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Pickleball gaining popularity nationwide, including in East Texas

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Pickleball gaining popularity nationwide, including in East Texas


TYLER, Texas (KLTV) – With almost 12,000 locations with courts nationwide, the popularity of the tennis-like game of pickleball has been on the rise for the past several years.

According to data from USA Pickleball, over 1,000 locations were added across the country in 2023. Texas has 522 locations, giving it the third most, just behind California and Florida.

A large part of the popularity, say players, is the simplicity of the game.

“You can bring your friends out here they’ll be picking it up really easy, you can get the friend group out here it’s a lot of fun,” said Erick Zammaron, a junior at UT Tyler who was enjoying a game with his friends at Pollard Park.

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The park now has six courts, part of a $700,000 renovation that was recently completed. Tyler Parks and Recreation Director Leanne Robinette said that public input was a large factor in adding the courts. The city hopes to hold sanctioned tournaments in the future.

“We found out that if you have eight pickleball courts you can have sanctioned tournaments, so we decided to go with eight instead of the original six,” said Robinette.

The game is played by a wide range of age groups, another reason for its popularity.

“It’s all age ranges; you see the elderly, you see little kids, and yesterday it was full. Everyone was here,” said Zammaron.

Robinette said many players enjoy it as an alternative to tennis.

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“People that were tennis lovers that can’t play tennis anymore for whatever reason have really decided to pick up pickleball, and, you know, try to keep them healthy. It’s a growing sport and they love it.”



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UConn vs. Texas Prediction, How to Watch, Odds, Channel

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UConn vs. Texas Prediction, How to Watch, Odds, Channel


This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports.

The No. 5 UConn Huskies (9-1) will attempt to continue a five-game winning streak when they host the Texas Longhorns (7-3) on Friday, December 12, 2025 at PeoplesBank Arena. The contest airs at 8 p.m. ET on FOX.

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Keep reading to get all you need to know ahead of wagering on the UConn-Texas matchup.

UConn vs. Texas How to Watch & Odds

  • When: Friday, December 12, 2025 at 8 p.m. ET
  • Where: PeoplesBank Arena in Hartford, Connecticut
  • TV: FOX
  • Streaming: FOXSports.com, FOX Sports App and FOX One (Try free for 7 days)

UConn vs. Texas Prediction

The Huskies are holding opponents to just 60.4 points per game while averaging 91, giving them one of the strongest scoring margins in the country. Their defense has been particularly sharp, limiting opponents to 37.4% shooting from the field.

Solo Ball and Tarris Reed Jr. continue to set the tone. Ball is averaging 15 points per game, and Reed Jr. has provided steady interior production with 14.8 points and 5.4 rebounds. Their consistency has been central to the Huskies’ early-season dominance.

The Longhorns have shown they can score, averaging 85.8 points per game, but their defense has struggled, allowing opponents to shoot 48.5%. That could be an issue against a UConn offense that moves the ball well and attacks efficiently.

UConn’s home court-advantage and Texas’s 2-2 road struggles tilt the matchup toward the Huskies.

  • Pick ATS: Texas (+16.5)
  • Pick OU: Over (145.5)
  • Prediction: UConn 81, Texas 69

Prediction provided by FOX Sports’ Sports AIDownload the FOX Sports App for free access to Sports AI.

UConn vs. Texas Betting Insights

Betting Line Implied Predictions

  • Based on the spread and over/under, the implied score for the matchup is Huskies 81, Longhorns 64.
  • The Huskies have a 95.9% chance to win this meeting per the moneyline’s implied probability.
  • The Longhorns have an 8.3% implied probability to win.

Key Spread Facts

  • UConn has compiled a 3-7-0 record against the spread this season.
  • Texas has won six games against the spread this year, while failing to cover four times.
  • UConn has covered the spread once this season (1-4 ATS) when playing as at least 16.5-point favorites.

Key Total Facts

  • The Huskies and their opponent have broken the 145.5-point mark four times this year.
  • Longhorns games have gone over 145.5 points on eight occasions this season.
  • The total for this matchup is 145.5 points, 23.4 fewer than the combined scoring average of the two teams.

