Frogs look for fourth straight win at Utah
1/25/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 25, 2008
Game Notes - University of Utah in PDF Format 
Game Day Information
Opponent: The TCU men's basketball program will travel to Salt Lake City for a match-up against Mountain West Conference-opponent University of Utah on Saturday at the Jon M. Huntsman Center for a 1:00 Central Time tip.
Radio: KTCU (88.7 FM) and ESPN Radio (103.3 FM) in the Dallas/Fort Worth area
Brian Estridge (play-by-play) and John Denton (anaylst) will call the game on the TCU/ISP Sports Network. The game can also be heard online at www.GoFrogs.com via Yahoo Sports.
Television: The Mtn. Network
James Bates (play-by-play) and Joe Cravens (analyst) will handle the game duties for The Mtn. Network.
Next on the Schedule: The Frogs will be back in action on Wednesday (Jan. 30) as the Purple and White close out the Month of January with a conference match-up against UNLV. The Frog nation can listen to the game on ESPN Radio (103.3 FM) as well as KTCU (88.7 FM). The game will also be televised on The Mtn. Network.
The Big Score
• The Frogs have scored 1,267 points through 17 games of the 2007-08 campaign - averaging 74.5 points per evening. The Purple and White is currently ranked third in the Mountain West Conference in scoring average sitting behind BYU and University of New Mexico.
Stealing the Show
• The Frogs will enter the game against the Utes ranked fourth in the nation in steals per game with an average of 10.6 picks per evenign. In the NCAA rankings, the Frogs are slated behind VMI (Virginia Military Institute) at 14.4 steals per game followed by Kansas and Tennessee.
• The defense of the Purple and White has notched 12 games of 10 or more steals this season with their season-high coming against Texas Southern with a 17-steal performance - which is the second-highest tally among all Mountain West Conference programs.
• The only five games this season that the Frogs did not record at least 10 or more steals came against Texas (9), Prairie View A&M (9), Grambling State (8), Wyoming (8) and Colorado State (6).
• Jason Ebie is ranked 32nd among all NCAA Division I student-athletes in steals per game as the TCU sophomore has recorded an average of 2.4 steals per game. The TCU point guard has collected three or more steals in seven of 17 games this season and has notched at least one steal in 16 of 17 games during the 2007-08 campaign.
Statement Time in the Mountain West Conference
• Teams in the Mountain West Conference have combined for a record of 98-57 (.632 winning percentage) with San Diego State leading the way with a 14-4 record - including a 4-0 mark in conference action. TCU is second with a 3-1 overall conference mark.
• The Frogs have notched their best start with a 3-1 record in the Mountain West Conference since joining the league three seasons ago. The Purple and White has only recorded six wins in conference action over the last two seasons.
• The Frogs have won three consecutive Mountain West Conference games for the first time since joining the league prior to the beginning of the 2005-06 campaign.
Frogs Score 70-58 Conference Road Victory over CSU
• The TCU men's basketball team recorded their third straight victory in Mountain West Conference action following a 70-58 victory over Colorado State at Moby Arena in Fort Collins, Colo., on Saturday afternoon.
• The victory over the Rams was also the Frogs' first road victory of the season and only the second road triumph for the Purple and White since joining the MWC in 2005-06.
• Henry Salter notched a team-high 14 points in the game - including four three-pointers, which was the fourth consecutive game that the TCU junior has drained four treys. He also notched four rebounds and two steals in 30 minutes of court action.
• Kevin Langford notched his 15th consecutive double-digit scoring performance after collecting all 10 of his points during the final 20 minutes of action. He finished the game with three rebounds and one assist in 22 minutes of court time.
• Jason Ebie - who started his third consecutive game at the point guard position - notched a career-high 12 points, including 6-of-7 from the charity stripe to go along with three rebounds, three assists and two steals in 25 minutes of action.
• Marcus Walker collected a career-high 25 points - including a perfect 10-of-10 from the free throw line - to go along wtih 7-of-20 shooting from the field.
• Colorado State held a 32-31 advantage over the Purple and White heading into intermission, but were out-scored by a 39-26 margin over the final 20 minutes of action.
• Luke Tauscher played an impressive 14 minutes of action in the low block for the Frogs as the TCU freshman collected eight rebounds and two points in 14 minutes of action.
Frog Defense Standing Tall
• The defense of the Purple and White has been one of the strong points for the Frogs this season as TCU is holding opponents to a shooting percentage of 43.0 percent - which is on-pace to be the second-lowest shooting percentage for a foe in program history.
