Dec. 7, 2007
Game Notes - Texas Southern in PDF Format 
Game Day Information
Opponent: The TCU men's basketball program will return to the Daniel-Meyer Coliseum for a match-up against Southwestern Athletic Conference-foe Texas Southern on Saturday afternoon at 12:00 p.m.
Radio: ESPN Radio (103.3 FM) and KTCU (88.7 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 and viewed on the TCU Athletics website via GameTracker.
Television: The contest between the Frogs and Mustangs can be seen on The Mtn. Network with Bill Doleman (play-by-play) and Larry Mangino (analyst) handling the game-time duties.
Next on the Schedule: The Frogs will return to the Daniel-Meyer Coliseum on Monday (Dec. 17) when TCU welcomes UT Arlington for a cross-town match-up. The game can be heard on Fox Sports Radio (1460 AM) and KTCU (88.7 FM) as well as seen on television on The Mtn. Network.
The Big Score
• The Frogs have scored 528 points through the first seven games - averaging 75.4 points per game - which is the most points scoring in the opening seven games since the 2004-05 season when the Purple and White reached the NIT Tournament. That season, the Frogs opened with 546 points - averaging 78.1 points per evening.
• The Purple and White is currently ranked third in the Mountain West Conference in scoring offense with an average of 75.4 points per game behind nationally-ranked BYU (81.5 P-G) and University of New Mexico (76.2 P-G).
Good Things Happen When You Start Quick
• Following three-straight setbacks, the Frogs stand at 4-3 heading into Saturday afternoon's game against Texas Southern. The Frogs are off to a 4-3 start for the fourth time in the last seven seasons, including the third time during head men's basketball coach Neil Dougherty's tenure.
Frogs Remain Dominant 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 20-1 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-POine Bluff (75-61) and Grambling State (99-67) as well as trio of upcoming contests against the SWAC.
Statement Time in the Mountain West Conference
• Teams in the Mountain West Conference have combined for a record of 50-21 (.704 wining percentage) with BYU and San Diego State each at the top of the rankings with one loss a piece. The Cougars are ranked 20th and 22nd in two separate national polls with a 7-1 overall record while the Aztecs have notched an 8-1 mark this season.
• Every team in the Mountain West Conference has notched at least three victories this season and has recorded a .500 or higher winning percentage.
Frogs Drop Third Straight with 71-65 Setback to SMU
• The Frogs suffered their third straight setback with a 71-65 defeat at the hands of SMU on Wednesday (Dec. 5) as part of the State Farm DFW Duel in Dallas.
• The Purple and White held a 34-29 advantage over the home team at intermission, but were out-scored by a 42-31 margin in the second half.
• Derrick Roberts led all scorers for the Mustangs as the SMU guard finished with 18 points on 7-of-15 shooting to go along with four rebounds and one steal in 29 minutes of action.
• Brent Hackett finished with a team-high 17 points in the game after he connected on 6-of-19 shootings, including 5-of-16 from behind the three-point line. The first 15 field goal attempts for Hackett came from behind the three-point arc in the game.
• TCU junior Henry Salter finished with 15 points on 6-of-10 shooting to go along with six rebounds and one assist in 34 minutes of action. Salter has played the most minutes in one game than any other Frog this season after 34 minutes versus SMU.
• Kevin Langford recorded his fifth straight double-digit scoring performance after the TCU forward notched a 14-point evening on 5-of-9 shooting, including 4-of-4 from the charity stripe. He also tallied two rebounds, two blocked shots and two assists in the game.
• The Frogs recorded their best evening of shooting at the free throw line as the Purple and White connected on 90.9 percent (10-of-11), including an 8-of-8 performance in the final 20 minutes of action.
• The Purple and White attempted 30 three-pointers in the contest, which was the second time this season that TCU has finished a game with 30 or more three-point field goal attempts. The last game came against Grambling State with 31 three-point attempts.
• TCU starting point guard Mike Scott had one of his best evenings as part of the Purple and White as he finished with a career-high 11 points on 4-of-5 shooting to go along with four rebounds and one assist in 19 minutes of action.
