TCU set to host Southwest Texas
11/28/2001 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 28, 2001
Today's Game: The TCU Horned Frogs (3-2) look to get back in the win column Wednesday, November 28, when they host Southwest Texas State in a non-conference game. After winning the first three games of the season, the Frogs have since dropped two straight contests. On Sunday (Nov. 25), TCU lost to Louisiana-Monroe, 94-90. Last Wednesday, TCU lost to then 15th-ranked Oklahoma State in the championship game of the Las Vegas Invitational. TCU defeated Northwestern State, Arkansas-Monticello and UTEP to advance to the title game. TCU will next travel to Lubbock Saturday, December 1 to face the Texas Tech Red Raiders in a nationally-televised contest.
Radio/TV: The Southwest Texas 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 582-284, which places him 12th among the NCAA's winningest active coaches. Tubbs needs only 18 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 143-82. 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 95-20 mark at Daniel-Meyer Coliseum. Last season, the Frogs recorded a 15-1 win-loss mark at Daniel-Meyer. TCU's seven-game home winning streak ended Sunday against Louisiana-Monroe.
Conference USA Preseason Poll: The league head coaches have picked TCU to finish fifth in the National Division of Conference USA. Preseason top-25 team Memphis is picked to win the National Division, while Cincinnati is the top pick in the American Division. South Florida is picked to finish second in the National Division, and they are followed by UAB, Southern Miss, TCU, Houston and then Tulane. Charlotte is picked to finish second in the American Division, followed by Marquette, Louisville, Saint Louis, DePaul and East Carolina.
TCU-Southwest Texas Series: This will be the first meeting between the two schools. Tonight's game is the third of four games scheduled this season vs. members of the Southland Conference. TCU has defeated Northwestern State, lost to Louisiana-Monroe, and they will play Texas-San Antonio on December 15. TCU has a record of 40-14 all-time vs. current members of the Southland Conference.
100 Points is the Magic Number: Since Coach Tubbs took over the TCU program in 1994, the Frogs are 57-1 when they score 100 or more points. In fact, TCU has won 47 straight games when scoring at least 100 points. TCU's first 100-point game of this season was a 100-57 win over Monticello. The last loss was a 111-104 setback to Baylor on Feb. 14, 1995. In Tubbs' 28 seasons as a head coach, his teams have eclipsed the 100-point mark a total of 215 times, posting a record of 212-3. Last season, the Frogs went over the century mark 12 times, plus they scored more than 90 points in 18 games as they lead the nation in scoring with a 93.6 average. The Frogs also led the nation in scoring in 1994-95, 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 86-19, when holding opponents to 80 points or less. This season, the Frogs are 3-0, when holding opponents to 80 points or less. TCU has held Northwestern State (79 points), Arkansas-Monticello (57 points) and UTEP (73 points) below the 80-point mark.
Three-Point Shooting: TCU has attempted at least 20 three-pointers in each of the first five games this season. Last year, TCU launched 20 or more three-point shots in 22 of its 31 games. Against Northwestern State, TCU made 11-of-26 three point attempts, then against Monticello, the Frogs hit 7-of-20 three-pointers. In the win over UTEP, TCU hit 6-of-23 three-point shots. In the Las Vegas Invitational title games, TCU hit seven of 27 three-point attempts. 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).
Welcome to TCU: Thru the first five games this season, newcomers have accounted for 71.4% (325 of 455) of the points scored by the Frogs. Overall, the five newcomers that have played thus far, are averaging 65.0 points, 24.0 rebounds and 16.6 assists per game. In the season opener, the Frogs were paced by Junior Blount's 34 points. Then against Monticello, Corey Santee scored a game-high 26 points, while dishing out eight assists to lead TCU to the 100-57 win. Against UTEP, junior college transfer Jamal Brown recorded a double-double, scoring 28 points and pulling down 18 rebounds. In the Monroe loss, redshirt freshman Corey Valsin posted a double-double with 20 points and 12 rebounds, while Santee set a new career-high with 11 assists.
Diaper Dandies: In each of the first five games this season, head coach Billy Tubbs has started two freshmen. In the opener, Tubbs started freshmen, Corey Santee and Corey Valsin. Santee, a true frosh from Flint, Michigan opened the season as the starting point guard, while Valsin, a redshirt freshman started at the "3" spot in the opening night lineup. In the next three games, Tubbs started Santee and redshirt freshman James Davis. In the Monroe contest, Tubbs went back to Santee and Valsin. In addition, true freshman Marcus Sloan has played in each of the last two contests. The five freshmen have contributed a combined average of 32.9 points, 12.5 rebounds and 11.4 assists.
Dishing out Assists: Freshman guard Corey Santee has opened his freshman campaign with 40 assists, an average of 8.0 per game. He has at least five assists in every game, including a season-high 11 against Louisiana-Monroe. As a team, the Frogs have recorded 91 assists, including a season-best 22 against Monticello. Junior Blount is second on the team with 19 assists.
"JB" Cleans the Boards: Jamal Brown continues to lead the Frogs in rebounding with an average of 11.4 boards per game. The junior college transfer pulled down a season-high 18 boards against UTEP, then one night later, he posted 10 boards against Oklahoma State. Brown has reached double figures in four of TCU's first five games. The 18 boards are the most by a TCU player since Lee Nailon had 22 rebounds against SMU on January 11, 1999. In his debut for the Frogs, Brown had 12 rebounds against Northwestern State, tying him for the team lead with Marlon Dumont. Brown had five rebounds against Monticello. Last season at Seward County (Kansas) College, Brown averaged 14.1 rebounds per game to lead the Jayhawk Community College Conference.
"JB" at the Stripe: Not only did Jamal Brown lead the Frogs in rebounds with 18 against UTEP, he also scored a career-high 28 points. Eighteen of the 28 points came from the free throw line as Brown made 18-of-23 attempts. The 18 free throws made by Brown tied him for third in the single-game record book, while the 23 attempts also rank third. Dick O'Neal established the TCU record for free throws made (22) and attempted (29) vs. Texas A&M in 1955.
