Jan. 4, 2008
Game Notes - San Diego State in PDF Format 
Game Day Information
Opponent: The TCU men's basketball program will open up the 2007-08 portion of its conference schedule when the Horned Frogs travel to San Diego, California, for a match-up against San Diego State on Saturday (Jan. 5).
Radio: KTCU (88.7 FM) and FOX Sports 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.
Next on the Schedule: The Frogs will be back in action on Saturday (Jan. 12) when the Purple and White opens up the home portion of their conference schedule against Wyoming. Faithful of the Frogs can listen to the game via KTCU (88.7 FM) and ESPN Radio (103.3 FM) beginning at 5:00 p.m. The gamve will be televised on CSTV.
The Big Score
• The Frogs have scored 983 points through 13 games of the 2007-08 campaign - averaging 75.6 points per evening. The Purple and White is currently ranked second in the Mountain West Conference in scoring average sitting behind nationally-ranked BYU - who is averaging 79.0 points per game.
• In their eight victories this season - the Frogs have yet to be held to under 75 points while averaging 83.8 points per triumph. All eight victories for the Frogs have come at the Daniel-Meyer Coliseum during the 2007-08 season.
The Ocho
• The Frogs notched their fourth straight victory at the Daniel-Meyer Coliseum when the Purple and White defeated Jackson State by a 79-68 count on December 27th to improve their home record to 8-1 on the 2007-08 season.
• This is the second straight season that the Frogs have jumped out to an 8-5 start, and the second time under TCU head men's basketball Neil Dougherty.
Frogs Show Dominance over Southwestern Athletic Conference
• The Frogs have had a lot of success over members of the Southwestern Athletic Conference over the last few decades as the Purple and White have recorded a 23-1 overall record against the conference. The last loss for TCU versus a member of the SWAC came against Texas Southern on December 29, 1988, when the Tigers recorded a 103-78 victory at the Daniel-Meyer Coliseum.
• This season, the Frogs have posted victories over Arkansas-Pine Bluff (75-61), Grambling State (99-67), Texas Southern (83-59), Prairie View A&M (92-80) and Jackson State (79-68).
Statement Time in the Mountain West Conference
• Teams in the Mountain West Conference have combined for a record of 78-36 with New Mexico leading the way at the top of the rankings under first-year head coach Steve Alford at 12-2. Following the Lobos, four teams have three losses in UNLV (11-3), BYU (10-3), San Diego State (10-3) and Utah (8-3).
• The score after the first 20 minutes of action has been a strong indicator of the game's winner this season as programs from the Mountain West Conference have recorded a 71-10 record when they hold the lead heading into intermission.
• The Mountain West Conference has been dominant on their home floor as all nine programs are combined for a 56-7 mark on their home courts.
TCU Begins New Year with Setback to 12th-Ranked Texas
• The TCU men's basketball program opened up the 2008 portion of its schedule with a 69-58 setback to the University of Texas on Wednesday at the Erwin Center in Austin.
• With the setback, the Frogs dropped their overall record to 8-5 on the season, including a 0-4 mark away from the Daniel-Meyer Coliseum while the Horns improved to 12-2
• Damion James recorded his seventh double-double in nine games following a 29-point, 14-rebound performance where he recorded a career-high five blocked shots to go along with two steals and two assists in 39 minutes of action.
• D.J. Augustin notched a 20-point evening, but finished 4-of-10 from the field and 10-of-12 at the charity stripe. The UT guard added three assists and two boards in the game.
• Henry Salter finished with a team-high 19 points as he connected on 7-of-15 shots from the field - including five three-pointers - to go along with four rebounds in 26 minutes.
• Kevin Langford notched his 11th straight double-digit scoring performance as he finished with 11 points to go along with four rebounds, two assists and one blocked shot.
• The Frogs' defense held the bench of the nationally-ranked Longhorns to a mere two points, but James and Augustin accounted for 49 of the team's 69 points in the game.
• Keion Mitchem gave the Frogs a spark off of the bench as the TCU sophomore drained all three three-point field goal attempts - finishing with nine points in 11 minutes of action.
