TCU Basketball Preview: Texas Tech Red Raiders (Part II)

Game Time: 7:00pm CDT | Location: Wilkerson-Greines Activity Center
TV: FOX Sports Southwest Plus | Series: TTU leads 76-48 | Game Line: TCU -9.0

The Frogs return to the friendly confines of the Wilkerson-Greines Activity Center tonight looking to do something that hasn't been done at TCU since 2012 - win three consecutive home conference games. On February 14, TCU upset then-21^st ranked Oklahoma State before knocking off Kansas State last Wednesday. A win tonight would also give the Frogs a series sweep over the Red Raiders, which would mark the first time TCU has swept a Big 12 opponent in a season since joining the conference.

The Frogs return home after a trip to Lawrence, Kansas in which TCU gave the Kansas Jayhawks all they could handle inside Allen Fieldhouse. A late rally fell short, and the Jayhawks prevailed 81-72. In their last contest, the Red Raiders battled  #17 Oklahoma into overtime in Norman, but the Sooners prevailed 79-75.

In that game, four of the five Red Raiders starters scored in double-figures as Texas Tech posted their second-highest offensive output in Big 12 play this season with 75 points on 59.1% shooting from the field. More impressively, the Raiders shot 17/26 from behind the arc, a blistering 65.4%. Each of these marks were impressive for Texas Tech, considering the team averages 40.0% from the field and just 30.4% from behind the arc on the season.

Statistically, freshman guard Devaugntah Williams leads the Red Raiders this season. He leads the team in points per game with 10.1, assists per game with 1.6, and steals per game with 1.0. The Red Raiders have struggled mightily on offense this season, averaging just 53.9 points per game in Big 12 play. In the first meeting between the teams, the Frogs held Texas Tech to just 42 points on 22.9% shooting from the field.

Offensively for the Horned Frogs, the seniors have been lighting it up as of late. During TCU's last three games, Kyan Anderson, Trey Zeigler, and Amric Fields have accounted for 106 of the Frogs' 211 total points, over 50.2%. Against the Jayhawks on Saturday, Zeigler had his best game offensively since his sophomore season at Central Michigan. The senior guard dropped 20 points on 7/12 shooting from the field.

Tonight's game provides TCU fans one of the last times to see Kyan Anderson play at home. After tonight, the senior guard has just one remaining home game left - next Saturday against the Iowa State Cyclones. Anderson has already re-written the record books at TCU and will enter the game tonight in the top 10 in program history in games played, games started, minutes played, points, three-pointers, free throw percentage, assists, and steals.

Anderson and the Frogs will need to continue their offensive success tonight to sweep the Red Raiders and continue putting together their NIT resume. Additionally, if the TCU defense can take advantage of a struggling Texas Tech offense, the Frogs should be well on their way toward a three-game home winning streak.

Here are some other notes from GoFrogs.com:

• TCU was receiving votes earlier this month in the USA Today Coaches Poll.
  The last time TCU was receiving votes in February came during the 1998-99 campaign.
• TCU is 30-5 when leading at the half under head coach Trent Johnson.
• TCU has now held 29 opponents to 59 points or less under Trent Johnson.
• In its last two home outings, TCU has held Oklahoma State and Kansas State to 55 points.
• TCU has out-rebounded its opposition 17 times this season.
• TCU has already bettered its win total from a year ago and 2011-12.
• TCU played its 10th ranked opponent in 14 games this past Saturday at Kansas.
• Kyan Anderson is No. 6 all-time in scoring in program history with 1,533 points.
• Anderson passed TCU great Kurt Thomas in points for a career vs. K-State.
• Anderson moved into No. 1 all-time in program history in steals against Oklahoma State with now 167.
• Kenrich Williams has scored in double-figures in 13 of the 27 games this season.
• Trey Zeigler has scored in double-figures in nine Big 12 games this year.
• Zeigler is coming off a season-high 20-point outing at Kansas.