TCU Takes on Furman Tuesday Night
12/8/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
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Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2014 | 7:00 p.m. CT | Fort Worth, Texas | Radio Network: 1420 AM KPIR; FrogVision |
Fans not able to attend the non-conference tilt against the Paladins can follow it live on FrogVision and 1420 AM with Brian Estridge (Play-By-Play) and John Denton (Color) calling the action live.
The Opponent
Furman comes into Tuesday, boasting a 2-4 overall record, including a 1-0 mark in conference play after downing Samford in its last outing, 74-64. Against the Bulldogs, Stephen Croone had a career day, scoring 33 points on 8-of-14 from the field, including 14-of-19 from the charity stripe. Geoff Beans followed, scoring 21 points, while Daniel Fowler posted a double-double with 11 points and 10 boards.
On the season, Croone leads the way, averaging 17.0 points per game and 4.6 boards a contest. Beans is also in double-figures, totaling 15.0 points per game in only two games.
The Series
TCU and Furman will battle on the hardwood for only the second time in program history Tuesday. FU leads the all-time series, 1-0, having defeated the Frogs, 68-47, in 1963.
Defensive Success
TCU held Ole Miss to only 24 points in the opening frame of play last week. The Frogs have now held six out of their eight opponents to 24 points or less in the first half. In all, TCU has now held four-straight opponents to 24 points or less in the opening frame.
Outstanding Numbers
TCU is currently 8-0 on the season and will look to match their win total from a year ago Tuesday. Consider this, the Frogs didn't win their eighth game until a 70-58 victory over Tulsa on Dec. 21. Below is a quick look at who some of TCU's opponents have defeated during the course of the 2014-15 non-conference slate.
Radford: Defeated Virginia Tech
Ole Miss: Won at Oregon, defeated Creighton and No. 23 Cincinnati
Mississippi State: Downed St. Louis
Washington State: Defeated Rice
Time Machine
TCU is once again 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.
A New Path
The Frogs haven't started a year 8-0 since going 9-0 to begin the 1997-98 campaign, which also happens to be the last time TCU made the NCAA Tournament. TCU's best start in program history came in 1951 when the Horned Frogs opened the year with a 14-1 overall record.
Firing Out Of The Gate
TCU has outscored its first eight opponents by a combined score of 60-25 in the first 4 minutes of action. During that span, the schools have gone a combined 9-for-37 from the field with 14 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 8-0 for the first time since 1997-98, which was the last time the Frogs made the NCAA Tournament.
• TCU is 23-4 when leading at the half under head coach Trent Johnson.
• TCU has started the same starting lineup for eight-straight games.
• TCU has now held 21 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.
• Kyan Anderson is No. 12 all-time in scoring in program history with 1,283 points.
• Anderson only needs 36 more points to move into sole-possession of No. 11 all-time.
• Anderson has 18 20-point games in his four-year career.
• TCU is 6-3 when Karviar Shepherd grabs double-digit boards.
• Anderson scored in double-figures for a 62nd time in his career against Ole Miss.
• Shepherd scored in double-figures for a third time this season vs. Ole Miss.
• Shepherd posted his 16th double-digit scoring outing of his career last Thursday.
• Kenrich Williams scored in double-figures for a fourth time in eight 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.
