Frogs look to rebound on road versus University of Texas
12/31/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 31, 2007
Game Notes - University of Texas in PDF Format 
Game Day Information
Opponent: The TCU men's basketball program will open up the 2008 portion of their schedule when the Horned Frogs travel to Austin for a match-up against the University of Texas on Wednesday afternoon for a 4:00 p.m. tip-off.
Radio: KTCU (88.7 FM) and FOX Sports Radio (1460AM) in the Dallas/Fort Worth area
Brian Estridge (play-by-play) and John Denton (anaylst) will call the game on the TCU/ISP Sports Network. The game can also be heard online at www.GoFrogs.com via Yahoo Sports.
Next on the Schedule: The Frogs will be back in action on Saturday (Jan. 5) when the Purple and White begin conference action on the West Coast against San Diego State. Faithful of the Frogs can listen to the game via KTCU (88.7 FM) and ESPN Radio (103.3 FM) beginning at 7:00 p.m. The game will be shown on TV on The Mtn. Network.
The Big Score
• The Frogs have scored 924 points through 12 games of the 2007-08 campaign - averaging 77.0 points per evening. The Purple and White is currently ranked second in the Mountain West Conference in scoring average sitting behind nationally-ranked BYU - who is averaging 79.0 points per game.
• In their eight victories this season - the Frogs have yet to be held to under 75 points while averaging 83.8 points per triumph. All eight victories for the Frogs have come at the Daniel-Meyer Coliseum during the 2007-08 season.
The Ocho
• The Frogs notched their fourth straight victory at the Daniel-Meyer Coliseum when the Purple and White defeated Jackson State by a 79-68 count on December 27th to improve their home record to 8-1 on the 2007-08 season.
• This is the second straight season that the Frogs have jumped out to an 8-4 start, and the second time under TCU head men's basketball Neil Dougherty.
Frogs Show Dominance over Southwestern Athletic Conference
• The Frogs have had a lot of success over members of the Southwestern Athletic Conference over the last few decades as the Purple and White have recorded a 23-1 overall record against the conference. The last loss for TCU versus a member of the SWAC came against Texas Southern on December 29, 1988, when the Tigers recorded a 103-78 victory at the Daniel-Meyer Coliseum.
• This season, the Frogs have posted victories over Arkansas-Pine Bluff (75-61), Grambling State (99-67), Texas Southern (83-59), Prairie View A&M (92-80) and Jackson State (79-68).
Statement Time in the Mountain West Conference
• Teams in the Mountain West Conference have combined for a record of 78-36 with New Mexico leading the way at the top of the rankings under first-year head coach Steve Alford at 12-2. Following the Lobos, four teams have three losses in UNLV (11-3), BYU (10-3), San Diego State (10-3) and Utah (8-3).
• The score after the first 20 minutes of action has been a strong indicator of the game's winner this season as programs from the Mountain West Conference have recorded a 71-10 record when they hold the lead heading into intermission.
• The Mountain West Conference has been dominant on their home floor as all nine programs are combined for a 56-7 mark on their home courts.
Frogs Drop Heartbreaker on Road to Rice
• The TCU men's basketball program suffered a 15-point lead in a 70-65 heartbreaking loss to Rice University at the Leonard Merrell Center in Katy, Texas, on Saturday.
• With the setback, the Frogs dropped their overall record to 8-4 on the season, including a 0-3 mark away from the Daniel-Meyer Coliseum while the Owls improved to 3-7.
• The Frogs came into the contest ranked 15th in the nation in rebounds per game, but were on the wrong end of a +28-rebounding advantage as the Owls held the Purple and White to 20 rebounds, including six in the second half.
• The Owls recorded more offensive rebounds (23) than the Frogs had total rebounds (20) in the game and held a 24-3 advantage in second chance points.
• The Frogs held Rice to 20 points in the first half of action, but allowed the Owls to collect 50 points in the final 20 minutes en route to suffering the road loss. The Owls scored more points in the second half (50) then they did in their entire first game against the Purple and White in 49 points.
