Nov. 4, 2005
FORT WORTH, Texas - The TCU men's basketball team will hit the hardwood tomorrow when it plays host to the University of Calgary in the first of two exhibition games of the 2005-06 Horned Frog campaign. The contest is free to the public and will tip off at 2:30 p.m. in Daniel-Meyer Coliseum.
Saturday's exhibition is the first meeting between the two schools with TCU as one of six U.S. universities on Calgary's exhibition slate this year.
An exciting campaign is in store for the Horned Frogs as head coach Neil Dougherty begins his fourth season at the helm and the program is in its 95th year of existence. Last year, TCU capped off its final Conference USA season with a 21-14 overall record and a return to postseason play for the first time since 1999.
In their initial season as the newest member of the Mountain West Conference, the Frogs were voted sixth in the league's media preseason poll. Ten letterwinners from last year's NIT squad return with seniors Nile Murry, Chudi Chinweze, Judson Stubbs and David Markley expected to lead a talented core of veterans that got a taste of success in 2004-05 and has high expectations again this year.
In addition, four newcomers will be ready to suit up for the Purple and White in junior transfer Aliou Kane and freshman trio Dallas Hunter, Clarence Masters and Allen Taylor.
Calgary's Dan Vanhooren has been the Dinos' head coach the past five seasons. He was named Mountain Division Coach of the Year in 2004-05 after leading his squad to the Canada West Championship for the first time since 1993 to advance to the CIS National Tournament.
The Dinos boast five players with double-digit scoring performances so far this season, including Canada West All-Star Chris White and the team's star point guard Whit Hornsberger. Wright paces the Dinos with 15.7 points and 8.3 rebounds per game while Hornsberger has been averaging 12.3 points and 3.3 boards per outing.
Guard Cody Darrah and forwards Brian Finniss and Ross Bekkering are also among the top five scorers on the team with Darrah second on the squad at 13.9 points and 3.3 rebounds per contest.
The Horned Frogs will host their second and final exhibition contest the following week on Friday, Nov. 11, against coach Dougherty's alma mater Cameron University.
TCU officially opens its 2005-06 campaign against Tarleton State University on Saturday, Nov. 19, at 7:05 p.m. The game is one of four that will be played as part of the Las Vegas Holiday Invitational.
