Frogs with 19 points, five rebounds, and one steal. 

No. 25 Texas Tech Red Raiders (1-0): Texas Tech easily dispatched Northwestern State in Lubbock on Monday, Nov. 7, 73-49. Head Coach Mark Adams kicked off year number two with hopes of replicating Tech’s success in 2021. Named the Jim Phelan Coach of the Year in 2021, the instantly beloved coach has already set high expectations for himself and his team this year. Texas Tech hosts Texas Southern at home on Friday, Nov. 11, at 7 p.m.

Forward Daniel Bacho led the Red Raiders in the win on Monday with 12 points, ten rebounds, and four assists.

Texas A&M Aggies (1-0): The Aggies, who fall just outside the top 25, defeated UL Monroe on Monday, 87-54. The Aggies rank just behind Texas Tech this season but expect to climb into the top 25 as the season progresses. Texas A&M host the Abilene Christian Wildcats on Friday, Nov. 11, at 7 p.m.

Guard Wade Taylor IV led the Aggies with 18 points, five rebounds, and two assists.