Jan. 10, 2008
Game Notes - Wyoming in PDF Format 
Game Day Information
Opponent: The TCU men's basketball program will open up the 2007-08 portion of their home conference schedule when the Horned Frogs welcome the University of Wyoming to the Daniel-Meyer Coliseum on Saturday (Jan. 12).
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.
Next on the Schedule: The Frogs will be back in action on Wednesday (Jan. 15) when the Purple and White welcomes the University of New Mexico to the Daniel-Meyer Coliseum. The Frog nation can listen to the game on ESPN Radio (103.3 FM) and will be broadcasted on CSTV.
The Big Score
• The Frogs have scored 1,040 points through 14 games of the 2007-08 campaign - averaging 74.3 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.
• 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.
Stealing the Show
• The Frogs will enter the game against the University of Wyoming ranked fourth in the nation in steals per game with an average of 11.1 picks per evening. In the NCAA Rankings, the Frogs are slated behind Virginia Military Institute (VMI) at 15.5 steals per game followed by Kansas and Tennessee.
• The defense of the Purple and White has notched 11 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 three games this season that the Frogs did not record at least 10 or more steals came against Texas (9), Prairie View A&M (9) and Grambling State (8)
• Jason Ebie is ranked 39th among all NCAA Division I student-athletes in steals per game as the TCU sophomore has recorded an average of 2.29 steals per game. The TCU point guard has collected three or more steals in seven of 14 games this season and has notched at least one steal in 13 of 14 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 85-42 (.669 winning percentage) with New Mexico leading the way at the top of the rankings under first-year head coach Steve Alford with a 14-2 record.
• 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 74-10 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 56-8 mark on their home courts.
Horned Frogs Fall to San Diego State in MWC Opener
• The TCU men's basketball program dropped their Mountain West Conference opener to San Diego State by a 64-57 count at the Cox Arena on January 5 in San Diego, Calif.
• With the setback, the Horned Frogs fell to 8-6 on the 2007-08 campaign and 0-1 in conference action. TCU dropped their 12th straight road contest in the process.
• The Frogs shot themselves in the foot in the very beginning of the game as the Purple and White finished with 13 first-half points - including a 15.4 shooting percentage (4-of-25) during the first 20 minutes of action.
• The Aztecs were able to take a 19-point advantage heading into intermission, but were out-scored by the Purple and White by a 44-32 margin in the second half to escape with a slim seven-point victory on their home court.
• In the second half of action, the Frogs recorded one of their best shooting halves of the season with a mark of 55.2 percent (16-of-29) en route to holding a 12-point advantage over San Diego State.
• Kevin Langford led the Frogs in scoring with a 20-point performance to go along with six rebounds, three steals, two assists and two blocked shots. The scoring performance was Langford's 12th consecutive double-digit scoring affair.
• Henry Salter scored 14 points - all coming in the second half of action - as the TCU junior notched his 13th double-digit scoring performance in 14 games this season.
• The defense of the Frogs held the Aztecs to 30.8 percent (8-of-26) shooting in the second half and forced the home squad to commit 21 turnovers in the game.
• The Aztecs held a 36-14 margin in points in the paint and held advantages in second chance points (12-4), fast break points (12-0) and bench points (12-7).
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 42.8 percent - which is on-pace to be the lowest shooting percentage for an opponent in program history.
• The Frogs have forced opponents into 274 turnovers (19.6 turnovers per game) where they have scored 325 points off of the miscues of their foes - an average of 23.2 points.
• The Purple and White have limited their opponents to a scoring average of 68.6 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 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 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 28.7 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 - University of Wyoming
• The University of Wyoming will enter the game with 6-7 overall record - including a 0-1 mark in Mountain West Conference action. The Cowboys have suffered four setbacks in their last five games on the road with their lone victory coming in the Lone Star State against Lamar.
• The Cowboys have dropped three of their last four games - including a 99-92 double overtime loss to New Mexico in their conference opener. Wyoming defeated Chardon State - a NCAA Division II program - after suffering losses to UTEP and Buffalo - both of them coming in El Paso, Texas.
• Brandon Ewing is one of the most dynamic guards in the Mountain West Conference as he is averaging a league-high 17.3 points per game while playing 37.75 minutes per contest. The Wyoming guard is ranked first in the conference in assists per game (5.23 A-G), seventh in free throw percentage and steals per game and eighth in field goal percentage during his junior season.
• Brad Jones is another dangerous guard for the Cowboys as 6-1 senior is averaging 13.8 points, 7.1 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game. The Cowboys' guard is one of the most versatile players in the Mountain West Conference and is only player to be ranked in the top-11 in all three statistical categories.
• Sophomore Ryan Dermody is ranked third on the team in scoring with an 11.8 scoring average and is also ranked 19th in the Mountain West Conference in that statistical category. He is also ranked second on the team in rebounds per game (5.8 R-G) - which is also 12th in the Mountain West Conference.