Frog Defense Standing Tall
• The TCU football team is known for having a strong defense under Gary Patterson, but now the Frog basketball team is making their own identity as a defensive force.
• In seven games, the Frogs have limited opponents to a combined 41.3 percent (170-of-412) shooting performance and 34.7 percent (43-of-124) from behind the three-point arc.
• 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 41.5 percent from the field.
• The Frogs have forced opponents into 133 turnovers (19.8 turnovers per game) where they have scored 130 points off of the miscues of their foes - an average of 21.6 points.
• The Frogs have held three of their six foes to under 70 points in a game this season. The Purple and White have held three of their first six opponents to under 70 points in each of the last three seasons.
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
• Coming into the 207-08 season, Neil Dougherty was excited about the depth on his bench and his style of play has showed it as the Frogs have nine players that are averaging over 13 minutes per game. Only four times this season has a Frog player recorded 30 or more minutes of court time with Kevin Langford doing it three times. Henry Salter appeared in 34 minutes of action against SMU.
Scouting the Opponents - Texas Southern University
• This will be the second-ever meeting between the Purple and White and Texas Southern as the Tigers got the best of the Frogs in their first meeting by a 103-78 victory at the Daniel-Meyer Coliseum on December 28, 1988. The Tigers are the only member of the Southwestern Athletic Conference to defeat the Frogs in 21 games.
• After defeating Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on the road in their season opener, the Tigers have fallen in each of their last five games to UT Arlington, UTEP, Houston, Kentucky and Texas - all of those games were on the road.
• Robert Moreland returned to the Tigers' sidelines on October 4th after serving as the leader of the Texas Southern program for 26 seasons. The Tigers' head coach has recorded more victories and more SWAC conference and tournament championships than any other coach in Texas Southern history.
• Sollie Norwood is the top scorer for the Tigers as the TSU junior has recorded a 16.3 scoring average and collected a double-digit scoring performance in five of the team's first six games. He collected a pair of 21-point performances against UT Arlington and UTEP and an 18-point evening against Houston.
• David Burrell has averaged 8.3 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game in his first season with the Tigers after previous stints at The University of Texas-Pan American and Panola Junior College. The TSU newcomer has recorded three double-digit scoring performances - including a career-high 19 points at Houston.
• The Tigers have averaged 60.5 points per game this season compared to 83.0 points per evening for opponents. Texas Southern has only scored above 70 points on two occasions - coming in the first two games of the season with 72-point performances against both Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and UT Arlington. In the last four games, the Tigers are averaging 54.8 points per game, including a season-low 35 points versus Kentucky.
• Opponents have connected on 51.4 percent (188-of-366) against the Tigers, including 42.8 percent (59-of-138) from behind the three-point line. On the boards, the Tigers are averaging 29.3 rebounds per game compared to 41.8 boards per contest for opponents. The Frogs are the 13th best rebounding team in the country.
• The Tigers have only recorded six blocked shots this season - five of those coming from TSU forward Kevin Abanobi and the other board coming from junior David Burrell. Opponents have notched 27 blocked shots.
• Texas Southern is a very strong free throw shooting team as the Tigers have connected on 76.3 percent (71-of-93 from the charity stripe. The Tigers have connected on 75.0 percent or higher of their free throw attempts in four of six games, including a season-high 90.5 percent (19-of-21) against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.
• The Tigers are prone to miscues as Texas Southern is committed 102 turnovers - averaging 17.0 per contest.
Frogs Closing in on 400th Victory at the DMC
• Following the Frogs' 99-67 victory over Grambling State, the Purple and White recorded their 390th triumph inside the friendly confines of the Daniel-Meyer Coliseum since its' opening on December 18, 1961.
Charity Stripe Blues
• One of the areas still in need of improvement for the Frogs comes at the free throw line where TCU has connected on 60.5 percent (98-of-162) free throw attempts compared to 66.2 percent (96-of-145) attempts from the charity stripe for opponents. On average - the Frogs are leaving 9.1 points per evening at the charity stripe.