• Lawrence Ghoram became the fourth player this season to post a double-double on the Frogs as the Rice forward collected 26 points and 10 rebounds in 34 minutes of action.
• Kevin Langford collected his 10th straight double-digit scoring performance as he finished with a team-high 14 points - including 8-of-11 from the charity stripe.
• The Frogs dropped their third game on the road when holding a double-digit advantage on the scoreboard as the Purple and White held a 15-point lead (35-20) at intermission.
• In addition to Langford, the Frogs had three other players post double-digit scoring figures against the Owls in Henry Salter (11 points), Brent Hackett (10 points) and Neiman Owens collected a season-high 10 points in his return to his home area.
Frog Defense Standing Tall
• Since the 1960-61 season, the Frogs have never held opponents to a shooting percentage lower than .400 - their lowest field goal defense came during the 1985-86 season when opponents shot 41.5 percent from the field.
• The Frogs have forced opponents into 239 turnovers (19.9 turnovers per game) where they have scored 291 points off of the miscues of their foes - an average of 24.3 points.
• The Purple and White have limited their opponents to a scoring average of 68.7 points per evening at the DMC and 66.0 points per game in contests that the Frogs' win.
The Glass Cleaners
• Alvardo Parker and Luke Tauscher became the first set of teammates since Neil Dougherty's first season to each record a double-digit rebounding performance in the same game - a span of 131 games. The last set of Frogs to record double-digit rebounds came against UAB on Feb. 18, 2003, in Chudi Chinweze (13) and Bingo Merriex (11).
Time Well Spent
• Heading into the 2007-08 season, Neil Dougherty was excited about the depth on his bench and his style of play has shown it as the Frogs have nine players that are averaging double-digits in minutes played per evening.
• Kevin Langford is one of four players to average over 20.0 minutes per evening as the TCU junior is collecting 27.8 minutes of court time per evening. The Fort Worth talent is joined in that category by Henry Salter, Brent Hackett and Alvardo Parker.
• The Frogs have five other players who are averaging double-digits in minutes played in Jason Ebie, Neiman Owens, John Ortiz, Mike Scott and Keion Mitchem.
Scouting the Opponents - University of Texas
• The University of Texas will come into the contest against the TCU men's basketball team with an 11-2 overall record where the Longhorns are ranked 14th in the nation. The Longhorns are coming off of a 67-66 setback to the University of Wisconsin at the Frank Erwin Center after a last-second three-point field goal by the Badgers.
• This will be the 161st meeting between the Horned Frogs and Longhorns with the University of Texas holding a 98-62 advantage over the Purple and White dating back to their first meeting in January 30, 1915. This will be the first meeting between the former Southwest Conference foes since the 1995-96 season. The Longhorns have won nine consecutive games against the Frogs and possess a 58-19 mark against TCU on their home floor.
• The Longhorns are coached by Rick Barnes - who has recorded an 80-7 overall record (.920 winning percentage) against opponents from the State of Texas.
• Sophomore Damion Jones has posted six double-double in the Longhorns' last eight games and is averaging 14.9 points and 12.6 rebounds per game during that stretch. During the 2007-08 campaign, Jones is averaging a double-double at 12.5 points adn 10.8 rebounds per game.
• Freshman Gary Johnson will make his first appearance in a Longhorns' uniform after missing the first 13 games of the 2007-08 campaign due to a heart condition. The UT newcomer has been medically cleared to play.
• The Longhorns have scored at least 95 points in six of its first 13 games, including a four-game span from November 18th through the 25th where they averaged 99.3 points per game, including a pair of back-to-back 100-point scoring performances against Arkansas-Monticello (100) and New Mexico State (102).
• The University of Texas has limited their first 13 opponents to an average of 63.5 points per evening - including a 39.3 shooting percentage. Teams coached by Rick Barnes at the University of Texas have limited opponents to under 40.0 percent shooting from the field in 150 of his 315 games as head coach.
