Story Links FORT WORTH – TCU (6-4) will host Montana State (5-7) in its final nonconference game, on Sunday at 1 p.m. on ESPN+. NOTES– Sunday is Kids Day, which includes activities for children prior to the game and team autographs after the game.– Jamie Dixon is six wins away from 500 as a […]
FORT WORTH – TCU (6-4) will host Montana State (5-7) in its final nonconference game, on Sunday at 1 p.m. on ESPN+.
NOTES
– Sunday is Kids Day, which includes activities for children prior to the game and team autographs after the game.
– Jamie Dixon is six wins away from 500 as a head coach. His 166 wins at TCU rank second all-time.
– Under Dixon, TCU is 68-5 against nonconference opponents at Schollmaier Arena.
– TCU has won its last 18 home nonconference games.
– Ernest Udeh Jr., who is averaging 9.1 points, 8.4 rebounds and 1.8 blocks, is TCU’s only returning scholarship player.
– Udeh’s rebounding average of 8.4 ranks fourth in the Big 12.
– TCU’s newcomers includes six transfers and four freshmen. Two additional players are redshirt freshmen.
– Frankie Collins is out for the season with a broken left foot. He was TCU’s leader in points (11.2) and assists (4.4).
– Now leading TCU in scoring is Trazarien White at 10.3 points per game. He has scored in double figures in each of the last four games.
– White arrived at TCU with over 1,000 career points. Noah Reynolds is 39 away from 1,000 for his career.
– Vasean Allette ranks third on the team with 9.9 points per game.
– Brendan Wenzel is TCU’s top 3-point threat at 45.7 percent. He missed the last game due to a high ankle sprain.
– Freshman David Punch is averaging 5.7 points and 4.9 rebounds. He is one of six freshmen in the Big 12 averaging at least 5.0 points and 4.0 rebounds.
– TCU ranks first in the Big 12 and 17th nationally in fastbreak points with 16.3 per game. TCU led the nation the last two seasons.
– TCU ranks third in the Big 12 and 39th nationally in 3-point defense, allowing 28.9 percent from three.
– Opponents are shooting 27.3 percent from three in Schollmaier Arena this season.
– TCU ranks fourth in the Big 12 and 61st nationally in turnovers forced per game at 14.8.
– TCU ranks fifth in the Big 12 and 56th nationally in turnover margin at 3.2.
– TCU ranks sixth in the Big 12 and 49th nationally in scoring defense, allowing 65.4 points per game.
– TCU ranks 30th in defensive efficiency at 97.3 according to KenPom.
– Last season, TCU finished the season in the NCAA Tournament for a program-best, third-straight season.
– Dixon is one of just nine active head coaches who have made at least 15 appearances in the NCAA Tournament.
– Only 22 active D1 coaches have more wins than Dixon’s 494.
– TCU has 17 seasons of 20 or more wins in its history and six have come in the last eight seasons.
ABOUT THE OPPONENT
– Montana State has lost its last two games, 89-63 at USC on
Sunday and 83-80 at UC Riverside on Wednesday.
– Brandon Walker leads the Bobcats in scoring with 15.7 points per game. He had a career-high 31 points last time out vs. Riverside.
– Montana State defends the three well, ranking 19th nationally with opponents shooting 27.9 percent from deep. The Bobcats also make a lot of threes, 9.8 per game, which leads the Big Sky Conference and ranks 44th nationally.
– Prior to the season, the Bobcats were picked by the media to win the Big Sky Conference.
SERIES HISTORY
– TCU leads the all-time series, 3-1 and has won the last two meetings.
– The last meeting was an 89-76 win by TCU on Nov. 30, 1996, part of the Big Island Invitational in Hilo, Hawaii.
– The last meeting in Fort Worth was a 98-96 triple overtime win by the Horned Frogs on Jan. 7, 1996.
LAST TIME OUT
– TCU held South Alabama to 24% shooting from the field in the second half in a 58-49 win over the Jaguars Monday.
– USA made just one of its final 13 shot attempts and finished 33.3 percent from the field.
– Ernest Udeh Jr. recorded his second double-double of the season with 10 points and 11 rebounds.
– Vasean Allette led the Frogs with 14 points.
UP NEXT
– TCU will open Big 12 Conference play at new conference member, Arizona, on Dec. 30 at 7 p.m. CT. on ESPN+.