TCU Basketball Preview: Kansas State

Game Time: 7:00pm CDT | Location: Schollmaier Arena - Fort Worth, TX
TV: ESPNews | Series: KSU Leads 8-4 | Game Line: KSU -4.5

Following one of their worst conference losses since joining the Big 12, TCU returns home tonight to host the Kansas State Wildcats. The Frogs limp into the contest 11-14 overall and just 2-10 in league play following a 31-point defeat at the hands of West Virginia on Saturday. The Wildcats are in a similarly depressed state, having dropped three of their last four games, most recently a 58-55 overtime loss to Oklahoma State. K-State enters tonight's game 14-11 on the year and 3-9 in Big 12 play.

A lack of offensive efficiency has stifled both of these purple-clad conference foes throughout much of the season. Kansas State averages just 71.6 points per game, a mark that ranks 217^th in the nation. Bruce Weber has only two double-digit scorers to work with. Wesley Iwundu leads the team with 12.4 points per game on a team-high 49.6% shooting percentage from the field. The junior forward also pulls down 4.6 boards per game to go along with a team-best 3.6 assists each night.

Justin Edwards is the second double-digit scorer for K-State, knocking in 11.8 points per game. Edwards excels on the boards and currently leads his team in rebounds with 5.7 each night. As if that wasn't enough, the senior guard is averaging 2.8 assists and 1.8 steals per game as well.

True freshman Dean Wade has been an unexpected surprise for Weber's team this season. The Kansas native is scoring 9.8 points per game to go along with 5.4 rebounds. Barry Brown has been added another boost, contributing 8.8 points and 2.8 rebounds each time out. DJ Johnson is the last real productive scorer, averaging 8.1 points and 5.0 rebounds per game.

The Wildcats are without one of their most reliable offensive weapons tonight as Kamau Stokes is officially out for the season after suffering a knee injury against Mississippi on January 30. Stokes had been averaging 9.4 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game before the injury.

Kansas State will be going up against the only Big 12 team with a worse scoring offense tonight as they square off against the Frogs. After knocking in just 42 points against West Virginia on Saturday, TCU has dropped to 300^th in the nation in total scoring, averaging only 66.9 points per game.

Not much is going right for the Frogs these days, individually or collectively. The team's two points guards, Malique Trent and Chauncey Collins, are tops in scoring, each averaging 10.9 points per game. However, both sophomores shoot less than 40% from the field and combine to pull down just 5.9 rebounds each night. Fellow sophomore Vladimir Brodziansky is the team's only other double-digit scorer, adding 10.0 points per game. The Slovakian native is also pulling down 4.5 boards to go along with his team-high 52.5% shooting average from the field.

Brandon Parrish and Chris Washburn are the only other Frogs that have been contributing on the offensive end as of late. Parrish continues to lead the team in three-point shooting, averaging 8.4 points per game while Washburn is just behind with 8.0 each night. JD Miller has provided a spark off the bench and is currently adding in 6.0 points per game.

The status of junior forward Karviar Shepherd is still up in the air heading into tonight's contest. After being benched earlier this month, Shepherd suffered a back injury and has missed the last two games. Even though he is only averaging 8.0 points and 5.8 rebounds per game, the Frogs desperately need Shepherd's minutes as the team was already thin before he was sidelined.

Tonight's contest marks TCU's last home game against an unranked opponent, and therefore the team's last legitimate opportunity to pick up a Big 12 win. If the Frogs can find a way to come out on top tonight, they'll move into a three-way tie for 9^th place with Oklahoma State and Kansas State with just five games to go.

Here are other game notes, courtesy of GoFrogs.com:

• TCU is 41-8 when leading at the half under head coach Trent Johnson.
• TCU has held 36 opponents to 59 points or less under Trent Johnson.
• TCU played its eighth opponent either ranked or receiving votes in its last 12 games at WVU.
• TCU returned three starters from a year ago in Chris Washburn, Kenrich Williams and Karviar Shepherd.
• All three are TCU's captains this season.
• TCU has won five out of its last 10 Big 12 Conference home games.
• TCU played its first 11 games without Chris Washburn and Kenrich Williams.
• Williams will miss the entire season with an injury.
• Malique Trent ranks third in the Big 12 Conference in steals and No. 52 in the NCAA.