• D.J. Augustin has proven why he is one of the best players in the nation as the UT guard is averaging 19.8 points per game while connecting on 49.1 percent (85-of-173) to go along with 80.3 percent (61-of-76) from the free throw line and 43.3 percent (26-od-60) from behind the three-point arc.
• A.J. Abrams is ranked second on the squad averaging 18.8 points per game, including 47.9 percent (93-of-194) from the field and 87.5 percent (14-of-16) from the free throw line.
• The University of Texas has out-scored its opponents by a 1,059 to 826 margin and are averaging 81.5 points per evening compared to 63.5 points per game for opponents - a margin of 18.0 points per outing.
Frogs Closing in on 400th Victory at the DMC
• Following a 79-68 victory over Jackson State on Thursday (Dec. 27), the Purple and White recorded their 394th triumph inside the confines of the Daniel-Meyer Coliseum since its' opening on December 18, 1961.
Charity Stripe Blues
• This season, the Frogs have struggled at the charity stripe where the Purple and White have connected on 60.8 percent (178-of-309) of their free throw attempts compared to 63.7 percent (142-of-223) of attempts from their foes. On average - the Purple and White are leaving 10.9 points per evening at the charity stripe.
• Of the 10 players that have attempted 10 or more free throws - only five players (Kevin Langford, Brent Hackett, Mike Scott, Ryan Wall and Luke Tauscher) are shooting above 70.0 percent at the charity stripe.
• The Frogs are ranked last in the Mountain West Conference in free throw percentage at 60.8 percent.
Always Be Ready to Play
• In Neil Dougherty's system, every player has to be ready to play at any given time. This season, all 14 players that have suited up for TCU have played - that feat wasn't reached until the 24th game on the road at Colorado State during the 2006-07 campaign. This season - all 14 players on the roster have played at least three games.
Home-Grown Talent Pays Dividends for Horned Frogs
• The Horned Frogs will get plenty of scoring from a trio of home-grown talents in Brent Hackett (Southwest H.S.), Kevin Langford (North Crowley H.S.) and Luke Tauscher (Southwest H.S.).
• Hackett was the first player that Neil Dougherty signed from the Dallas/Fort Worth Area when he became head men's basketball coach at TCU. Langford also had ties with Dougherty as his brother, Keith, was a recruited and coached by Dougherty at the University of Kansas.
• A pair of honorable mention All-Mountain West Conference players last season, Hackett and Langford are currently ranked second and third on the Frogs in scoring average at 14.3 points and 11.4 points per game.
• TCU newcomer Luke Tauscher sat out last season due to an injury, but the 6-11 center has averaged 2.4 points and 3.3 rebounds per game in his 11 games on the floor for the Frogs.
• The Frogs have two other players from the Dallas/Fort Worth area in Ryan Wall (Coppell, Texas) and walk-on freshman Daniel Ford (Aledo, Texas).
A Team Filled with Mr. Cleans
• This season, the Frogs are averaging 40.3 rebounds per game - which ranks them 30th in the nation in that statistical category. The Purple and White are ranked seventh in the State of Texas in boards per game behind Texas State, Sam Houston State, Texas A&M, University of North Texas, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and University of Texas-Arlington.
• The Frogs have collected at least 50 rebounds in three of the team's first 11 games and have notched 40 or more boards in five of those games. The Purple and White is ranked second in the Mountain West Conference in rebounds per game - failing to hold the top spot for the first time this season.
• TCU recorded the top rebounding performance in the conference with a 59-board evening vs. Rice.
The "Langford" Road Home
• Kevin Langford is picking up where he left off last season as the Fort Worth native is ranked second on the team in scoring average (14.3 P-G) and leads the Frogs in free throws made (64), free throw attempts (91) and free throw percentage (70.3%).
