TCU MBB: Frogs vs. Wildcats Gamethread

Tonight marks the final home game for the Horned Frogs this season, unless they end up hosting in the NIT. For more on the game, check out the preview here. Here are three things to know and keep an eye on in tonight's matchup with Kansas State.

1 - Taking Care of the Ball

In the recent loss against West Virginia, it is easy to point to the questionable call in the final seconds as the reason that TCU ended up losing. However, it is hard to justify saying that the Frogs should have won a game in which they had 21 turnovers.

Hypothetically, let’s assume that TCU holds on to 5 of those turnovers and goes 3/6 on shots from those possessions, assuming one offensive rebound. That right there would be 6 more points for the Frogs. On the other end, let’s take away 4 points off turnovers from the Mountaineers. That would result in a 10-point swing in TCU’s favor and would have put them in control of this game. Had the Frogs exercised better selection on some of their passes, they could have easily won this game.

With all of this being said, TCU did manage to win the game in Manhattan despite having 22 turnovers. Imagine what the Frogs might be able to do tonight if they take care of the ball.

2 - NCAA Tournament Implications

Going into Saturday’s game with West Virginia, I billed it as TCU’s most important game in a very long time. Well, now tonight’s matchup takes that title. With both teams sitting just outside the projected NCAA Tournament field, tonight’s game has major implications on who will have a chance to get to the Big Dance. This is in no way a play-in game for the Tournament, as whoever wins will still likely need to do more to get in, but, the loser will likely find themselves off of the bubble and trying to hold on for an NIT bid.

3 - Senior Day

Tonight’s game marks the final home game for four Horned Frogs. Brandon Parrish, Karviar Shepherd, Chris Washburn, and Michael Williams will all be taking the court at Schollmaier Arena for the final time, unless TCU ends up hosting an NIT game. For the most part, these guys won’t go down in the school record books for what they did on the court, but they should be remembered for what they did off the court.

These guys, part of Trent Johnson’s first recruiting class here, have been through a lot during their time here. After going 0-18 in conference play as freshmen, this group had to put with 2 years of being in small, cramped temporary locker rooms outside the practice facility, a year and a half’s worth of home games in a high school gym filled with bright orange seats, and a coaching change.

In an era when transfers have become so common, these guys have shown great loyalty to a program that has struggled. Now, under Jamie Dixon, these four Horned Frogs have a chance to make either the NCAA Tournament or the NIT. So, while these four years may not have been filled with wins on the hardwood, the impact of these four will live on as the foundation of a new era for TCU Basketball. Thank you seniors.

So, come hang out with us and chat about what we hope will be a TCU victory.