• The Frogs have forced opponents into 324 turnovers (19.1 turnovers per game) where they have scored 365 points off of the miscues of their foes - an average of 21.5 points.
• In Mountain West Conference action, the Frogs have forced opponents to connect on 25.3 percent (19-of-75) of their three-point field goal attempts. MWC opponents have only connected on more than three treys in one of four games (11 / New Mexico).
The Glass Cleaners
• Alvardo Parker and Luke Tauscher each recorded a double-digit rebounding performance against Rice on November 13th and became the first set of teammates to accomplish that feat in the same game since Chudi Chinweze (13) and Bingo Merriex (11) did it against UAB on February 18, 2003 - a span of 131 games.
Time Well Spent
• Heading into the 2007-08 season, Neil Dougherty was excited about the depth on his bench and its shown as the Frogs have nine players that are averaging double-digits.
• Kevin Langford is one of four players to average over 20.0 minutes per evening as the TCU junior is collecting 28.6 minutes of court time per evening. The Fort Worth talent is joined in that category by Henry Salter, Brent Hackett and Alvardo Parker.
• The Frogs have five other players who are averaging double-digits in minutes played in Jason Ebie, Neiman Owens, John Ortiz, Mike Scott and Keion Mitchem.
The Trend
• During the 2007-08 campaign, the Frogs have recorded a trend of winning four games followed by three setbacks and back again through the first 17 games of the season.
Scouting the Opponents - University of Utah
• The University of Utah enters the contest with a 10-7 record - including a 1-3 mark in the Mountain West Conference after dropping their last three leagues games to San Diego State (in overtime), BYU and New Mexico (in overtime).
• Luke Nevill is one of the top post players in the Mountain West Conference as the Utah senior is averaging 13.6 points and 7.4 rebounds per game while connecting on 51.7 percent (90-of-174) of his field goal attempts. The Utes' center is ranked 15th in Mountain West Conference history for blocked shots with 87 to his credit.
• Luke Drca has averaged 4.6 assists per game over the last seven games and the Utah sophomore currently leads the team with 46 assists despite averaging 18.8 minutes per evening off of the bench.
• Guard Johnnie Bryant is averaging 13.3 points per game as one of the top reserve players for the Utes, ranking him among the nation's best bench performers this season. Bryant is ranked second on the Utah squad in points per game and is the only non-starter in the Mountain West Conference to be ranked in the top-20 in scoring.
• Utah is currently ranked among all NCAA Division I programs in three statistical categories - including eighth in field goal percentage, 12th in three-point field goal percentage and 23rd in free throw percentage.
• The Utes have held six different opponents to 54 or fewer points this season and ranks second in the Mountain West Conference in scoring defense at 60.1 points per game. Last season, Utah did not hold a single opponent to under 55 points throughout the entire campaign.
• Utah has won 11 regular-season conference titles over the last 17 years - which is second to only Kansas during that span. Utah is tied with Kentucky and Penn for the second-most championships over the course of nearly two decades. The Utes have notched 28 conference titles during their history - which is fifth-most in the NCAA.
• Jim Boylen is in the midst of his first season as head men's basketball coach with the University of Utah after spending the previous two seasons as the top assistant to Tom Izzo at Michigan State.
Frogs Closing in on 400th Victory at the DMC
• Following a 74-72 victory over New Mexico on Tuesday (Jan. 15), the Purple and White recorded their 396th triumph inside the confines of the Daniel-Meyer Coliseum since its' opening on December 18, 1961.
Charity Stripe Blues
• This season, the Frogs have struggled at the charity stripe where the Purple and White have connected on 63.1 percent (236-of-374) of their free throw attempts compared to 64.1 percent (218-of-340) of attempts from their foes. On average - the Purple and White are leaving 8.1 points per evening at the charity stripe.
• Of the 10 players that have attempted 10 or more free throws - only four players (Kevin Langford, Brent Hackett, Mike Scott and Luke Tauscher) are shooting above 70.0 percent at the charity stripe.
• The Frogs have started to improve their free throw shooting ability since the beginning of Mountain West Conference action as the Purple and White have connected on 74.2 percent (49-of-66) of their attempts.
• The Purple and White has connected on 69.9 percent (65-of-93) of their free throw attempts on the road compared to a shooting percentage of 60.9 percent (110-of-188) at the Daniel-Meyer Coliseum.
Always Be Ready to Play
• In Neil Dougherty's system, every player has to be ready to play at any given time. This season, all 14 players that have suited up for TCU have played - that feat wasn't reached until the 24th game on the road at Colorado State during the 2006-07 campaign. This season - all 14 players on the roster have played at least four games.