• The Frogs concluded the non-conference portion of their schedule with an 8-5 overall record - including an 0-4 mark away from the Daniel-Meyer Coliseum. The Purple and White notched a 5-0 record against members of the SWAC, but fell to SMU, Rice, Texas Tech and University of Texas in games in which the Frogs had at least a seven point lead.
Frog Defense Standing Tall
• Since the 1960-61 season, the Frogs have never held opponents to a shooting percentage lower than .400 - their lowest field goal defense came during the 1985-86 season when opponents shot 42.8 percent from the field.
• The Frogs have forced opponents into 253 turnovers (19.5 turnovers per game) where they have scored 304 points off of the miscues of their foes - an average of 23.5 points.
• The Purple and White have limited their opponents to a scoring average of 69.0 points per evening at the DMC and 66.0 points per game in contests that the Frogs' win.
The Glass Cleaners
• Alvardo Parker and Luke Tauscher became the first set of teammates since Neil Dougherty's first season to each record a double-digit rebounding performance in the same game - a span of 131 games. The last set of Frogs to record double-digit rebounds came against UAB on Feb. 18, 2003, in Chudi Chinweze (13) and Bingo Merriex (11).
Time Well Spent
• Heading into the 2007-08 season, Neil Dougherty was excited about the depth on his bench and his style of play has shown it as the Frogs have nine players that are averaging double-digits in minutes played per evening.
• Kevin Langford is one of four players to average over 20.0 minutes per evening as the TCU junior is collecting 28.2 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.
Scouting the Opponents - San Diego State University
• The Aztecs enter Saturday's contest with a Cox Arena-record 12-game homecourt winning streak and a seven-game MWC winning streak at Cox Arena. The Aztecs have not lost a home game since a 66-65 setback against Wyoming on Jan. 3, 2007.
• The Aztecs are 10-3, matching the second-best start in 38 seasons at the Division I level. SDSU has done so despite having to blend six new players with seven returning letterwinners to this season's squad. SDSU has also played just five home games to date, with two of the three losses coming to the number two-ranked RPI team (Arizona) and the number three-ranked RPI squad (Saint Mary's), nationally. The Aztecs currently have the top RPI ranking in the MWC at number 30 (through Tuesday's games).
• The Aztecs are coming off their most impressive victory of the season, knocking off previously unbeaten Sam Houston State (currently 11-1 and 33rd in the RPI), 79-78, in overtime. The Aztecs rallied from three points down with 14 seconds to play in regulation, and once again from three points down in the extra session to claim the victory.
• Forward Billy White, who earned Mountain West Conference Co-Player of the Week honors, helped the Aztecs win by getting an offensive put-back with :00.2 seconds remaining to force overtime.
• This marks the eighth all-time meeting between the teams with the Aztecs owning a 4-3 series lead. The Aztecs have won all four games since the Horned Frogs joined the MWC prior to the 2005-06 season, although both games at Cox Arena have been decided late in the game. On Feb. 18, 2006, SDSU rallied from an 11-point deficit to claim an 83-71 victory, while on March 3, 2007, the Aztecs won a closely contested affair, 56-51.
• As good as SDSU has been at home of late, the Aztecs have been a bit vulnerable in the MWC home opener. In the nine previous seasons in the league, SDSU is 4-4 in the conference home opener, including an overtime loss to Wyoming in the 2005 home opener (after road wins at Brigham Young and UNLV) and a one-point loss to the Cowboys last season
• Steve Fisher has turned San Diego State not only to a Mountain West Conference contender, but into one of the top program's in the country. Since Dec. 31, 2005, San Diego State has posted a 50-18 record. As of Jan. 2, the 50 victories in that time frame rank 20th nationally. San Diego State is coming off consecutive seasons with 22 or more wins and advanced to the NCAA Tournament in 2006 and the second round of the NIT in 2007.