Always Be Ready to Play
• In TCU head men's basketball coach Neil Dougherty's system, every player has to be ready to play at any time. This season, all 14 players that have suited up in the Purple and White have played. During the 2006-07 campaign - that feat wasn't reached until the 24th game on the road at Colorado State.
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.
• The Fort Worth duo are ranked second and third on the squad in scoring as Hackett is averaging 12.6 points per game while Langford has notched 12.0 points per evening.
• Langford and Hackett recorded their best years last season for the Horned Frogs as both players were selected as honorable mention All-Mountain West Conference award winners. The pair recorded 734 total points (Langford - 397 / Hackett - 337) and accounted for 38.8 percent of all the scoring for the Horned Frogs.
• The Frogs are also excited about another Fort Worth talent in Luke Tauscher - who begins his first season with the program after sitting out last season due to a red-shirt campaign. The 6-11 center - who is also the tallest member of the TCU squad - has averaged 3.7 boards per game while chipping into the offensive attack with a 2.7 scoring average and five blocked shots.
A Team Filled with Mr. Cleans
• This season, the Frogs are averaging 42.9 rebounds per game - which ties them for 13th in the country in that category along with Wisconsin. The Purple and White are ranked third in the State of Texas in boards behind Southland Conference-foes in Texas State (46.9) and Sam Houston State (44.9)
• The Frogs have collected at least 50 rebounds in three of seven games this season and currently sit at the top of the Mountain West Conference in two rebounding categories, including rebounds per game (42.9 R-G), and offensive rebounds per game (16.0 OR-G) and second in defensive rebounds per game (26-86 DR-G). The Frogs also hold the top rebounding performance this season in the Mountain West Conference with a 59-board evening against Rice.
The "Langford" Road Home
• Kevin Langford is still looking to find his shooting touch, but that hasn't stopped the Fort Worth native from racking up the points on the scoreboard as he is ranked third on the team with an 12.0 points per game average. Over the course of the last five games, Langford has averaged 13.8 points per game as he has recorded double-digit scoring performances in each of those games against Arkansas-Pine Bluff (16), Grambling State (14), Texas Tech (16), Oklahoma (11) and SMU (14).
• The TCU forward has also done a nice job on the glass for the Frogs as he has averaged 5.6 rebounds per game this season and currently ranks 10th in the Mountain West Conference in free throw percentage (.707) and 11th in rebounds per game (5.6 R-G).
The Hackett Man
• For the first time in his career, TCU senior Brent Hackett had the opportunity to work out with the Frogs this off-season as part of their strength and conditioning program. The hard work paid off for Hackett as he is ranked second on the Frogs' squad in scoring average at the 12.6-point mark.
• During his career with the Frogs - Hackett has appeared in 99 games and has earned a spot in the starting lineup on 65 occasions, missing only four starts in the last three seasons (two of those non-starting games coming on Senior Night).
• Hackett has been one of the top scorers for the Frogs over the last four seasons as he has recorded 10 or more points in 40 career games - 4 (Senior) / 18 (Junior) / 18 (Sophomore). During his career with the Frogs, Hackett has recorded 842 career points.
• This season, Hackett has scored 15 or more points in four of the Frogs' first seven games, including a season-high 23 points against Grambling State (Nov. 21). Ranked second in the Mountain West Conference in three-point field goals made per game, the TCU senior has connected on four or more three-pointers in four of seven games.
Welcome to the Parker's
• Alvardo Parker has enjoyed a nice season on both sides of the court for the Frogs as the TCU senior is ranked third in the Mountain West Conference in blocked shots (1.43 B-G), fourth in offensive rebounds per game (2.43 R-G), fifth in rebounds per game (6.4 R-G) and 11th in defensive rebounds per game (4.0 R-G).
• The TCU forward has recorded 71 blocked shots during his career with the Frogs after surpassing Doug Arnold for 10th in the all-time record books. The next person in sight for Parker will be Marquise Gainous - who holds ninth place with a 77 career blocked shots. Parker has recorded at least one blocked shot in each of the Frogs' first seven games this season.
