TCU Back in Action at No. 15 Iowa State
1/29/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
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Fans not able to attend the conference tilt can follow it live on ESPNU with Anish Shroff (Play-By-Play) and Reid Gettys (Color) calling the action live.
The Opponent
No. 15 Iowa State comes into Saturday with a 15-4 overall record, including a 5-2 mark in conference play after defeating Texas in its last outing, 89-86. Against the Longhorns, the Cyclones had five players score in double-figures with Georges Niang leading the way, scoring a team-high 19 points on 7-of-13 from the field. Bryce Dejean-Jones also had a solid outing, scoring 18 points, while grabbing four boards.
On the season, Iowa State, who is undefeated at home this year at 11-0, has been carried by Niang who is averaging 14.8 points a contest and 5.3 boards.
The Series
The Horned Frogs and Cyclones will meet for only the 11th time in program history Saturday. The all-time series is currently tied at 5-5. TCU had won five-straight in the series before dropping the last four. In Ames, TCU is 1-3 overall. The Purple and White's last victory at Hilton Coliseum came in a 74-66 decision during the 1982 season.
Cleaning Up The Glass On The Offensive End
Against Kansas, TCU out-rebounded the Jayhawks on the offensive end to the tune of 26-9. In the last two games combined, the Frogs have out-rebounded nationally ranked Kansas and West Virginia in offensive rebounds by a combined 44-29. The 26 offensive boards were a season-high for the Frogs, who rank No. 11 in the NCAA in offensive boards a game, and marked the ninth time this season TCU has grabbed 15 or more offensive boards in a game.
Double-Trouble
Wednesday's game marked only the second time this season that the Frogs have had multi double-digit rebounders in a single-game with Trey Zeigler and Chris Washburn grabbing 11 and 12 rebounds, respectively. The only other time TCU has accomplished that feat came in its final non-conference game versus Tennessee State. A year ago, the Frogs never accomplished that feat in 31 games.
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. 1 in the NCAA in free throw attempts on the year, having shot 560 free throws on the season. Individually, Kyan Anderson has carried the Frogs at the line, shooting almost 90 percent, which ranks No. 2 in the conference and 32nd nationally.
Staggering D
Heading into Saturday, TCU has put up some eye-popping numbers nationally on the defensive end of the court. The Frogs rank in the top-20 in the NCAA in blocks per game (No. 12), field goal percentage defense (No. 4), scoring defense (No. 16) and total blocks (No. 16).
Magic Numbers
By scoring over 70 points in nine out of its 20 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 20 opponents this season to 54 points or below, including nine out of the last 17.
Inside The Last Five
In five out of TCU's six 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 2.5 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 six setbacks.
Start Me Up
Returning all-conference honoree Kyan Anderson will be making his 106th career start for the Frogs Saturday, which currently ranks No. 5 all-time in program history. The senior guard needs only 10 more starts following Saturday 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 15 out of its 20 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 792 boards through 20 games. It took the Purple and White 27 games a year ago to hit that mark. After 20 games in 2013-14, TCU was only averaging 32 boards a game. This season, the Frogs are averaging 39.6 rebounds a contest after only 20 games, which ranks No. 17 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 15 times this season.
• TCU has already bettered its win total from a year ago and 2011-12.
• TCU will be playing its fourth ranked opponent Saturday at Iowa State.
• Kyan Anderson is No. 9 all-time in scoring in program history with 1,460 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 10 of the 20 games this season, including 13 vs. Kansas.
• Trey Zeigler has led TCU in assists in six out of the last nine games.