• The TCU forward was selected as the Mountain West Conference Player of the Week on December 24th after averaging 24.0 points and 5.5 rebounds per game in a pair of victories for the Frogs. Langford scored a career-high 31 points against Prairie View A&M and became the first player since Junior Blunt during the 2001-02 season to score 30 or more points in a game.
• Langford is riding a 10-game double-digit scoring streak and has collected five of more rebounds in seven contests this season. During the last 10 games, Langford is averaging 15.7 points per game.
The Hackett Man
• An honorable mention All-Mountain West Conference performer last season, Hackett is enjoying another standout season as the TCU senior is ranked first on the team in three-point field goals made (93), second in three-point field goals made (28) and third in scoring average at 11.4 points per game.
• During his career with the Frogs - Hackett has appeared in 104 career games and has earned a spot in the starting lineup on 70 occasions - missing only four starts in the last three seasons.
• Hackett has been one of the top scorers for the Frogs over the last four seasons as he has collected 10 or more points in 44 career games - 8 (Senior) / 18 (Junior) / 18 (Sophomore). The TCU senior has recorded 891 career points to go along with 165 career three-pointers - which ranks seventh in the TCU career record books.
• Hackett is currently ranked fourth in the Mountain West Conference in three-point field goals made per game (2.3 3FGM-G) and has connected on at least one trey in 10 of 12 games this season.
Welcome to the Parker's
• Alvardo Parker has been one of the main defensive standouts for the Frogs this season as the TCU forward is ranked fifth in the Mountain West Conference in blocked shots per game (1.3 B-G) and offensive rebounds per game (2.17 R-G) and 14th in rebounds per game (5.4 R-G).
• The TCU senior has recorded 77 career blocked shots with the Frogs tying Marquise Gainous for ninth-place in the Horned Frogs' all-time record books. The person in sight for Parker will be Damion Walker - who holds eighth-place with 78 career blocked shots.
• Parker has notched at least one blocked shot in 11 of 12 games this season and is ranked 18th among the career leaders for the Mountain West Conference in that statistical category.
• This is only the fourth year of organized basketball for the Turks & Caicos Islands' native as he spent his first two seasons at Frank Phillips Junior College followed by his TCU career.
Never Shy Away from the National Spotlight
• Neil Doughery is not one to shy away from a nationally-ranked opponent as the Frogs have competed against 16 squads ranked in the top-25 during his tenure. To put the numbers into perspective - TCU played 19 nationally-ranked teams during the entire decade of the 90s - a span of 303 games.
• The Frogs has recorded four victories over nationally-ranked opponents during Dougherty's tenure with their latest victim coming against 14th-ranked Air Force Academy where TCU notched a 71-66 win in February of 2007 - snapping a six-game losing skid against nationally-ranked opponents.
• TCU is 12-88 (.120) all-time against nationally-ranked teams and has dropped 15 of its last 17 match-ups against teams ranked in the top-25.
• The Frogs haven't had much success against nationally-ranked opponents on the road as they have dropped 47 of 48 match-ups when away from the DMC. Their lone victory came against Hawaii (83-79) on January 19, 1998.
Frogs Adding a Little Salter to Their Diet
• TCU newcomer Henry Salter has made a tremendous impact on the Frogs' lineup in his first season with the program as he has collected 10 or more points in 11 of the team's first 12 games. The Gulfport, Miss., native has recorded the seventh-most double-digit scoring performances this season in the Mountain West Conference.
• Salter is ranked fifth in the Mountain West Conference in scoring average (14.9 P-G) and eighth in rebounds per game (6.2) and is only of three players in the conference to be ranked in the top-eight in both statistical categories - joining Trent Plaisted of BYU and Lee Cummard of BYU.
• The TCU junior is ranked first on the Frogs in scoring average and has been a force on the boards as well as Salter has collected five or more rebounds in nine of the team's first 12 games this season. Salter recorded his first career double-double against the University of Texas-Arlington with a 17-point, 14-rebound in the overtime affair.
