Overview
- TCU beat Baylor 69-63 in the Big 12 opener as the highly discussed 7-foot center took the court for the first time with the Bears.
- Nnaji logged 16 minutes off the bench, finishing with five points and four rebounds before sitting after a fourth foul with 4:42 left.
- He was loudly booed upon entering with 11:59 in the first half and on subsequent touches, reflecting sharp fan backlash.
- The NCAA cleared Nnaji because he never played in the NBA and is within the five-year post–high school window, and it has clarified that players who signed NBA contracts are ineligible.
- Baylor coach Scott Drew cited season-ending injuries for the midseason addition and said Nnaji arrived after Christmas and had not played five-on-five since the summer, while emphasizing the program followed the rules.