Key Moneyline Facts

  • UConn has won six of seven games when the moneyline favorite this season (85.7%).
  • Texas has split the two games it has played as underdogs this season.
  • UConn has played as a moneyline favorite of -2326 or shorter twice this season, and won both.
  • Texas has not entered a game this season with longer moneyline odds than +1103.

UConn vs. Texas: Recent Results

Huskies vs Longhorns Recent Games
Date Favorite Spread Total Favorite Moneyline Underdog Moneyline Result
12/8/2024 Longhorns -1.5 141 -121 +101 76-65 UCONN

UConn vs. Texas: 2025-26 Stats Comparison

  UConn Texas
Points Scored Per Game (Rank) 79.8 (137) 89.1 (21)
Points Allowed (Rank) 61.7 (10) 73.2 (189)
Rebounds (Rank) 9 (234) 11.7 (49)
3pt Made (Rank) 7.7 (203) 8 (175)
Assists (Rank) 17.9 (38) 14.6 (179)
Turnovers (Rank) 8.8 (10) 11.5 (167)

 

UConn 2025-26 Key Players

Huskies Leaders
Name GP PTS REB ASST STL BLK 3PM
Solomon Ball 10 15 3.3 1.6 0.8 0.3 2
Tarris Reed Jr. 5 14.8 7.6 1.4 1.2 1.6 0
Alex Karaban 10 13.4 5.4 2.2 0.9 1.2 2
Silas Demary Jr. 10 10 4.5 5.1 1.8 0.2 0.3
Eric Reibe 10 9.6 4.6 0.3 0.3 1.3 0.3

Texas 2025-26 Key Players

Longhorns Leaders
Name GP PTS REB ASST STL BLK 3PM
Matas Vokietaitis 10 15.9 6.6 0.2 0.4 1.1 0
Dailyn Swain 10 15.7 6.9 3.5 1.6 0.3 0.7
Jordan Pope 10 12.5 2.1 3 0.3 0.1 2.4
Tramon Mark 10 9.9 2.8 2.5 0.7 0.6 1
Simeon Wilcher 10 9.4 2.4 1.9 0.7 0.5 1.6

FOX Sports used technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar to create this story.

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Texas Football Opt-Outs: Who’s Likely Playing and Who’s Out for the Citrus Bowl

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Texas Football Opt-Outs: Who’s Likely Playing and Who’s Out for the Citrus Bowl


At this point in time, opting out of bowl games is nothing new, but Texas is going to have more opt-outs in the Citrus Bowl against Michigan than many—self included—expected. This problem pales in comparison to what’s going on in Ann Arbor, but the amount of lost experience will be something for Texas to overcome, primarily on defense.



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Latest in recruiting war for elite 2028 QB has Texas Football joyful

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Latest in recruiting war for elite 2028 QB has Texas Football joyful



Neimann Lawrence list the Longhorns as one school that is standing out

As the Longhorns continue to build for the future, one of their targets is four-star prospect Neimann Lawrence. The Miami native is one of the best quarterbacks in the 2028 class and is attracting interest from some of the nation’s top programs. On Monday, Lawrence revealed the schools that have stood out so far, including the Longhorns. 

While Mondays update was encouraging, Texas was not the only school Lawrence mentioned. He also highlighted Michigan, Miami, Ohio State, Texas A&M, and Tennessee. That is not an easy list of schools to go to battle with; the Longhorns have time to make themselves stand out. 

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Currently, the Miami Northwestern High star is ranked as the fourth-best quarterback in is class by 247Sports. They also rank him as the ninth-best player from Florida and the 39th-best player in the nation. With collegiate debut still over a year away, those rankings could change. 

At the moment, the Longhorns do not have a commitment in the 2028 class, but they have made offers to some of the top recruits. That includes Brysen Wright, Jalanie George, Jamarios Canton, Micah Rhodes, and King Pitts. Landing any of those players would give Texas a bright future. 

With a decision still months away, Lawrence will be a player to watch. A lot could change as his recruitment continues, but it is a good sign for Texas that they are standing out early on in the process. 



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