TCU Battles No. 9 Kansas Wednesday
1/26/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
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Fans not able to attend the conference showdown can follow it live on ESPNU with Clay Matvick (Play-By-Play) and Tim Welsh (Color) calling the action live.
The Opponent
No. 9 Kansas comes into Wednesday with a 16-3 overall record and 5-1 league mark after defeating nationally ranked Texas, 75-62. Against the Longhorns, the Jayhawks, who have won two-straight, had four players score in double-figures with Cliff Alexander leading the way, scoring a team-high 15 points, while grabbing a game-high nine boards.
On the season, Perry Ellis has carried the load, averaging 12.8 points per game and 6.6 rebounds a contest. Frank Mason III has also been solid, averaging 12.7 points a game and 4.2 assists.
The Series
The two conference foes will battle for the ninth time in program history Wednesday. Kansas currently leads the all-time series, 7-1, but the Horned Frogs claimed a 62-55 victory over KU at Daniel-Meyer Coliseum in 2013.
Johnson's Number
Going into Wednesday, TCU head coach Trent Johnson is 2-3 in his head-coaching career against Kansas. Prior to the 2013 home victory, his only other win over the Jayhawks came with Nevada on Dec. 21, 2003, which ended in a 75-61 home Wolf Pack decision.
Extra Sessions
TCU has now played two overtime games this season, going into extra sessions at West Virginia and versus Baylor. Prior to this season, the Frogs hadn't played an overtime game since a 98-92 setback to San Diego State on March 3, 2012. TCU's last four overtime games have been against teams ranked in the top-25.
Climb The Hill
Charles Hill Jr. had quite the impact for TCU against West Virginia. After sitting out the first five conference match-ups, the junior saw a season-high in minutes with 17 against the Mountaineers. In all, Hill Jr. tallied a season-high in points (13), field goals made (4) and attempted (8), rebounds (5), assists (1) and blocks (1).
Getting To The Line
TCU has made it a point to get the charity stripe this season as the Frogs currently rank No. 1 in the Big 12 and No. 3 in the NCAA in free throw attempts on the year, having shot 531 free throws on the season. Individually, Kyan Anderson has carried the Frogs at the line, shooting almost 90 percent, which ranks No. 1 in the conference and 16th nationally.
Staggering D
Heading into Wednesday, TCU has put up some eye-popping numbers nationally on the defensive end of the court. The Frogs rank in the top-25 in the NCAA in blocks per game (No. 12), field goal percentage defense (No. 4), scoring defense (No. 15) and total blocks (No. 14).
Magic Numbers
By scoring over 70 points in nine out of its 19 games, TCU is now 18-2 all-time under head coach Trent Johnson when scoring 70 or more points in a single-game. On the flip side, the Purple and White have held 11 out of their 19 opponents this season to 54 points or below, including nine out of the last 16.
Inside The Last Five
In four out of TCU's five losses this season, the Frogs have either led or trailed by single-digits in the last 5 minutes of the ball game, but couldn't get the victory. The closest the Purple and White got against Texas was 14 twice inside the last 5 minutes. In its 14 victories, TCU has never trailed in the last 5 minutes and only led by less than 10 three times against Bradley, Mississippi State and Furman. The Frogs led by only three with only 4:53 remaining in the game against Bradley. The Purple and White led by five versus Mississippi State with 3:38 left to go in the contest. Against Furman, the Horned Frogs led by eight with 34 seconds left to go in the game.
Numbers Tell The Story
In TCU's 14 victories this season, the Frogs have out-rebounded the opposition by an average of 10.5 boards. In its five losses, TCU is getting out-rebounded by an average of 8.4 rebounds a game. A noticeable trend has also become apparent in assists as the Purple and White are averaging 15.8 assists per game in wins and only 9.8 in the five setbacks.
Start Me Up
Returning all-conference honoree Kyan Anderson will be making his 105th career start for the Frogs Wednesday, which currently ranks No. 5 all-time in program history. The senior guard needs only 11 more starts following Wednesday to move into No. 2 all-time in school history, surpassing Corey Santee, Darrell Browder and Carven Holcombe.
Powering The Glass
TCU has out-rebounded 14 out of its 19 opponents this season. The Frogs only out-rebounded the opposition a total of eight times through 31 games a year ago. The Frogs have totaled 742 boards through 19 games. It took the Purple and White 25 games a year ago to hit that mark. After 19 games in 2013-14, TCU was only averaging 32.3 boards a game. This season, the Frogs are averaging 39.1 rebounds a contest after only 19 games, which ranks No. 26 in the NCAA.
TCU Notes
• Prior to its overtime setback against Baylor, TCU was 13-2 for only the second time in school history.
• TCU opened the 1951-52 season 14-2 overall.
• It is the best start to a season since going 9-0 in 1997-98, which was the last time the Frogs made the NCAA Tournament.
• TCU is 29-5 when leading at the half under head coach Trent Johnson.
• TCU has now held 27 opponents to 59 points or less under Trent Johnson.
• TCU has out-rebounded its opposition 14 times this season.
• TCU has already bettered its win total from a year ago and 2011-12.
• Kyan Anderson is No. 9 all-time in scoring in program history with 1,443 points.
• Anderson now has 20 20-point games in his four-year career after scoring 22 at West Virginia.
• Kenrich Williams has scored in double-figures in nine of the 19 games this season, including 11 at West Virginia.
• Trey Zeigler has led TCU in assists in six out of the last eight games.