Home-Grown Talent Pays Dividends for Horned Frogs
• The Horned Frogs will get plenty of action from a quintet of Dallas/Fort Worth talents in Brent Hackett (Southwest H.S.), Kevin Langford (North Crowley H.S.), Ryan Wall (Coppell H.S.), Daniel Ford (Aledo H.S.) and Luke Tauscher (Southwest H.S.).
• Hackett was the first player that Neil Dougherty signed from the Dallas/Fort Worth Area when he became head men's basketball coach at TCU. Langford also had ties with Dougherty as his brother, Keith, was a recruited and coached by Dougherty at the University of Kansas.
• A pair of honorable mention All-Mountain West Conference players last season, Hackett and Langford are currently ranked second and third on the Frogs in scoring average at 14.4 points and 11.4 points per game.
• Ryan Wall is in his second season with the Frogs' program after spending a pair of seasons at the University of New Mexico. The TCU guard connected on the game-winning three-pointer to defeat the Lobos on Jan. 15th. Wall's shot was ranked fifth on SportsCenter's Plays of the Day on Wednesday (Jan. 16th).
• TCU newcomer Luke Tauscher sat out last season due to an injury, but the 6-11 center has averaged 2.1 points and 3.4 rebounds per game in his 14 games on the floor for the Frogs.
• Daniel Ford is a walk-on freshman with the Frogs after a stellar career at Aledo High School.
Frogs Adding a Little Salter to Their Diet
• TCU newcomer Henry Salter has made a tremendous impact on the Frogs' lineup in his first season with the program as he has collected 10 or more points in 16 of the team's 17 games. The Gulfport, Miss., native has recorded the most double-digit scoring performances in the conference.
• The TCU junior is currently ranked second in the country in three-point field goal percentage as he has connected on 52.5 percent of his attempts and 35th in three-point field goals made per game.
• Salter is ranked fourth in the Mountain West Conference in scoring average (15.4 P-G) and 14th in rebounds per game (5.5) and is the only player in the conference to be ranked in the top-15 in six statistical categories.
• The former NJCAA All-American is also ranked first in the Mountain West Conference in three-point field goals made per game with an average of 3.06 treys per contest and has connected on at least four three-pointers in each of the Frogs' four conference games. He is ranked first in the Mountain West Conference in three-point field goal percentage with a mark of 52.5 percent (52-of-99).
The "Langford" Road Home
• Kevin Langford is picking up where he left off last season as the Fort Worth native is ranked second on the team in scoring average (14.4 P-G) and leads the Frogs in free throws made (85), free throw attempts (119) and free throw percentage (71.4%).
• The TCU forward was selected as the Mountain West Conference Player of the Week on December 24th after averaging 24.0 points and 5.5 rebounds per game in a pair of victories for the Frogs. Langford scored a career-high 31 points against Prairie View A&M and became the first player since Junior Blunt during the 2001-02 season to score 30 or more points in a game.
• Langford is riding a 15-game double-digit scoring streak and currently holds the longest streak among all players in the Mountain West Conference for double-digit scoring performances.
The Hackett Man
• An honorable mention All-Mountain West Conference performer last season, Hackett is enjoying another standout season as the TCU senior is ranked first on the team in three-point field goals attempts (116), second in three-point field goals made (35) and third in scoring average (11.4 P-G).
• During his career with the Frogs - Hackett has appeared in 109 career games and has earned a spot in the starting lineup on 75 occasions - missing only four starts in the last three seasons.
• Hackett has been one of the top scorers for the Frogs over the last four seasons as he has collected 10 or more points in 47 career games - 11 (Senior) / 18 (Junior) / 18 (Sophomore). The TCU senior has recorded 947 career points to go along with 172 career three-pointers - which ranks seventh in the TCU career record books.
• Hackett is currently ranked seventh in the Mountain West Conference in three-point field goals made per game (2.06 3FGM-G) and has connected on at least one trey in 15 of 17 games this season.
Welcome to the Parker's
• Alvardo Parker has been one of the main defensive standouts for the Frogs this season as the TCU forward is ranked fourth in the Mountain West Conference in blocked shots per game (1.29 B-G), sixth in offensive rebounds per game (2.06 R-G) and 18th in rebounds per game (5.1 R-G).
• The TCU senior has recorded 82 career blocked shots with the Frogs - which ranks him for sixth place in the all-time record books. Parker needs four more blocked shots to surpass Craig Sibley for fifth place in the record books.