• 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
• TCU head men's basketball coach Neil Doughery is not one to shy away from a nationally-ranked opponent as the Frogs have competed against 16 squads ranked in the top-25 during his tenure. To put the numbers into perspective - TCU only played 19 nationally-ranked teams during the entire decade of the 1990s - 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.
• TCU is 12-88 (.120) all-time against nationally-ranked teams and has dropped 15 of its last 17 match-ups against teams ranked in the top-25. The victory over the Falcons snapped a six-game skid against ranked opponents.
• The Frogs haven't had much success against nationally-ranked opponents on the road as they have dropped 47 of 48 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 connected on 10 or more points in six of the team's first seven games.
• Salter is ranked 10th in the Mountain West Conference in scoring average (13.9 P-G) and 10th in rebounds per game (5.7 R-G) and is only one of five players in the conference to be ranked in the top-10 in both categories in the conference joining Trent Plaisted (BYU), Brad Jones (Wyoming), Lee Cummard (BYU) and Luke Nevill (Utah).
• The former NJCAA All-American is also ranked seventh in the Mountain West Conference in field goal percentage (.480) and three-point field goals made per game (2.14 3FGM-G), ninth in offensive rebounds per game (1.71 R-G) and 15th in defensive rebounds per game (3.86 R-G).
• The TCU junior is ranked first on the team in scoring average and has been a force on the boards as well as Salter has collected six rebounds in five of seven games this season.
Standing "O" for Ortiz
• TCU newcomer John Ortiz has helped the Frogs off of the bench where the low post standout is averaging 5.6 points and 4.7 rebounds per game. He has done a tremendous job at getting to the free throw line where he is ranked second on the Frogs' squad in free throw made (17) and free throws attempts (30).
• Ortiz recorded a career-high 10 points against Texas Tech (Nov. 28) following a nine-point, nine-rebound performance over Grambling State. Over the last four games, the TCU junior is averaging 6.4 points and 5.2 rebounds per game.
It's All About the Ebie, Baby!
• TCU sophomore Jason Ebie has made a dramatic improvement from his freshman to his sophomore campaigns, and the Houston native will see plenty of court action this season at the point guard position. In his first seven games, Ebie is averaging 3.9 points, 3.57 assists, 2.57 steals and 1.9 rebounds per game in 17.3 minutes of action a night.
• Ebie is ranked first in the Mountain West Conference in steals per game, fifth in assists per game and eighth in assist-to-turnover ratio. The TCU guard is the only player in the MCW to be ranked in the top-eight in all three departments.
• The TCU sophomore has recorded four or more assists in five of seven games this season and has collected at least two steals in five of seven games for the Frogs. In five of seven games this season, Ebie has seen at least 15.0 minutes of court action while chipping in with at least two points in every contest.
Neon Keion in Primetime
• One of the biggest additions to the Frogs' lineup will come in the return of sophomore Keion Mitchem, who appeared in the team's first 15 games of the 2006-07 season. The TCU guard is averaging 3.6 points and 2.0 rebounds per game while connecting on 32.1 percent of his shots - including 28.6 percent from behind the three-point line.
Great Scott!
• The faithful of the Purple and White will quickly get to know the name of Mike Scott as the TCU freshman is seeing a lot of playing time in his first season with the Frogs. Scott won the starting point guard position for the team's first seven games where he has averaged 5.7 points, 2.6 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.4 rebounds per game.
• The TCU newcomer scored a career-high 11 points against SMU on 4-of-5 shooting to go along with four rebounds, one assist and one steal in 19 minutes of action.
• Even though he is only a freshman, Scott is not the youngest member of the squad by any stretch as the City of Brotherly Love native is 21-years-old.
Close Encounters of the Trey Kind
• TCU has made at least one three-pointer in 289 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 516 of their last 517 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 each of their first seven games and are ranked third in the Mountain West Conference in three-point field goals made per game (8.29 3FGM-G).