• The Cowboys have struggled this season on the defensive side of the court as they are allowing a Mountain West Conference-high 74.8 points per game this season. The University of Wyoming has allowed eight of their 13 opponents to score 70 or more points in a game - including a pair of 90-plus scoring performances.
• The University of Wyoming is ranked first among all Mountain West Conference programs in blocked shots per game with an average of 5.62 blocks per contest. The Cowboys are ranked 25th among all NCAA Division I teams in blocked shots per game.
• Heath Schroyer begins his first season at the University of Wyoming as its head men's basketball coach. The UW head coach was on the Cowboys' staff during the 2001-02 season when Wyoming posted a 22-9 record - including an 11-3 mark in conference action - and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
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 61.3 percent (196-of-322) of their free throw attempts compared to 64.0 percent (178-of-278) of attempts from their foes. On average - the Purple and White are leaving 9.0 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 have recorded some of their best free throw shooting percentages in games in which they have suffered defeats - including 90.9 percent against SMU and 75.0 percent versus San Diego State.
• The Frogs have connected on 67.6 percent (48-of-71) of their free throw attempts on the road compared to a shooting percentage of 54.9 percent (148-of-249) 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 three games.
Home-Grown Talent Pays Dividends for Horned Frogs
• The Horned Frogs will get plenty of action from a trio of Fort Worth 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 14.5 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.
• TCU has two other players from the DFW area in Ryan Wall (Coppell, Texas) and Daniel Ford (Aledo, Texas).
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 13 of the team's first 14 games. The Gulfport, Miss., native has recorded the fourth-most double-digit scoring performances.
• Salter is ranked fifth in the Mountain West Conference in scoring average (15.1 P-G) and 10th in rebounds per game (5.9) and is only of three players in the conference to be ranked in the top-10 in both statistical categories - joining Trent Plaisted and Lee Cummard - both 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 14 games.
• 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 2.79 treys per contest - which is also the 11th highest tally among all NCAA Division I players. He is also ranked first in the Mountain West Conference in three-point field goal percentage with a mark of 50.0 percent (39-of-78).
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 (14.5 P-G) and leads the Frogs in free throws made (71), free throw attempts (100) and free throw percentage (71.0%).
• 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 12-game double-digit scoring streak and has increased his total to 34 career games in which the Fort Worth talent has notched a double-digit scoring performance.
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 (104), second in three-point field goals made (32) and third in scoring average (11.2 P-G).
• During his career with the Frogs - Hackett has appeared in 106 career games and has earned a spot in the starting lineup on 72 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 45 career games - 9 (Senior) / 18 (Junior) / 18 (Sophomore). The TCU senior has recorded 911 career points to go along with 169 career three-pointers - which ranks seventh in the TCU career record books.
• Hackett is currently ranked fifth in the Mountain West Conference in three-point field goals made per game (2.29 3FGM-G) and has connected on at least one trey in 12 of 14 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 (1.36 B-G), seventh in offensive rebounds per game (2.0 R-G) and 18th in rebounds per game (5.1 R-G).
• The TCU senior has recorded 80 career blocked shots with the Frogs - which ties him for seventh place in the all-time record books with Marlon Dumont. Parker needs 20 more blocks to become the fifth player in program history to notch the century mark in blocked shots.
• Parker has notched at least one blocked shot in 12 of 14 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.
Team Filled with Mr. Cleans
• This season, the Frogs are averaging 38.8 rebounds per game - which ranks them 57th 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 29.6 boards per contest compared to 43.9 rebounds at the Daniel-Meyer Coliseum.
• In games that the Frogs win - the Purple and White is averaging 45.2 boards per evening compared to 30.2 rebounds per game in contests where TCU suffers a defeat.
Great Scott!
• TCU newcomer Mike Scott has made an immediate impact on the Frogs' lineup as the freshman has started in all 14 games. Scott is averaging 4.6 points and 2.7 assists per game this season while hitting on 38.9 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.
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 39th in the nation among NCAA Division I players in steals per game with a 2.29 picks per evening average.
• Ebie is ranked first in the Mountain West Conference in steals per game (2.29 S-G) and ninth in assists per game (3.1 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 14 games and has posted four steals in three of those contests. In addition to his pick-pocketing duties, 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 4.6 points and 1.4 rebounds per game while connecting on 41.4 percent of his field goal attempts. Mitchem has scored five or more points in seven of 14 games - including a season-high nine points twice vs. Rice and Texas
• The TCU sophomore has been known to score quickly for the Frogs off of the bench as he is averaging one point every two minutes that he has seen action on the court this season.
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 5.1 points and 5.2 rebounds per game - which ranks him 18th 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 nine of 13 games during the 2007-08 campaign.
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 294 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 523 of their last 524 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 12 of their first 14 games and are ranked third in the Mountain West Conference in three-point field goals made per game (8.14 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 Purple and White has 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 107 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 11 of 14 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 44 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 in four of the last seven 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 36.4 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 performance against Rice where he grabbed 12 boards and is ranked sixth among all freshmen in the Mountain West Conference with a 3.1 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
• 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 14 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 12 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.
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