The Texas basketball team may have dropped out of the USA Today Coaches Poll after falling in last week’s season opener to Ohio State, but the Longhorns hope to build some more rhythm by pounding a third consecutive low-major program.
Freshman guard Tre Johnson has starred so far for the Longhorns (2-1) while averaging 25.4 points a game on 57.4% shooting. Who else will step up against Mississippi Valley State (1-2)?
Here’s what you need to know for Saturday’s matchup.
More: Texas basketball signs John Clark, 4-star post out of Link Academy
What channel is Texas vs Mississippi Valley State on Saturday?
TV channel/streaming: SEC Network+.
Livestream: Fubo (free trial), ESPN+
Texas vs. Mississippi Valley State will be broadcast and streamed on SECN+ and ESPN+. Other streaming options for the game include Fubo.
Texas vs Mississippi Valley State time
Date: Saturday
Start time: 4 p.m.
Location: Moody Center in Austin.
Texas forward Ze’Rik Onyema scored 18 points and grabbed six rebounds off the bench in Tuesday’s win over Chicago State. He’ll try to deliver another productive game Saturday against Mississippi Valley State.
Why is Texas playing Saturday?
Originally scheduled for Friday at 7 p.m., Texas and Mississippi Valley State moved the game to Saturday to accommodate the Texas soccer team’s first-round NCAA match.
Texas soccer will open the NCAA Tournament Friday at 6 p.m. against Boston University at Myers Stadium, adjacent to basketball’s home at Moody Center.
Ze’Rik Onyema leaving mark
Don’t tell reserve forward Ze’Rik Onyema that Tuesday’s 105-58 win over Chicago State won’t mean much come NCAA Tournament selection time. The 6-foot-9, 235-pound senior played with almost reckless abandon, throwing his body across the court for a loose ball and into Chicago State players for rebounds. The UTEP transfer in his second season in Austin scored a Texas-high 18 points on 7-of-8 shooting and grabbed six boards in 21 minutes. That kind of effort will garner significant minutes for a team short on size, regardless of the opponent.
What to know about Mississippi Valley State
Ranked No. 364 out of 364 teams in the Kenpom ratings, the Delta Devils not only have one of college basketball’s best mascots but also a modicum of momentum. The Southwestern Athletic Conference team snapped a 27-game losing streak late last season and then dropped their final three games of the season all by single digits. This year, the Delta Devils already have a win over Mississippi University for Women, which does indeed have a men’s basketball team. Guard Donovan Sanders, a 5-foot-11, 170-pound senior, does some of everything for Mississippi Valley State with 10.3 points, nine rebounds and 3.5 assists a game.
Texas vs Mississippi Valley State prediction
Texas. Mercifully, a three-game stretch of payout games against low-major programs ends against the Delta Devils. At least the student section will get rewarded for its pleas to see popular reserve Cole Bott in action.
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This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: How to watch Texas basketball vs Mississippi Valley State