Frogs Closing in on 400th Victory at the DMC
• Following a 79-68 victory over Jackson State on Thursday (Dec. 27), the Purple and White recorded their 394th 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 60.7 percent (187-of-308) of their free throw attempts compared to 63.6 percent (161-of-253) of attempts from their foes. On average - the Purple and White are leaving 10.8 points per evening at the charity stripe.
• Of the 10 players that have attempted 10 or more free throws - only five players (Kevin Langford, Brent Hackett, Mike Scott, Ryan Wall and Luke Tauscher) are shooting above 70.0 percent at the charity stripe.
• The Frogs are ranked last in the Mountain West Conference in free throw percentage at 60.7 percent.
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 three games.
Home-Grown Talent Pays Dividends for Horned Frogs
• The Horned Frogs will get plenty of scoring from a trio of home-grown talents in Brent Hackett (Southwest H.S.), Kevin Langford (North Crowley 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 14.1 points and 11.2 points per game.
• TCU newcomer Luke Tauscher sat out last season due to an injury, but the 6-11 center has averaged 2.2 points and 3.1 rebounds per game in his 12 games on the floor for the Frogs.
• The Frogs have two other players from the Dallas/Fort Worth area in Ryan Wall (Coppell, Texas) and walk-on freshman Daniel Ford (Aledo, Texas).
A Team Filled with Mr. Cleans
• This season, the Frogs are averaging 39.5 rebounds per game - which ranks them 30th in the nation in that statistical category. The Purple and White are 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.
• The Frogs have collected at least 50 rebounds in three of the team's first 11 games and have notched 40 or more boards in five of those games. The Purple and White is ranked second in the Mountain West Conference in rebounds per game - failing to hold the top spot for the first time this season.
• TCU recorded the top rebounding performance in the conference with a 59-board evening vs. Rice.
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 (14.1 P-G) and leads the Frogs in free throws made (68), free throw attempts (96) and free throw percentage (70.8%).
• 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 an 11-game double-digit scoring streak and has collected five of more rebounds in seven contests this season. During the last 11 games, Langford is averaging 15.4 points per game.
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 (99), second in three-point field goals made (30) and third in scoring average at 11.2 points.
• During his career with the Frogs - Hackett has appeared in 105 career games and has earned a spot in the starting lineup on 71 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 44 career games - 8 (Senior) / 18 (Junior) / 18 (Sophomore). The TCU senior has recorded 899 career points to go along with 167 career three-pointers - which ranks seventh in the TCU career record books.
• Hackett is currently ranked fourth in the Mountain West Conference in three-point field goals made per game (2.3 3FGM-G) and has connected on at least one trey in 11 of 13 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 fifth in the Mountain West Conference in blocked shots per game (1.5 B-G) and offensive rebounds per game (2.17 R-G) and 14th in rebounds per game (5.2 R-G).
• The TCU senior has recorded 79 career blocked shots with the Frogs surpassing Damion Walker for eighth-place in the Horned Frogs' all-time record books.
• Parker has notched at least one blocked shot in 12 of 32 games this season and is ranked 18th 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.
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.
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 12 of the team's first 13 games. The Gulfport, Miss., native has recorded the seventh-most double-digit scoring performances this season in the Mountain West Conference.
• Salter is ranked fifth in the Mountain West Conference in scoring average (15.2 P-G) and eighth in rebounds per game (5.9) and is only of three players in the conference to be ranked in the top-eight in both statistical categories - joining Trent Plaisted of BYU and Lee Cummard of BYU.
• The TCU junior is ranked first on the Frogs in scoring average and has been a force on the boards as well as Salter has collected five or more rebounds in nine of the team's first 13 games this season. Salter recorded his first career double-double against the University of Texas-Arlington with a 17-point, 14-rebound in the overtime affair.
• The former NJCAA All-American is also ranked fourth in the Mountain West Conference in field goal percentage (49.7%) and fourth in three-point field goals made per game (2.8 3FGM-G). Salter is also the fourth-highest junior scorer and rebounder in the Mountain West Conference.
