TCU Basketball Preview Series: Colgate

After a tough stretch of games against four straight opponents that advanced to the postseason a year ago, the Frogs will get a bounce back contest against a very young Colgate Raiders team.

Game 7: Colgate Raiders

Game Information

Date: Saturday, December 5
Time: 7:00 PM
Location: Ed and Rae Schollmaier Arena - Fort Worth, TX
TV: FOX Sports Southwest

Know the Foe

Conference: Patriot
Location: Hamilton, New York
Head Coach: Matt Langel

2014-2015 Record: 16-17 (12-6)
Postseason: None
Key Losses: G Damon Sherman-Newsome, C Ethan Jacobs, G Luke Roh
Key Returners: G Austin Tillotson, G Luke Roh, F Matt McMullen
New Additions: G Ryan Diew, F Dave Krmpotich, G David Favorite

Summary

Much like TCU, Colgate enters the 2015-2016 season having lost a significant portion of their scoring offense. With the losses of Damon Sherman-Newsome, Ethan Jacobs, Luke Roh, among others, the Raiders are looking to replace five of their top six scorers from a year ago. In total, Matt Langel's squad lost 79.8% of its scoring productivity - a tough blow for a team that only averaged 66 points per game last season.

This year's Colgate team features six freshmen, as well as three transfer players that are eligible this season. Tom Rivard, Jordan Swopshire, and Ryan Diew each have playing experience at the Division I level. For the Raiders to have success this season, they'll need their young core to step up and replicate what was one of the nation's best field goal percentage teams a year ago. The team finished the 2014-2015 season with the 14^th best field goal percentage in the country, at 48.4%.

Prediction

TCU 80, Colgate 56

This has all the makings of a comfortable TCU win. The Frogs will enter the game battle-tested after gritty games against South Dakota State, Rhode Island, SMU, and potentially Maryland. The TCU defense should get the chance to feast upon a very pedestrian offense full of younger players still adjusting to the game. Colgate had one of the worst rebounding margins in the country last year, so look for the Frogs to take advantage on the boards as well.

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Opponent Team Previews:
Game 1: Southeastern Louisiana
Game 2: Houston Baptist
Game 3: South Dakota State
Game 4: Rhode Island
Game 5: Maryland /Illinois State
Game 6: SMU
Game 7: Colgate
Game 8: Washington (10/21)
Game 9: Prairie View A&M (10/22)
Game 10: Abilene Christian (10/23)
Game 11: Bradley (10/24)
Game 12: Delaware State (10/25)
Games 13 & 24: Oklahoma State (10/26)
Games 14 & 25: West Virginia (10/27)
Games 15 & 20: Texas (10/28)
Games 16 & 29: Baylor (10/30)
Games 17 & 23: Kansas (10/31)
Games 18 & 28: Texas Tech (11/1)
Games 19 & 27: Iowa State (11/2)
Game 21: Tennessee (11/3)
Games 22 & 31: Oklahoma (11/4)
Games 26 & 30: Kansas State (11/5)