Frogs Open Hall of Fame Tip-Off Saturday vs. Rider
11/19/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 19, 2010
GAME #3
TCU (2-0) vs. RIDER (2-1) - HALL OF FAME TIP-OFF
TCU Game Notes 
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GAME DETAILS
Saturday, Nov. 20, 2010 | 2:30 p.m. ET | Springfield, Mass. | MassMutual Center (7,283)
Radio: 1460 AM (KCLE); 88.7 FM (KTCU) | Talent: Brian Estridge (play-by-play); John Denton (analyst)
Television: None | Internet: GoFrogs.com (live stats, radio); MAACSports.com (live video; $5.95/game)
Series Record: First Meeting
TCU Head Coach: Jim Christian (Rhode Island, '88)
Record at TCU: 29-36 (.460) in 3rd season | Record Overall: 167-94 (.645) in 9th season
Rider Head Coach: Tommy Dempsey (Susquehanna, '97)
Record at Rider: 77-56 (.579) in 5th season | Record Overall: 165-68 (.708) in 10th season
FORT WORTH--TCU takes to the road for the first time this season when it travels to Springfield, Mass., for three games this weekend as part of the Hall of Fame Tip-Off. The Horned Frogs begin competition Saturday with a 2:30 p.m. ET matchup against Rider at the MassMutual Center.
TCU brings a 2-0 record into the weekend following season-opening home victories over Jackson State (86-62) and SMU (84-64). The Frogs have now opened up with two straight victories three of the last four seasons and will look to move to 3-0 for the first time since 2007-08.
The team's fast start can in part be attributed to a pair of solid back-to-back offensive performances that saw the squad shoot above 53.0 percent in consecutive games for the first time in more than a decade. The Frogs also have won the turnover battle by an average of 8.0 per game while compiling an assist/turnover ratio of 2.15. Five Frogs are averaging double figures in scoring, while Hank Thorns owns an assist average of 10.0 apg.
TCU and Rider will be meeting for the first time ever on the hardwood. The Frogs are 4-3 all-time against teams from the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC).
Each of TCU's games this weekend will be broadcast live on the radio throughout the Metroplex on both 1460 AM KCLE and 88.7 FM KTCU with Brian Estridge and John Denton serving as the play-by-play team. Estridge kicks off his 12th straight season as the Voice of the Horned Frogs, while Denton begins his 21st year as color commentator.
No television coverage will be available for this weekend's games, although a live internet webcast will be available for $5.95 per game through the MAAC website. As usual, live stats and a link to an Internet radio feed will be available via TCU's official athletics website, GoFrogs.com.
FROG QUICK NOTES
- TCU looks to improve to 3-0 for the first time since 2007-08.
- TCU has shot above 53.0 percent in consecutive contests for the first time since the 1999-2000 season (vs. Dec. 30 vs. Grambling State; Jan. 3 vs. North Texas).
- TCU has shot above the 55.0 percent mark from 3-point range in consecutive games (10 or more makes) for only the second time in school history and the first time since the 1997-98 season (Dec. 6 vs. Morgan State; Dec. 9 vs. North Texas).
- TCU has made 11 shots from 3-point range in consecutive games for the first time since the 2004-05 season (at Western Michigan -14; at Maryland-11).
- The Frogs have never previously hit 10 or more treys in three straight games since the NCAA adopted the 3-point line in 1986.
- TCU has scored at least 84 points in both of its opening games. If the squad did so again, it would be for the first time since the opening three games of the 2002-03 season.
- Hank Thorns dished out 10 assists in both of TCU's opening games. Dating back to at least 1990, no Frog has had three straight games of 10 or more helpers.
- Of the 13 players who saw action in TCU's season opener, eight had never previously seen game action for the Frogs.
- TCU returns six players who accounted for 47.3% of scoring, 41.8% of rebounds, 57.4% of assists and 39.6% of steals last season.
- Only six Frog letterwinners return from last season's squad, which is tied for the fewest total in the Mountain West Conference team with New Mexico and Utah.
SCOUTING THE RIDER BRONCOS
Rider, led by fifth-year head coach Tommy Dempsey, enters Saturday's game with 2-1 record. In its last outing, the squad downed one of TCU's future opponents, USC, by a 77-57 count on the road in Los Angeles as part of the Hall of Fame Tip-Off tournament. The Broncos also previously defeated Lafayette (80-73) following a season-opening loss to UMass (77-67).
Eight letterwinners and four starters return from last season's squad that went 17-16 overall while finishing tied for fifth (9-9) in the MAAC. Senior guard Justin Robinson leads the team in scoring (19.3 ppg) and assists (4.3 apg) through three games, while senior forward Mike Ringgold, who also averages double figures in points (6.0 ppg), tops the team in rebounding (6.0 rpg).