• Parker has notched at least one blocked shot in 15 of 17 games this season and is ranked 17th among the career leaders for the Mountain West Conference in that statistical category.
• This is only the fourth year of organized basketball for the Turks & Caicos Islands' native as he spent his first two seasons at Frank Phillips Junior College followed by his TCU career.
Team Filled with Mr. Cleans
• This season, the Frogs are averaging 38.2 rebounds per game - which ranks them 55th in the nation in that statistical category. The Purple and White is ranked seventh in the State of Texas in boards per game behind Texas State, Sam Houston State, Texas A&M, University of North Texas, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and University of Texas-Arlington.
• At one point in the season - the Frogs were ranked as high as fourth in the nation in rebounds per game, but have struggled grabbing boards on the road where they are averaging 31.5 boards per contest compared to 41.8 rebounds at the Daniel-Meyer Coliseum.
• In games that the Frogs win - the Purple and White is averaging 42.5 boards per evening compared to 30.2 rebounds per game in contests where TCU suffers a defeat.
It's All About the Ebie, Baby!
• TCU sophomore Jason Ebie has been an important ingredient in the Frogs' lineup as the Purple and White point guard is ranked 32nd in the nation among NCAA Division I players in steals per game with 2.24 picks per evening.
• Ebie is ranked first in the Mountain West Conference in steals per game (2.24 S-G) and sixth in assists per game (3.41 A-G). The TCU guard is one of two players in the Mountain West Conference to be ranked in the top-10 in both statistical departments along with UNLV's Wink Adams.
• The Houston native has recorded three of more steals in seven of 17 games and collected at least one steal in 16 of 17 contests. The TCU sophomore has started the last three games for the Purple and White where he is averaging 7.3 points, 5.0 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 2.2 steals per game against Mountain West Conference competition.
Great Scott!
• TCU newcomer Mike Scott has made an immediate impact on the Frogs' lineup as the freshman has started in 14 of 17 games. Scott is averaging 5.0 points and 2.7 assists per game this season while hitting on 41.8 percent of his shots.
• The Frogs' point guard scored a career-high 11 points on two occasions during his rookie campaign with the Purple and White against SMU and Jackson State. Scott has notched five or more points in eight games this season.
• Though he's only a freshman, Scott is not the youngest member for TCU as the Philadelphia native is 21-years-old.
Neon Keion in Primetime
• Sophomore Keion Mitchem has given the Frogs an added burst of energy off of the bench as the TCU guard is averaging 4.3 points and 1.3 rebounds per game while connecting on 42.6 percent of his field goal attempts. Mitchem has scored five or more points in eight of 17 games - including a season-high nine points twice vs. Rice and Texas
• The TCU guard has surpassed a career-high in games as he saw action in 15 contests during the 2006-07 season.
Standing "O" for Ortiz
• TCU newcomer John Ortiz has played a pivotal role for the Frogs in the low post as he is averaging 5.6 points and 5.4 rebounds per game - which ranks him 15th in the conference. Ortiz has done a tremendous job at getting to the free throw line where he is ranked second on the team in both free throws made (26) and free throw attempts (48).
• Ortiz notched his first collegiate start against the University of Wyoming where he posted a career-high 11 rebounds and scored a career-high 13 points versus Colorado State in his third start of the season.
Never Shy Away from the National Spotlight
• Neil Doughery is not one to shy away from a nationally-ranked opponent as the Frogs have competed against 17 squads ranked in the top-25 during his tenure. To put the numbers into perspective - TCU played 19 nationally-ranked teams during the entire decade of the 90s - a span of 303 games.
• The Frogs has recorded four victories over nationally-ranked opponents during Dougherty's tenure with their latest victim coming against 14th-ranked Air Force Academy where TCU notched a 71-66 win in February of 2007 - snapping a six-game losing skid against nationally-ranked opponents.
• TCU is 12-89 (.118) all-time against nationally-ranked teams and has dropped 16 of its last 18 match-ups against teams ranked in the top-25.
• The Frogs haven't had much success against nationally-ranked opponents on the road as they have dropped 48 of 49 match-ups when away from the DMC. Their lone victory came against Hawaii (83-79) on January 19, 1998.
Close Encounters of the Trey Kind
• TCU has made at least one three-pointer in 298 consecutive games dating back to the 1997-98 season where the last time that the Frogs failed to connect on a trey came against LIU-Brooklyn on November 22, 1997. The Frogs have connected on at least one three-pointer in 515 of their last 516 games.
