Feb. 26, 2012

Game #29
TCU (17-11; 7-5 MW) at WYOMING (19-9; 5-7 MW)

TCU GAME NOTES // WYO GAME NOTES // LIVE AUDIO // GAMETRACKER

GAME DAY INFORMATION
Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2012  //  7:30 p.m. MST  //  Laramie, Wyo.  //  Arena-Auditorium (15,028)
Television: The Mtn. (DirecTV ch. 616)  //  Talent: Dan Gutowski (pxp), Dave Bollwinkel (analyst)
Radio: 1460 AM (KCLE), 88.7 FM (KTCU)  //  Talent: John Denton (pxp), Jeff Lewis (analyst)
Internet: GoFrogs.com (radio, GameTracker)
Series Record: TCU leads, 11-8  //  Last Meeting: Feb. 1, 2012 in Fort Worth (W, 58-52)
TCU Head Coach: Jim Christian (Rhode Island, `88)    
      Record at TCU: 55-69 (.444) in 4th season  //  Overall: 193-127 (.603) in 10th season
Wyoming Head Coach: Larry Shyatt (Wooster, `73)    
      Record at UW: 38-18 (.679) in 2nd season  //  Overall: 108-102 (.514) in 7th season


FORT WORTH--TCU takes to the road for the final time during the regular season Tuesday when it faces Wyoming at the Cowboys' Arena Auditorium in Laramie, Wyo.  Tip-off for the contest, which will be televised live by The MountainWest Sports Network (The Mtn.), is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. MST.

The Horned Frogs, 17-11 overall this season and fourth place in the Mountain West standings at 7-5, enter the final week of the regular season as the hottest team in the conference having won four of their last five games. The squad sits only one game behind a three-team logjam at the top of the league standings featuring New Mexico, San Diego State and UNLV.  TCU topped 18th-ranked UNM in its last outing Saturday in Fort Worth for its eighth straight home win.

The Frogs will look for their second straight victory away from Daniel-Meyer Coliseum following last Wednesday's 65-62 win at Air Force that snapped a 15-game conference road losing streak. TCU has already secured the team's best overall season record since 2004-05 and its top league mark since joining the Mountain West prior to the 2005-06 season. A third consecutive win Tuesday would give the Frogs their longest overall conference winning streak since 2007-08.

Wyoming, 19-9 overall this season, enters Tuesday's game holding down sixth place in the Mountain West standings with a 5-7 mark in conference play. The Cowboys were able to snap a four-game skid Saturday with a 64-54 home win over Boise State and are 14-3 this season in Laramie, including 3-3 in MW games.

TCU leads the all-time series by an 11-8 margin following a 58-52 home win over the Cowboys back on Feb. 1. The Frogs have taken five of the last six meetings overall but are only 1-6 against Wyoming when playing in Laramie.

Tuesday's matchup marks TCU's 20th televised game of the season and its 16th on The Mtn. Dan Gutowski (play-by-play) and Dave Bollwinkel (analyst) will handle play-by-play duties.

Fans can also follow the contest on the radio throughout the Metroplex on 1460 AM KCLE and 88.7 FM KTCU with John Denton (play-by-play) and Jeff Lewis (analyst) calling the action. Links to both the live radio Internet feed and live stats will be available via TCU's official athletics website, GoFrogs.com.

FROG QUICK NOTES
* A victory would give TCU five wins in a six-game stretch of conference play for the first time since 1997-98, when the Frogs went a perfect 14-0 in the WAC on their way to their last NCAA Tournament bid.

* TCU has guaranteed itself a winning record for the first time since 2004-05 (21-14). The squad's 17 victories are three more than in any season since 2004-05.

* TCU's seven conference wins mark its most in seven seasons as a member of the Mountain West despite only 14 league games this season, two fewer than in past years (16).

* TCU has made six or more 3-pointers in 11 straight games and at least 11 in five of the last seven contests.

* TCU's 110 3-point baskets in MW play already rank No. 7 among the program's all-time single-season conference records and are only 15 shy of the record of 125 set in 2009-10.

