TCU Heads to Ole Miss Thursday Night
12/2/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
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Thursday, Dec. 4, 2014 | 8:00 p.m. CT | Oxford, Miss. | Radio Network: 1420 AM KPIR; SiriusXM |
Fans not able to attend the non-conference tilt against the Rebels can follow it live on ESPNU with Rich Hollenberg (Play-By-Play) and Stan Heath (Color) calling the action live.
The Opponent
Ole Miss, who is also receiving votes in this week's AP poll, comes into Thursday's game with a 5-1 overall record. The Rebels have won five-straight and haven't lost since their season-opener against Charleston Southern. In its last two outings, Ole Miss has defeated nationally ranked Creighton and Cincinnati, respectively.
Against the Bearcats, Stefan Moody scored a game-high 26 points on 9-of-17 from the field, while Mississippi shot nearly 50 percent from the floor. Individually, the Rebels have three players scoring in double-figures on the year, including Jarvis Summers who is averaging 14.7 points per game and 3.7 assists per contest.
The Series
TCU and Ole Miss will battle for the fifth time in program history Thursday. The Rebels lead the all-time series, 3-1, having defeated the Horned Frogs in 2011, 80-69. In all, TCU hasn't defeated Ole Miss since a 70-61 victory in Fort Worth during the 1976 campaign.
A Closer Look
• TCU is 1-0 in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge, having defeated Mississippi State in Starkville last season, 71-61.
• In all, the Horned Frogs have claimed 125 victories all-time against SEC schools.
• The last time Ole Miss and TCU played, now senior Amric Fields scored a game-high 18 points on 7-for-9 from the floor.
• Fellow senior Kyan Anderson was the only other current Frog to play in the 2011 contest.
• Since the start of the 2012-13 season, Big 12 teams are 18-9 against SEC foes.
Time Machine
TCU is receiving votes in both national polls this week, marking the first time under head coach Trent Johnson the program has accomplished that feat. The last time the Horned Frogs were ranked or receiving votes came during the 1998-99 season when TCU was ranked as high as No. 21 nationally during the month of January.
In the Big 12 Conference, eight of the 10 teams are ranked or receiving votes in both top 25 polls this week, which is tied for the most of any conference with the ACC.
A New Path
The Frogs haven't started a year 7-0 since going 9-0 to begin the 1997-98 campaign, which also happens to be the last time TCU made the NCAA Tournament. The Horned Frogs are one of only 10 teams nationally to open the season 7-0.
The Game After
If recent history suggests anything, TCU should be in good shape against Ole Miss Thursday. Since 2010, the Purple and White have never lost the game directly following a regular-season tournament, going 4-0. In the four outings, the Horned Frogs have averaged 76.8 points per game, while holding the opposition to 69.3 points per contest.
Firing Out Of The Gate
TCU has outscored its first seven opponents by a combined score of 55-21 in the first 4 minutes of action. During that span, the schools have gone a combined 8-for-32 from the field with 13 turnovers. Against Washington State, the Frogs opened the contest on a 14-0 run. WSU didn't even score from the field until 15:52 showed on the clock.
TCU Notes
• Trent Johnson recorded his 250th career victory against Mississippi Valley State.
• TCU is 7-0 for the first time since 1997-98, which was the last time the Frogs made the NCAA Tournament.
• TCU is 22-4 when leading at the half under head coach Trent Johnson.
• TCU has started the same starting lineup for seven-straight games.
• TCU has now held 20 opponents to 59 points or less under Trent Johnson.
• TCU captured its first regular-season tournament title since 1991 by winning the Corpus Christi Coastal Classic.
• It was the first tournament title since claiming the San Juan Shootout in Puerto Rico.
• TCU eclipsed the 100-point barrier for the first time under Johnson against Mississippi Valley State.
• The Frogs amassed the most points in a single-game last Monday since scoring 108 against Texas State in 2009.
• Kyan Anderson is No. 12 all-time in scoring in program history with 1,272 points.
• Anderson only needs one more point to move into sole-possession of No. 12 all-time.
• Anderson posted his 61st double-figure scoring output of his career against Bradley.
• Anderson has 18 20-point games in his four-year career.
• TCU is 6-3 when Karviar Shepherd grabs double-digit boards.
• Kenrich Williams scored in double-figures for a fourth time in seven games vs. Mississippi State.
• Williams was named the tournament MVP at the Corpus Christi Coastal Classic.
• Trey Zeigler and Chris Washburn were named to the all-tournament team in Corpus Christi.
• Washburn has now scored in double-figures in two out of the seven games.
• Amric Fields saw his first action of the 2014-15 season vs. Radford.