Home Sweet Home
• The Frogs have posted a mark of 390-232 (.627) since Daniel-Meyer Coliseum opened during the 1961-62 campaign.
• Over the past decade, the Horned Frogs have recorded a 130-57 (.695) overall record and have won at least 10 games at home in seven of the last 10 seasons.
• The Frogs have won 13 of their last 20 games at the Daniel-Meyer Coliseum, including six of their last seven games on their home court. The last two losses for the Frogs at home came against Oklahoma (90-66 / December 2nd, 2007) and BYU (85-72 / February 10th, 2007)
Finding Nemo
• Senior Neiman Owens is one of the most experienced players on the Frogs as the TCU guard has appeared in 100 career games and has started 60 contests during his career. Owens did not start against Angelo State in the season opener, which snapped his 60-game starting streak dating back to the 2005-06 season.
• Owens recently accomplished a milestone for the Purple and White as he appeared in his 100th career game against SMU on December 5th and needs only four points to reach the 400-point level - currently standing at 396 points.
The Wall
• Even though TCU has only been a member of the Mountain West Conference, TCU senior Ryan Wall has been affiliated with the MWC for each of his five collegiate years. Wall was a member of the University of New Mexico's basketball team for two seasons (2003-04 and 2004-05) before transferring to TCU prior to the 2005-06 campaign. After red-shirting his first season, the Frog guard has appeared in 37 games while wearing the Purple and White.
• Wall has slowly been coming back from an off-season injury, but has played in his first seven games of the season where he is averaging 4.0 points and 0.7 rebounds per game. The TCU senior has connected on 40.9 percent (9-of-22) of his field goal attempts, including 38.9 percent (7-of-18) from behind the three-point arc.
Cool Hand Luke
• The TCU coaching staff was anxious to see how red-shirt freshman Luke Tauscher would return to the lineup after missing last season due to injury. The 6-11 Fort Worth product hasn't disappointed anyone at the Daniel-Meyer Coliseum as the TCU newcomer recorded his first double-digit rebounding performance against Rice with 12 boards.
• The Frogs freshman is currently ranked 11th in the Mountain West Conference in blocked shots (0.83 B-G).
• Tauscher has recorded at least two rebounds in six of the team's first seven games and notched at least one blocked shots in four of seven games in his first season on the court for the Purple and White.
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 in the Frogs' first four games, every member of the TCU squad that saw action on the court scored at least one point in the game. That feat was reached twice all of last season against San Diego State (Jan. 31) and Air Force (Feb. 24). This season, the feat was reached against Angelo State (Nov. 10) and Grambling State (Nov. 21).
Welcome to the Program
• In the early signing period this past week, the Frogs signed a trio of players that will help the squad next season in Kevin Butler, Logan Lancon and James Blasczyk.
• A tremendous prospect from one of the top high school programs in the nation, Butler will bring great success to the Frogs' basketball program. He is ranked 16th in the State of Texas according to TexasHoops.com in the Class of 2008 after a stellar junior campaign, which was highlighted by earning MVP honors in the Texas State Championship Game.
• 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.
The Score
• Coming into the 2007-08 campaign, the Frogs will have plenty of options when it comes to putting the ball in the bucket as six of their top scorers from a season ago return to the lineup in Kevin Langford (13.2 P-G), Brent Hackett (11.2 P-G), Alvardo Parker (8.8 P-G), Neiman Owens (7.1 P-G), Ryan Wall (6.4 P-G) and Keion Mitchem (5.3 P-G). The returning scorers for the Frogs will return 1,507 total points from the 2006-07 season - equaling 79.6 percent of their scoring total from the 2006-07 campaign.
Bangin' the Boards
• The Frogs have been dominate on the glass this season as they are out-rebounding their opponents 300 to 278 - and hold a rebounding of +3.1 - which is currently ranked fourth in the Mountain West Conference behind BYU (+9.1), Utah (+5.3) and New Mexico (+5.1).
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