• The former NJCAA All-American is also ranked fourth in the Mountain West Conference in field goal percentage (50.5%) and fourth in three-point field goals made per game (2.5 3FGM-G). Salter is also the fourth-highest junior scorer and rebounder in the Mountain West Conference.
Standing "O" for Ortiz
• TCU newcomer John Ortiz has played a pivotal role for the Frogs coming off of the bench as he is averaging 5.8 points and 5.3 rebounds per game - which ranks him 17th in the conference. Ortiz has done a tremendous job at getting to the free throw line where he is ranked second on the team in both free throws made (22) and free throw attempts (43).
• Ortiz recorded a career-high 10 points on two occasions during his first season against Texas Tech and Jackson State and has grabbed four or more rebounds in seven of 12 games during the 2007-08 campaign.
It's All About the Ebie, Baby!
• TCU sophomore Jason Ebie has been an important ingredient in the Frogs' lineup this season as he is averaging 4.3 points, 3.3 assists, 2.3 steals and 1.6 rebounds per game while competing in 18.4 minutes per outing.
• Ebie is ranked first in the Mountain West Conference in steals per game (2.3 S-G) and 10th in assists per game (3.3 A-G) and assist-to-turnover ratio (2.05:1 A-T Ratio). The TCU guard is one of two players in the Mountain West Conference to be ranked in the top-10 in all three statistical departments along with UNLV's Wink Adams.
• The Houston native has recorded three of more steals in six of 13 games and has posted four steals in three of those contests. In addition to his duties picking pockets, Ebie has dished out four or more assists on seven occasions. The TCU sophomore has dished out a career-high six assists on two occasions - Grambling State and UT Arlington.
Neon Keion in Primetime
• Sophomore Keion Mitchem has given the Frogs an added burst of energy off of the bench as the TCU guard is averaging 4.6 points and 1.4 rebounds per game while connecting on 40.4 percent of his field goal attempts. Mitchem has scored five or more points in six of 12 games this season - including a season-high nine points versus Rice.
Great Scott!
• TCU newcomer Mike Scott has made an immediate impact on the Frogs' lineup as the freshman has started in all 12 games. Scott is averaging 5.1 points and 2.8 assists per game this season while hitting on 44.7 percent of his shots.
• The Frogs' point guard scored a career-high 11 points on two occasions during his rookie campaign with the Purple and White against SMU and Jackson State. Scott has notched five or more points in five games this season.
• Though he's only a freshman, Scott is not the youngest member for TCU as the Philadelphia native is 21-years-old.
Close Encounters of the Trey Kind
• TCU has made at least one three-pointer in 294 consecutive games dating back to the 1997-98 season where the last time that the Frogs failed to connect on a trey came against LIU-Brooklyn on November 22, 1997. The Frogs have connected on at least one three-pointer in 521 of their last 522 games.
• Prior to the failed connection, TCU recorded a three-pointer in 217 straight games dating back to the 1989-90 season when the Longhorns of Texas stopped the Frogs on February 11, 1990.
• This season, the Purple and White has connected on at least seven three-pointers in 10 of their first 12 games and are ranked fourth in the Mountain West Conference in three-point field goals made per game (7.83 3FGM-G).
Home Sweet Home
• The Frogs have posted a mark of 394-232 (.629) since Daniel-Meyer Coliseum opened during the 1961-62 campaign.
• Over the past decade, the Horned Frogs have recorded a 134-57 (.702) overall record and have won at least 10 games at home in seven of the last 10 seasons.
• The Frogs have won 17 of their last 24 games at the Daniel-Meyer Coliseum, including nine of their last 10 games on their home court. The last loss for the Frogs at home came against Oklahoma (90-66 / December 2nd, 2007).
