I’m planning to do a running diary on the TCU/Kansas game tonight. It could well be a blowout, but TCU was one of my sleeper teams at the beginning of the season, so I should get to know them better. One edge TCU has on KU is depth – they have 9 players averaging double figure minutes and a tenth who’s close. TCU has never beaten a top five team and has lost 44 of 45 road games against ranked teams all-time. (Thanks, TCU athletic department.)
1st half
15:40 KU 6, TCU 6 – The guard matchup was the marquee billing for this game. But so far Shropshire and Santee have been jittery with a couple of giveaways early, While Miles and Langford have shown intensity like this is a conference game.
11:52 KU 14, TCU 12 – This game has no flow so far. TCU missed one of two on their first trip to the line. On the year they shoot less than 60% on free throws, so this is a problem area. TCU coach Neil Dougherty bears a striking resemblance to the kid from ‘Webster.’
7:42 TCU 24, KU 21 – It’s becoming apparent that if TCU is going to stay in this game, their depth will be the key reason. They have withstood the early energy from the Jayhawks and have found a rhythm. TCU can also afford to give a few more fouls than most KU opponents, and those fouls will come in handy since KU has an speed/athleticism advantage at most positions.
3:37, KU 38, TCU 33 – KU goes on an 11-0 run, but it’s punctuated by Keith Langford’s third foul, and on the next trip down the court, a Bill Self technical. Nile Murry makes four free throws in a row for TCU to momentarily stop the bleeding. KU’s rebounding and turnover advantage have allowed them to shoot 13 more field goals than TCU so far.
Halftime – KU 47, TCU 37 – A comedy of turnovers and blocked shots to close out the half for TCU. TCU finishes the half with 14 turnovers, which needless to say is impossible to overcome against Kansas. Were TCU not hitting a respectable 48% from the field – and few of them were layups or dunks – this game would be out of reach. The biggest surprise is that KU’s Christian Moody has 6 points. Coming into the game, he had more fouls (13) than made field goals (8).
2nd half
15:59 – KU 53, TCU 45 – If nothing else, I got to see Christian Moody’s career high! He’s dared by the TCU defense to shot from 17 feet and connects, giving him eight points. It’s pretty sound strategy to say "Hey, if somebody’s going to beat us, let it be Christian Moody." The problem is Moody is beating TCU, and so are Simien, Giddens, Miles, and Langford.
13:36 – KU 55, TCU 50 – A mini-run by TCU, even amidst what continues to be TurnoverFest ’04, forces Bill Self to get a timeout. I swear at one point I heard Fran Fraschilla use the term "K-hawk," but I could be hearing things.
11:52 – KU 59, TCU 52 – Fraschilla tells us the "teardrop" is so named because the ball "comes down soft." Wouldn’t a better name be the "parachute" or the "pillow?" TCU is up to 19 turnovers. But they’re not going to challenge Hampton’s season high of 37 against Clemson earlier this year.
7:53 – KU 69, TCU 56 – The Horned Frogs finally come back to earth on their shooting, at one time missing nine shots in a row. They’ve missed their last six shots from three. You’re not going to stay in too many games with a 1:3 assist-to-turnover ratio.
3:08 – KU 80, TCU 67 – Christian Moody!! Moody has the assist of the year so far with a no-look over the shoulder toss to Giddens who converts a three. And while Ron Franklin and Fran Fraschilla are obsessed with whether certain players can get a double-double, Moody records his first career single-double without much fanfare – on a long two that gives him ten points. TCU’s Nile Murry leads all scorers named after a river or not with 20 points so far.
Final KU 93, TCU 74 – Honestly, I didn’t watch much of the final minutes, insteading opting to see the close of the UConn/UMass game which had enough bizarre moments in the final 10 seconds to produce of lengthy post on its own. I did manage to see Moody grab his 10th rebound, completing a double-double. Then, and only then, did he get much deserved praise from the announcers.
As far as TCU goes, they’re too dependent on jump shooter to be less inconsistent than they were last season. They can compete in CUSA because there is a vacuum after the top three, but getting an at-large bid may be a little much to ask because their big men have little finishing ability.