Report: Texas G Kerwin Roach II will play in the Big 12 Tournament

When the Texas Longhorns play the TCU Horned Frogs at home on Saturday in a key game for the NCAA Tournament chances of both programs, Texas senior guard Kerwin Roach II will not play due to his indefinite suspension for violation of team rules, according to Kirk Bohls of the Austin American-Statesman.

However, a source close to the program told Bohls that Roach will return for the Big 12 Tournament next week at the Sprint Center in Kansas City. Texas is now locked in to the No. 6 seed and will face No. 3 seed Kansas at 8:00 p.m. Central on March 14 unless Kansas beats Baylor and Texas Tech loses to Iowa State, in which case the Red Raiders will become the No. 3 seed. Kansas should also fall to the No. 4 seed with a loss to Oklahoma and a loss to Baylor.

The positive news is that the Horns have a bye during the first round of games featuring the seeds seven through 10. Unfortunately, the potential second round matchup against Kansas in what will essentially be a home game won’t be an easy game to win. And beating Texas Tech is probably more difficult given how well the Red Raiders are playing right now.

The return of Roach should help the team — the senior is the best perimeter defender, the best player getting to the rim off the bounce, and the team’s leading scorer at 15 points per game.

After playing a close game against Kansas in Lawrence and beating the Jayhawks in Austin, a Longhorns team at full strength does have a solid chance of picking up a crucial win in Kansas City if Kansas does end up being the opponent.