Finding Nemo
• Senior Neiman Owens is one of the most experienced players on the Frogs as the TCU guard has appeared in 105 career games - including 60 starts during his career with the Purple and White. Owens did not start against Angelo State in the season opener - which snapped his 60-game starting streak that dated back to the 2005-06 season.
• Owens competed in his 100th career game for the Purple and White on December 5th against SMU and reached another milestone against UT Arlington as he recorded his 400th career point for the Frogs.
The Wall
• Even though TCU has only been a member of the Mountain West Conference for three seasons, Ryan Wall has been affiliated with the MWC in each of his five collegiate years. Wall was a member of the University of New Mexico for two seasons (2003-04 and 2004-05) before transferring to TCU prior to the start of the 2005-06 campaign. After a red-shirt campaign during the 2005-06 campaign, Wall has appeared in 42 career games while wearing the Purple and White.
• Since coming back from an off-season injury, Wall has started to see more action on the court and has played seven or more minutes three of the last five games. He has also started to feel his shooting touch as the TCU senior has connected on a trio of three-pointers in two games this season - connecting on 34.5 percent of his trey attempts.
Cool Hand Luke
• After missing the 2006-07 season due to back surgery, Luke Tauscher made his return to the Frogs' lineup this season where he has averaged 9.2 minutes of court time. On five occasions, the TCU freshman has played in 10 or more minutes and has recorded at least four rebounds in five of 11 games this season.
• Tauscher recorded his first career double-digit rebounding evening against Rice where the Frogs' forward grabbed a game-high 12 boards.
Family Ties
• Anyone affiliated with the TCU men's basketball program knows that Neil Dougherty presents a family environment for the Frogs. Once a member of the basketball program, you quickly become a member of the family.
• Dougherty had the opportunity to coach his son, Neil P., for four seasons, and now assistant coach, Sean Woods, will also have the same opportunity as his son, Martiese Morones, is a sophomore with the Frogs.
• Woods was a standout at the University of Kentucky where he was a member of the "Unforgettables" on the 1992 team that fell 104-103 to Duke in the NCAA Elite Eight in what is considered the greatest college basketball game of all-time. A member of the University of Kentucky Hall of Fame, Woods connected on the shot to give the Wildcats a 103-102 lead on the Blue Devils before Christian Laettner connected on the shot heard round the world.
The Scoring Frenzy
• Twice during the 2007-08 campaign, every member of the Purple and White that saw action on the court scored at least one point in the game. The Frogs accomplished this feat against Angelo State (Nov. 10) and Grambling State (Nov. 21). The same feat was reached twice all of last season against San Diego State (Jan. 31) and Air Force (Feb. 24).
Putting 40 Minutes Together
• The Frogs have been successful in the first half of action where the Purple and White have built up a lead heading into intermission in 11 of their first 12 games. The Frogs have notched an 8-3 mark when leading at halftime with their three losses coming against Texas Tech, SMU and Rice.
The Woes of the Road
• The Frogs have dropped all three road decisions this season where they have held a double-digit lead against Texas Tech, SMU and Rice. The Purple and White has dropped decisions in all three contests when holding a second half lead of 10 or more points.
• TCU has dropped their last 10 games on the road with their last victory away from the Daniel-Meyer Coliseum coming against Mountain West Conference-opponent Utah on January 6, 2007.
Welcome to the Program
• In the early signing period, the Frogs signed a trio of players that will help the squad next season in Kevin Butler, Logan Lancon and James Blasczyk.
• Butler comes from one of the top high school programs in the nation in Duncanville and came into his senior season ranked 16th in the State of Texas according TexasHoops.com in the Class of 2008.
• Lancon comes into the 2007-08 campaign as the 43rd top prospect according to TexasHoops.com. The newly-signed Frog averaged a team-high 11.3 points per game en route to earning first team All-District 24-5A honors.
• Blasczyk is listed as the 47th best prospect in the State of Texas according to TexasHoops.com after concluding a junior campaign where he averaged 8.3 points, 7.1 rebounds and 4.0 blocked shots per game.
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