* TCU entered MW play ranked dead last among the eight league teams averaging only 5.67 3pg, but has hit 9.17 3pg in MW contests, which is tops in the league.  The team also leads the MW with a 39.0% 3-point shooting rate in league games after entering conference play ranked No. 7 (34.4%).

* TCU is 13-3 in games decided by six points or fewer, three more wins than the previous school record for victories within the margin. The Frogs have outscored opponents by only 44 points in the 13 close wins compared to a margin of 120 points in their other three victories.

* TCU is forcing an average of 16.3 turnovers per game, 0.9 more than any other Mountain West team. The squad is No. 2 in the MW in average turnover margin (+2.32) and No. 3 in scoring (71.7 ppg), assists (13.93 apg), steals (7.14 spg) and free-throw percentage (69.6%).

* TCU ranks among the nation's top-100 teams in average turnover margin (56th), 3-point shooting rate (65th), scoring (95th), 3-pointers made (88th) and assists (93rd).

* Craig Williams is 15-of-25 (60.0%) on 3-point tries over the last five games after entering the stretch 4-of-22 on the season.

* Hank Thorns is No. 2 in the MW in minutes played (33.50 mpg); No. 3 in assists (4.75 apg), 3-pointers (2.18 3pg) and 3-point percentage (39.6%); No. 6 in assist/turnover ratio (1.60); and No. 8 in scoring (13.1 ppg).

* In MW play, Thorns is No. 1 in 3's made (2.92 3pg); No. 2 in 3-point shooting (43.8%); No. 3 in assists (4.67 apg) and assist/turnover ratio (1.65); and No. 6 in scoring (13.8 ppg).

* Thorns has made at least one 3-pointer in 16 consecutive games, a career-long streak that ranks as the second-longest active streak for all MW players.

* J.R. Cadot is No. 3 in the MW in offensive rebounds (2.86 rpg); No. 5 in the MW in total rebounds (7.0 rpg); No. 6 in defensive rebounds (4.18 rpg) and steals (1.61 spg); and No. 17 in scoring (10.9 ppg).

* Kyan Anderson is the only freshman ranked among the MW's top-20 scorers in league play. His 9.8-point average ranks tied for No. 19 overall in the conference. He also leads MW freshmen in assists (3.3 apg; No. 7 overall), assist/turnover ratio (1.54; No. 5 overall) and minutes played (34.83 mpg; No. 6 overall) in conference action.

* Anderson is No. 8 in the MW for all games in assists (3.00 apg) and No. 8 in assist/turnover ratio (1.53).

* Anderson's 84 assists mark the most by a TCU freshman since Corey Santee posted a freshman-record 180 in 2001-02.

* Amric Fields is the only player among the MW's top-20 scorers in league play with five starts or less (No. 17; 10.4 ppg).

* TCU is 10-0 when outrebounding the opponent and 11-1 when holding teams to under 47.6% shooting from the field.
 

SCOUTING THE WYOMING COWBOYS
Wyoming, 19-9 overall this season and No. 6 in the MW standings with a 5-7 league mark, enters Tuesday's game looking for a second straight home victory following Saturday's win over Boise State (64-54). The Cowboys are 14-3 overall in Laramie and 3-3 in MW games, including wins over Colorado State, No. 11 UNLV and Boise State.

UW, led by first-year head coach Larry Shyatt, leads the Mountain West in scoring defense (54.6 ppg), rebounding defense (29.9 rpg) and turnover margin (+2.96). The squad is No. 2 in the league in free-throw shooting (75.4%) and 3-point defense (30.3%). Junior guard Luke Martinez is the Cowboys' leading scorer and ranks No. 10 in the MW averaging 12.4 ppg. Junior forward Leonard Washington is close behind at No. 11 (12.4 ppg) while senior guard Francisco Cruz ranks 15th (12.0 ppg). Washington, the team's leading rebounder (6.8 rpg), is No. 6 in the league. Senior guard JayDee Luster paces UW in assists (3.61 apg) and paces the conference in assist/turnover ratio (2.30). Martinez is the MW's top 3-point shooter in terms of average makes per game (2.74 3pg).