Standing "O" for Ortiz
• TCU newcomer John Ortiz has played a pivotal role for the Frogs coming off of the bench as he is averaging 5.5 points and 5.2 rebounds per game - which ranks him 17th 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 (22) and free throw attempts (44).
• Ortiz recorded a career-high 10 points on two occasions during his first season against Texas Tech and Jackson State and has grabbed four or more rebounds in eight of 13 games during the 2007-08 campaign.
It's All About the Ebie, Baby!
• TCU sophomore Jason Ebie has been an important ingredient in the Frogs' lineup this season as he is averaging 4.2 points, 3.1 assists, 2.4 steals and 1.6 rebounds per game while competing in 18.5 minutes per outing.
• Ebie is ranked first in the Mountain West Conference in steals per game (2.5 S-G) and 10th in assists per game (3.1 A-G) and assist-to-turnover ratio (2.05:1 A-T Ratio). The TCU guard is one of two players in the Mountain West Conference to be ranked in the top-10 in all three statistical departments along with UNLV's Wink Adams.
• The Houston native has recorded three of more steals in seven of 13 games and has posted four steals in three of those contests. In addition to his duties picking pockets, Ebie has dished out four or more assists on seven occasions. The TCU sophomore has dished out a career-high six assists on two occasions - Grambling State and UT Arlington.
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 4.9 points and 1.5 rebounds per game while connecting on 42.9 percent of his field goal attempts. Mitchem has scored five or more points in seven of 13 games - including a season-high nine points twice vs. Rice and Texas
Great Scott!
• TCU newcomer Mike Scott has made an immediate impact on the Frogs' lineup as the freshman has started in all 13 games. Scott is averaging 4.8 points and 2.9 assists per game this season while hitting on 40.4 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 five 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.
Close Encounters of the Trey Kind
• TCU has made at least one three-pointer in 293 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 522 of their last 523 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 11 of their first 13 games and are ranked fourth in the Mountain West Conference in three-point field goals made per game (8.2 3FGM-G).
Home Sweet Home
• The Frogs have posted a mark of 394-232 (.629) since Daniel-Meyer Coliseum opened during the 1961-62 campaign.
• Over the past decade, the Horned Frogs have recorded a 134-57 (.702) overall record and have won at least 10 games at home in seven of the last 10 seasons.
• The Frogs have won 17 of their last 24 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 106 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 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 43 career games while wearing the Purple and White.
• Since coming back from an off-season injury, Wall has started to see more action on the court and has played seven or more minutes four of the last sux games. He has also started to feel his shooting touch as the TCU senior has connected on a trio of three-pointers in two games this season - connecting on 36.1 percent of his trey attempts.
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 8.8 minutes of court time. On five occasions, the TCU freshman has played in 10 or more minutes and has recorded at least four rebounds in five of 12 games this season.
• Tauscher recorded his first career double-digit rebounding evening against Rice where the Frogs' forward grabbed a game-high 12 boards.
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
• Twice 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 (Nov. 10) and Grambling State (Nov. 21). The same feat was reached twice all of last season against San Diego State (Jan. 31) and Air Force (Feb. 24).
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 11 of their first 13 games. The Frogs have notched an 8-3 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.
• TCU has dropped their last 11 games on the road with their last victory away from the Daniel-Meyer Coliseum coming against Mountain West Conference-opponent Utah on January 6, 2007.
Welcome to the Program
• In the early signing period, the Frogs signed a trio of players that will help the squad next season in Kevin Butler, Logan Lancon and James Blasczyk.
• Butler comes from one of the top high school programs in the nation in Duncanville and came into his senior season ranked 16th in the State of Texas according TexasHoops.com in the Class of 2008.
• Lancon comes into the 2007-08 campaign as the 43rd top prospect according to TexasHoops.com. The newly-signed Frog averaged a team-high 11.3 points per game en route to earning first team All-District 24-5A honors.
• Blasczyk is listed as the 47th best prospect in the State of Texas according to TexasHoops.com after concluding a junior campaign where he averaged 8.3 points, 7.1 rebounds and 4.0 blocked shots per game.
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