• Prior to the failed connection, TCU recorded a three-pointer in 217 straight games dating back to the 1989-90 season when the Longhorns of Texas stopped the Frogs on February 11, 1990.
• This season, the Purple and White has connected on at least seven three-pointers in 15 of their first 17 games and are ranked second in the Mountain West Conference in three-point field goals made per game (8.20 3FGM-G).
Home Sweet Home
• The Frogs have posted a mark of 396-232 (.631) since Daniel-Meyer Coliseum opened during the 1961-62 campaign.
• Over the past decade, the Purple and White has recorded a 136-57 (.705) overall record and have won at least 10 games at home in seven of the last 10 seasons - including nine victories during the 2007-08 campaign at the DMC.
• The Frogs have won 18 of their last 25 games at the Daniel-Meyer Coliseum, including nine of their last 10 games on their home court. The last loss for the Frogs at home came against Oklahoma (90-66 / December 2nd, 2007).
Finding Nemo
• Senior Neiman Owens is one of the most experienced players on the Frogs as the TCU guard has appeared in 110 career games - including 60 starts during his career with the Purple and White. Owens did not start against Angelo State in the season opener - which snapped his 60-game starting streak that dated back to the 2005-06 season.
• Owens competed in his 100th career game for the Purple and White on December 5th against SMU and reached another milestone against UT Arlington as he recorded his 400th career point for the Frogs.
• The TCU senior has collected at least two rebounds in 15 of 17 games this season with a season-high seven boards coming against Jackson State. Owens notched one of his best all-around games against Grambling State where he collected six points, six assists and six rebounds in 18 minutes of action in the Frogs' home victory.
The Wall
• Even though TCU has only been a member of the Mountain West Conference for three seasons, Ryan Wall has been affiliated with the MWC in each of his five collegiate years. Wall was a member of the University of New Mexico for two seasons (2003-04 and 2004-05) before transferring to TCU prior to the start of the 2005-06 campaign. After a red-shirt campaign during the 2005-06 campaign, Wall has appeared in 47 career games while wearing the Purple and White.
• Wall connected on the game-winning three-pointer with 1.5 seconds remaining to give the Purple and White a 74-72 victory over the University of New Mexico on January 15. The TCU senior was highlighted on SportsCenter's Top-10 Plays of the Day as it registered as the number-five Play of the Day.
Cool Hand Luke
• After missing the 2006-07 season due to back surgery, Luke Tauscher made his return to the Frogs' lineup this season where he has averaged 9.1 minutes of court time. On seven occasions, the TCU freshman has played in 10 or more minutes and has recorded at least four rebounds in five of 14 games this season.
• Tauscher recorded his first career double-digit rebounding performance against Rice where he grabbed 12 boards and is ranked fifth among all freshmen in the Mountain West Conference with a 3.4 rebounds per game average.
Family Ties
• Anyone affiliated with the TCU men's basketball program knows that Neil Dougherty presents a family environment for the Frogs. Once a member of the basketball program, you quickly become a member of the family.
• Dougherty had the opportunity to coach his son, Neil P., for four seasons, and now assistant coach, Sean Woods, will also have the same opportunity as his son, Martiese Morones, is a sophomore with the Frogs.
• Woods was a standout at the University of Kentucky where he was a member of the "Unforgettables" on the 1992 team that fell 104-103 to Duke in the NCAA Elite Eight in what is considered the greatest college basketball game of all-time. A member of the University of Kentucky Hall of Fame, Woods connected on the shot to give the Wildcats a 103-102 lead on the Blue Devils before Christian Laettner connected on the shot heard round the world.
The Scoring Frenzy
• Three times during the 2007-08 campaign, every member of the Purple and White that saw action on the court scored at least one point in the game. The Frogs accomplished this feat against Angelo State, Grambling State and Colorado State. The same feat was reached twice all of last season against San Diego State and Air Force.
Putting 40 Minutes Together
• The Frogs have been successful in the first half of action where the Purple and White have built up a lead heading into intermission in 12 of their first 17 games. The Frogs have notched a 9-3 mark when leading at halftime with their three losses coming against Texas Tech, SMU and Rice.
The Woes of the Road
• The Frogs have dropped all three road decisions this season where they have held a double-digit lead against Texas Tech, SMU and Rice. The Purple and White has dropped decisions in all three contests when holding a second half lead of 10 or more points and suffered a setback to Texas where they had an early first half seven-point advantage.
• With a victory at Colorado State, the Frogs snapped their 12-game road losing streak and have dropped 12 of their last 13 games. In the Mountain West Conference, the road victory over the Rams was the second victory in league action.
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