INSIDE THE SERIES
TCU owns an 11-8 edge in the all-time series that began in 1971-72, including an 8-6 mark since the Frogs joined the MW. TCU has won five of the last six games and eight of 11 since February 2007. The Cowboys are 6-1 vs. the Frogs in Laramie.
 

LAST WE MET: TCU 58, WYOMING 52 (FEB. 1, 2012)
TCU recorded its third win in four games Feb. 1 with a 58-52 victory over Wyoming in Fort Worth. Craig Williams led the Frogs on the scoreboard with 13 points.

TCU led by as many as 11 points after a 14-2 run pushed the score to 49-38 with 9:11 remaining. The lead would soon evaporate, as Wyoming answered TCU's strong stretch with a 9-0 spurt of its own to cut the score to 49-47 with about six-and-a-half minutes to play.

Like they have done all season, the Frogs responded to adversity by closing out the game strong at home. Williams sank a huge 3-pointer to give TCU a six-point lead with 5:09 remaining, then made a great pass to Connell Crossland on the following possession that resulted in a layup and a 55-47 edge. The Frog defense also came alive late, limiting UW to only five points in the final 6:29 and 30.4% shooting overall in the second period. A late layup by Hank Thorns clinched the win by pushing the lead to 58-50 with only 42.5 seconds left.

Joining Williams in double figures were Hank Thorns (12 points) and Amric Fields (10). Thorns and Fields combined for five 3-pointers on only eight attempts.

TCU TOPS #18 NEW MEXICO TO REMAIN IN MW TITLE HUNT
Six Frogs scored in double figures Saturday as TCU earned its second straight victory over a top-25 foe by defeating No. 18 New Mexico at the DMC, 83-64. The win marked the team's eighth straight at home.

The Frogs played their most well-rounded game in years while handing UNM its most lopsided setback of the season. The Lobos led by two points early in the second half, 43-41, before TCU took control with a 23-8 run to move out to a 13-point advantage.

Amric Fields came alive during stretch, scoring eight straight points for TCU after entering the half scoreless. Hank Thorns drained his second 3-pointer with 8:20 remaining, while two free throws by fellow J.R. Cadot pushed the score to 64-51 on the following possession. TCU's defense was key to its big run, as the squad held the Lobos to only a 3-pointer by Hugh Greenwood during the more than seven-minute stretch.

New Mexico tried to piece together a comeback late, scoring on five straight possessions while cutting the Frog lead to eight points with 4:01 remaining, but TCU was up to the challenge. Craig Williams answered with his fourth 3-pointer of the game, and the Frogs started a parade to the free-throw line late, going a perfect 5-for-5 at the stripe in the final two minutes.

Cadot led an inspired TCU effort, collecting his second straight double-double with a game-high 15 points and 10 rebounds. Six of Cadot's board total came on the offensive glass, as he helped the Frogs match the Lobos in total rebounds (35) after the squad fell nine shy of UNM during the two teams' earlier meeting this season. Thorns added 14 points and a season-high nine assists in 39 minutes. Joining Cadot and Thorns in double figures were Green (13), Williams (12), Fields (11) and Kyan Anderson (10). The six Frogs combined to shoot 11-of-26 from 3-point range.

TCU-NEW MEXICO POSTGAME NOTES
* TCU moved to 6-0 at home in MW games. The six-game league home winning streak marks the longest for the program since 1997-98, when the Frogs went 7-0 in the WAC.

* The victory marked the first for the Frogs in MW play with a margin larger than six points.

* Including the squad's Feb. 14 home win over No. 11 UNLV, TCU posted consecutive victories over ranked opponents for only the second time in school history. The Frogs previously defeated No. 24 Hawaii and No. 11 New Mexico in 1997-98.

* TCU made 11-for 26 from 3-point range, marking the 11th straight game the squad made six or more. The Frogs have made at least 11 treys in five of the last seven contests.

* TCU's 83 points marked the most this season against UNM, which entered the day ranked No. 9 nationally in scoring defense. UNLV (80) owned the previous high total against the Lobos.

