No. 25 TCU Set For Tennessee State
12/28/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
 |
Monday, Dec. 29, 2014 | 7:00 p.m. CT | Fort Worth, Texas |
Fans not able to attend the non-conference tilt can follow it live on FrogVision with Brian Estridge (Play-By-Play) and John Denton (Color) calling the action live.
The Opponent
Tennessee State comes into Monday night's match-up with a 2-11 overall record after falling to Tennessee in its last outing, 67-46. Against the Volunteers, the Tigers shot 47.8 percent from behind the arc, but just 36.2 percent from the field for the game.
Individually, Marcus Roper led the way, scoring a team-high 16 points on 6-for-13 from the floor, while Jay Harris posted a 15-point outing. On the season, Roper and Harris are both averaging 11.4 points per game, respectively.
The Series
Monday night's game will be the first meeting between the two schools.
The Final Chapter
Since the 2006-07 season, TCU is 5-3 overall in its final non-conference game, including a 77-64 victory over Texas Southern last season. The Frogs' only losses during that stretch came to SMU (2011-12), Rice (2010-11) and Texas (2007-08). In all, the Frogs are averaging over 65 points per game in the eight contests.
A Closer Look
TCU will look to win its 13th-straight game Monday night. The Horned Frogs' longest winning streak in school history is 16 games, which happened during the 1997-98 season.
Moving On Up
Through non-conference play, senior Kyan Anderson has started to etch his name into the record books. The returning all-conference player now sits in the top-5 all-time in program history in games started, minutes played and steals, while ranking in the top-10 all-time in points, 3-point field goals made and attempted, free throws made and assists.
Staggering D
Heading into Sunday night, TCU has put up some eye-popping numbers nationally on the defensive end of the court. The Frogs rank in the top-20 in the NCAA in blocks per game (No. 8), field goal percentage defense (No. 6), rebounding margin (No. 11), scoring defense (No. 7) and total blocks (No. 6).
Chasing History
TCU moved to 12-0 on the season with its 80-39 victory over Grambling State. In the Big 12 Conference, the Frogs need only one more win to tie Oklahoma State for the 10th best start in league history. The Cowboys opened the 2001-02 season with a 13-0 record before falling.
History Lesson
The Frogs have now recorded their best start to a season since going 9-0 in 1997-98, which also happens to be the last time TCU made the NCAA Tournament. When broken down even further, the Purple and White had only recorded double-digit wins four times in program history before suffering their second loss of the season (1930-31: 12-1; 1951-52: 14-1; 1957-58: 10-1; 1997-98: 10-1).
Heading into Sunday night, TCU was still one of only seven teams remaining in the NCAA who were undefeated on the year.
Time Machine
TCU moved into the top-25 poll for the first time since 1998-99 last Monday at No. 25, 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, seven of the 10 teams were ranked in the top 25 of the AP poll.
TCU Notes
• TCU is 12-0 for the first time in school history.
• It is the best start to a season since going 9-0 in 1997-98, which was the last time the Frogs made the NCAA Tournament.
• TCU is 27-4 when leading at the half under head coach Trent Johnson.
• TCU has now held 24 opponents to 59 points or less under Trent Johnson.
• TCU out-rebounded its opponent for the 11th time this season vs. Grambling State.
• TCU captured its first regular-season tournament title since 1991 by winning the Corpus Christi Coastal Classic.
• TCU has already bettered its win total from a year ago.
• Kyan Anderson is No. 10 all-time in scoring in program history with 1,341 points.
• Anderson only needs 86 more points to move into No. 9 all-time.
• Anderson now has 19 20-point games in his four-year career after scoring 21 against Furman.
• TCU is 8-3 when Karviar Shepherd grabs double-digit boards.
• Kenrich Williams has scored in double-figures in seven of the 12 games this season.
• Williams was named the tournament MVP at the Corpus Christi Coastal Classic.
• Chauncey Collins posted a career-high in points with 13 against Grambling State.
Sizzling December
Under head coach Trent Johnson, TCU has put together quite the resume during the month of December as the Frogs have only lost twice under Johnson's watch. The Purple and White have won 13-straight during the month, which dates back to the 2012-13 season. Overall, TCU is 13-2 during the month under Johnson with its only losses coming in back-to-back outings to Houston (Dec. 4) and at Tulsa (Dec. 8) in 2012.
Johnson Accomplishes Rare Feat
By starting the season 12-0, Trent Johnson accomplished a first in his 16 years as a head coach. Johnson had never started a season 12-0. As an assistant, Johnson's 1997 Stanford squad opened its season 17-0 before falling to Arizona, 93-75, in late January.
Firing Out Of The Gate
TCU has outscored its first 12 opponents by a combined score of 79-46 in the first 4 minutes of action. During that span, the schools have gone a combined 17-for-56 from the field with 20 turnovers.