ABOUT THE HALL OF FAME TIP-OFF
TCU will play four games in conjunction with the 27th annual Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off Tournament, including three on consecutive days Nov. 20-22 at the MassMutual Center in Springfield, Mass. In addition to Saturday's opening contest against Rider, the Frogs also face Bradley and UMass in Springfield.
Following its return to Fort Worth for the Thanksgiving holiday and a contest against Houston on Nov. 27, TCU concludes its tournament schedule with a fourth game against USC Nov. 29 at Daniel-Meyer Coliseum.
Other teams competing in the tournament in addition to TCU's scheduled opponents include: Loyola Marymount, New Mexico State, LeMoyne, Lyndon State and American International College.
In addition the tournament's games, a banquet has been planned for Friday evening, while TCU also is scheduled to take a tour of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, which is located in Springfield.
TCU RUNS PAST PONIES FOR 2-0 START
Four players scored in double figures as TCU earned its third-straight victory over cross-town rival SMU Tuesday during an 84-64 victory at Daniel-Meyer Coliseum. The Frogs earned their largest margin of victory over the Mustangs since 1997.
Fresh off a sizzling offensive performance in its season opener, TCU once again lit up the nets Tuesday. The Frogs shot 53.8 percent (35-of-65) overall from the floor, including 61.1 percent (11-of-18) from 3-point range. The squad is 22-for-38 (57.9 percent) from behind the arc through two games this season.
Sammy Yeager and Garlon Green scored 17 points each to lead TCU. Yeager totaled game highs of nine rebounds, all on the defensive end, and four assists while shooting 7-of-14 from the floor. Green went 7-of-10, and both Frogs drilled a pair of treys. Ronnie Moss followed up his 20-point performance in the season opener by totaling 16 points and five assists.
Hank Thorns recorded his first career double-double with 13 points and 10 assists. It marked the second straight game he reached double figures in helpers after setting a career high with 10 in the season opener.
TCU took control of the game midway through the first half with a 20-2 run to climb on top by 20 points, 35-25. Thorns put on a passing clinic, totaling four assists during one three-and-a-half minute stretch. Included in the spurt were a trio of 3-pointers by Moss, Green and Thorns sandwiched around an alley-oop dunk by Green from Thorns. Fields finished off the run with a dunk off a beautiful feed from Thorns on the fastbreak.
FAST START FOR FROG OFFENSE
TCU has posted some eye-popping offensive numbers this season through its opening two games.
- TCU has shot above the 53.0 percent mark in consecutive contests for the first time since the 1999-200 season (vs. Dec. 30 vs. Grambling State; Jan. 3 vs. North Texas).
- TCU has shot above the 55.0 percent mark from 3-point range in consecutive games (10 or more makes) for only the second time in school history and the first time since the 1997-98 season (Dec. 6 vs. Morgan State; Dec. 9 vs. North Texas).
- TCU has made 11 shots from 3-point range in consecutive games for the first time since the 2004-05 season (at Western Michigan -14; at Maryland-11).
- The Frogs have never previously hit 10 or more treys in three straight games since the NCAA adopted the 3-point line in 1986.
- TCU has scored at least 84 points in both of its opening games. If the squad did so again, it would be for the first time since the opening three games of the 2002-03 season.
- Five Frogs are averaging double figures in scoring, led by Ronnie Moss at 18.0 ppg.
- Seven of the eight Frogs averaging double figures in minutes played are shooting at least 50.0 percent from the field, and six of the seven Frogs with at least one 3-point attempt are shooting above 50.0 percent.
A THORNS IN THEIR SIDE
Hank Thorns has provided an instant impact early on in his first season on the court for TCU. Thorns sat out a year ago as a transfer from Virginia Tech, where he played two seasons from 2007-09.
- Thorns recorded 10 assists in each of his opening two games for TCU this season. The Frogs' all-time leader in single-season helpers, Tony Edmond (234, 1989-90), owns the single-season record for most double-figure efforts in one campaign with 10.
- A native of Las Vegas, Thorns appeared in 65 games with 15 starts over his two seasons as a Hokie, helping the squad reach the semifinals of the 2009 NIT. As a freshman, he averaged 4.6 points and 2.0 boards per game while dishing out a VT-freshman record 113 assists.
- Prior to his time with the Hokies, Thorns was a standout prep player at Las Vegas' Valley High School, where he earned first-team all-state honors as a junior and senior. He led the city of Las Vegas in scoring as a senior and was second in rebounding with averages of 27.8 points and 12.5 boards per contest.
TOO TUFF TO HANDLE
Ronnie Moss, nicknamed "Tuffy," enters his junior season with a spot among the top returning players in the Mountain West Conference after being named second-team All-MWC a year ago.
- Moss has picked up right where he left off from a scoring standpoint a season ago, averaging 18.0 points through his opening two games of 2010-11. He posted his 11th career 20-point outing to lead TCU during its season-opening win over Jackson State.
