TCU set to open 2001-2002 Basketball Season
11/15/2001 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 15, 2001
The TCU Horned Frogs open the 2001-02 regular season Friday, November 16 against Northwestern State (La.). The contest is the first game of the Las Vegas Invitational. The next three games will take place in Las Vegas, November 19-21. On Monday afternoon (Nov. 20), the Frogs will face Arkansas-Monticello, then on Tuesday (Nov. 21), TCU will play former WAC rival UTEP. The final opponent will be determined based on how the Frogs fare in their bracket. All three games in Las Vegas will be held at Valley High School.
Radio/TV: The Northwestern State game can be heard on ESPN 103.3 FM or KTCU (88.7 FM) with Brian Estridge (play-by-play) and former TCU basketball letterman Herb Stephens (analysis) describing the action. This game will not be televised.
Billy Tubbs: One of the nation's winningest coaches, Billy Tubbs is in his 8th season at TCU and his 28th overall as a head coach. His career record stands at 579-282, which places him 12th among the NCAA's winningest active coaches. Tubbs needs only 21 wins to reach the 600 victory plateau. Only 35 coaches have won at least 600 games in their respective careers. While at TCU, Tubbs has recorded a win-loss mark of 140-80. He is assisted by Brian Fish, Rob Flaska and Scott Edgar.
Home Sweet Home: Under Billy Tubbs, Daniel-Meyer Coliseum has developed into one of the more difficult places for opponents to play. Since arriving in Fort Worth, Tubbs' coached teams have posted an impressive 94-19 mark at Daniel-Meyer Coliseum. Last season, the Frogs recorded a 15-1 win-loss mark at Daniel-Meyer.
Experimental Rules: Three experimental rules will be used throughout the Las Vegas Invitational. The experimental rules are:
*The free throw and three-second lane will be widened to the NBA free-throw and three-second lane.
*No free throws shall be awarded to the offended team for a foul committed by a member of a team in control of the ball. Instead, the offended team will be awarded possession of the ball. As under the current NCAA rule, the foul will count toward disqualification and the team-foul total.
*Jump balls will be held at the center circle for all situations in which the alternating possession arrow was used. Any two players may jump, except for a held ball and when the ball is simultaneously caused to go out of bounds.
Season Openers: The Horned Frogs have amassed a 55-35 record in season opening games. In the 2000-01 season opener, TCU defeated Northwestern State 102-69. The Frogs had dropped their previous two season openers, falling by an 91-83 score to California in Fairbanks, Alaska in 1999, and losing at Rhode Island to begin the 1998 season.
Home Opener Winning Streak: The Horned Frogs have won each of their last 20 home openers. They won last year's home opener over Northwestern State, 102-69. The Frogs have not lost a home opener since the 1980-81 season when they dropped a 53-52 decision to Westmont College.
TCU-Northwestern State Series: TCU leads the series, 3-0. Last season, the Frogs defeated the Demons, 102-69, in Fort Worth. Bingo Merriex came off the bench to score 16 points and grab seven rebounds. Ryan Carroll led the team with 23 points. This is the third consecutive season the two teams have met on the hardwood.
Exhibition Play: TCU compiled a 2-0 record in the exhibition season as they defeated Czech-Select, 146-70, and Athletes First, 105-102. In the latter contest, the Frogs overcame a nine-point deficit in the final two minutes to win by three. Marlon Dumont led TCU in scoring with a total of 49 points in the two games. Junior Blount was second with 44 points, hitting 13 three-pointers.
Czech-Select Recap: The Frogs opened the exhibition season with a 146-70 win over Czech-Select. TCU was led by Marlon Dumont's 31 points and 13 rebounds, while Junior Blount hit eight three-pointers to score a total of 26 points. The Frogs scored 88 points in the second half, hitting 79.1 percent of their shots, including 12-of-14 three-pointers. In the second half, the Frogs outscored Czech-Select by 46 points (88-42). Overall, eight TCU players reached double figures, including all five starters. Corey Santee posted eight assists and 15 points, while Blount finished with seven assists.
Athletes First Recap: TCU overcame a nine-point deficit in the final two minutes to defeat Athletes First, 105-102, Thursday at Daniel-Meyer Coliseum.
A Corey Santee three-pointer at the 2:00 mark cut the deficit to six points, then after a turnover by Athletes First, Santee again connected on a three-pointer to trim the deficit to three points. After Athletes First committed yet another turnover, TCU's Junior Blount was fouled on a made three-pointer that tied the game. He successfully converted the free throw shot, providing the Frogs with their first lead since the 16:13 mark of the second half.
Athletes First controlled the first half as they took a 50-44 lead into halftime. While the Frogs shot only 40.5 percent in the opening half, Athletes First shot 54.1 percent and out rebounded the Frogs by seven boards (24-17). Athletes First hit eight three-pointers in the first half, including three by leading scorer Chad Wilkerson.
The Frogs went on a 14-7 run to open the second half as Marlon Dumont and Jamal Brown combined for 10 of the 14 points. The run allowed TCU to take a 58-57 lead with 16:13 left in the half. Athletes First responded by going on a 15-4 run to take a 72-62 lead. Down the stretch, the Frogs hit the key shots as they closed the game by outscoring Athletes First 14-2 in the final two minutes.
Brown led the Frogs with 21 points and 16 rebounds, while Dumont scored 18 points and pulled down 11 boards. Santee's late three-pointers raised his total to 18 points, while dishing out nine assists. Junior Blount, who hit 13 three-pointers in the two exhibition games, including five vs. Athletes First, scored 18 points. Nucleus Smith added 12 points despite playing only in the first half.
100 Points is the Magic Number: Since Coach Tubbs took over the TCU program in 1994, the Frogs are 56-1 when they score 100 or more points. In fact, TCU has won 46 straight games when scoring at least 100 points. The last loss was a 111-104 setback to Baylor on Feb. 14, 1995. Last season, the Frogs went over the century mark 12 times, plus they scored more than 90 points in 18 games. The 1997-98 Frogs established a school-record with 14 100-point games. The 2000-01 Frogs led the nation in scoring with a 93.6 points per game. The Frogs also led the nation in scoring in both 1994-95 and 1997-98, and they finished second in 1999-2000.
Hold The Opponent to 80 or Less: While the Frogs have been averaging close to 100 points per game, the TCU defense has done a solid job holding opponents to 80 or less. Since Coach Tubbs took over the TCU program in 1994, the Frogs have a record of 83-19, when holding opponents to 80 points or less.
Three-Point Shooting: In the 2000-01 season, TCU launched 20 or more three-point shots in 22 of its 31 games. This season, the Frogs attempted 24 three-pointers in each of the two exhibtion contests. Overall, the Frogs made 25 of the 48 three-pointers attempted. Last season, the Frogs attempted a school-record 36 three-point shots against Central Oklahoma. TCU also established school records for three-point field goals made (268) and three-point field goals attempted (704).