* TCU featured six double-figure scorers for the first time this season.

* J.R. Cadot recorded his second straight double-double, and his sixth of the season, with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Cadot now has nine career double-doubles, which ranks No. 4 among active players in the Mountain West.

* Thorns dished out a season-high nine assists, moving past former Frog great Jamie Dixon into sixth place on TCU's career assist chart (358).

* Craig Williams went 4-of-10 from 3-point range and is now 15-of-25 from outside the arc in the last five games. He entered the stretch only 4-of-22 on the season.

TURNING THE CORNER
The TCU program has made huge strides in head coach Jim Christian's fourth year guiding the program. Among the accomplishments still within the Frogs' reach this season is:

* TCU has guaranteed itself a winning record for the first time since 2004-05 (21-14). The squad's 17 victories are three more than in any season since 2004-05.

* TCU's seven conference wins mark its most in seven years as a member of the Mountain West despite only 14 league games this season, two fewer than in past years (16).

* TCU needs one win in its final two regular-season games for its first winning conference record since a 9-7 season in 2000-01.

* The Frogs likely are on track for their first postseason tournament bird since reaching the quarterfinals of the 2005 NIT.

* TCU's 13 home wins already rank as its most since going 13-4 in 2007-08. The squad's current home winning rate of 86.7% would be its best since going 16-1 in 2000-01 (94.1%).

GOOD THINGS COME IN 3'S
TCU has been a strong 3-point shooting team this season, especially during Mountain West play.

* TCU has made at least six 3's in 11 straight contests and 11 or more in five of the last seven games.

* TCU's 110 3-point baskets in MW play already rank No. 7 among the program's all-time single-season conference records and are only 15 shy of the record of 125 set in 2009-10.

* TCU made 12 treys four times in five games for the first time in program history between Feb. 4 and Feb. 18. The squad's 58 buckets marked its most over a five-game stretch since 2000-01.

* TCU entered conference play ranked dead last among the eight Mountain West teams averaging only 5.67 3pg, but has hit 9.17 3pg in MW contests, which is tops in the league. The team's shooting rate of 39.0% in conference play also ranks No. 1.

* Hank Thorns is No. 1 in 3-pointers (2.92 3pg) and No. 2 in 3-point percentage (43.8%) in MW games. He ranks No. 4 (2.18 3pg; 39.6%) in both categories for all contests.

* Thorns has made at least one trey in a career-best 16 consecutive games, which ranks as the second-longest active streak in the MW behind only Wyoming's Luke Martinez (24).

* J.R. Cadot and Craig Williams have picked up their game from outside recently. Williams is 15-of-25 on 3-point tries over the last five contests after entering the stretch 4-of-22 on the year. Cadot is 9-of-18 over the last six games following a 6-of-24 start.

LATE STOPS LEAD TO MW WINS
TCU has come up with strong defensive stands late in each of its seven Mountain West victories this season.

* TCU held the four opponents to only a 38.3% overall field-goal shooting rate during the final 10 minutes of the contests while itself shooting at a rate of 51.6%.

* TCU outscored No. 18 New Mexico 33-16 in the last 13 minutes of its Feb. 25 home win over the Lobos. UNM made only 5-of-17 field goals (29.4%) to end the game and committed six turnovers compared to only one for the Frogs.

* TCU outscored Air Force 18-7 in the final 7:32 of its Feb. 22 road win vs. the Falcons.

* TCU held No. 11 UNLV to only eight points in the final 6:12 of regulation and outrebounded the Rebels by a 19-7 count over the last 16-plus minutes Feb. 14 when including overtime.

* TCU held Colorado State to only two free throws in the final 3:18 while outscoring the Rams 8-2 to end the game Feb. 11.

* Wyoming had only two field goals in the final seven minutes of TCU's Feb. 1 home victory. The Cowboys shot only 30.4% overall in the second half after a 52.0% opening stanza.

* TCU held Boise State (Jan. 21) and Air Force (Jan. 25) to a combined three field goals in the final nine minutes of the two games. The squads shot only 17.6% (3-of-17) with eight turnovers during the final stretch.