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Bob Huggins previews TCU, compares Horned Frogs to Los Angeles Lakers

IMG_0985by:Griffin McVeigh01/16/23

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Mitchell Layton/Getty Images.

There are no days off in the Big 12, with a majority of the conference making a run at making the NCAA Tournament at the moment. West Virginia will continue its tough schedule, playing against TCU on Wednesday. An old rivalry of head coaches will be renewed, with Bob Huggins going up against Jamie Dixon.

TCU only has three losses on the season and is fresh off a win over Kansas State. Tempo has been the name of the game for the Horned Frogs, getting up and down the court. Huggins clearly thinks highly of the job Dixon is doing, comparing them to an all-time NBA team.

“I think it’s the most talented team Jamie has had since he’s been at TCU,” Huggins said. “They’re like the Lakers used to be. They’re like the Showtime Lakers. They do a great job of running lanes. There’s various clips of them rebounding the ball, out letting it, and scoring a layup at the other end before the ball ever touched the floor. Jamie has done a really, really good job of making it an up-tempo style.”

Some of the best NBA players to ever play the game were on the Showtime Lakers, with Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabar being the two main ones. Mike Miles and Emanuel Miller are running the show in Fort Worth, maybe they thought they were out in Los Angeles.

Quite the compliment coming from the West Virginia head coach.

Bob Huggins, Jamie Dixon meet again

Huggins and Dixon go way back, facing off against each other in the Backyard Brawl between West Virginia and Pitt. Those were more of a punch-you-in-the-mouth type of game, with physicality playing a huge role.

When a reporter pointed out how different Wednesday’s matchup could be, Huggins was once again complimentary of Dixon. He thinks adjusting to the type he has is what makes the TCU headman so good.

“That tells you how good of a coach he is,” Huggins said. “He can adjust to personnel.”

Dixon has not fared well against West Virginia since taking over for TCU, losing eight of 12 matchups. Another great battle between two head coaches will take place in a Big 12 showdwon.