NIT Quarterfinals: TCU Horned Frogs vs. Richmond Spiders Game Thread

The Frogs face Richmond in the NIT Quarterfinals on Tuesday night, one win away from a trip to New York City, Madison Square Garden, and the NIT Semis.

Of course, TCU will be without Jaylen Fisher for the second consecutive game, so it will be critical for Alex Robinson and Desmond Bane to step up once again.

If you missed it, here are Chris' three things to watch, and his prediction, from the preview.

Three Things to Watch:

1 - Cline vs. Vlad

The battle in the post between Richmond’s T.J. Cline and TCU’s Vladimir Brodziansky will have a major impact on the game. Both are very skilled big men and can space the floor. Cline will likely want to have a big game coming back home to the metroplex, but he also has a lot more pressure on him to deliver for his team. If Vlad can get him into foul trouble, things could get much easier for TCU. If Cline gets going though, it could be a long night for the Frogs.

2 - Bench Depth

One area where TCU appears it will have an advantage is depth. Richmond has some very talented players, but they do not go very deep on their bench and when they do, it’s not for long. The Frogs on the other hand have a solid 9-man rotation even with Jaylen Fisher out. If the four seniors for TCU that come off the bench can have a huge impact in their final game at Schollmaier Arena, then the Frogs could run away with this game.

3 - Trying to Make History

In a year that has already been historic for the program and seen records set, TCU will be looking to make a little more history. This season marks the 7th time that the Frogs have made to the NIT and the 4th time they have advanced to the Quarterfinals. However, TCU has never been able to get over the hump in order to advance to the Semifinals at Madison Square Garden. Will this year finally be the year?

Prediction:

I think TCU will continue this special season and will be heading to Madison Square Garden next week. Ultimately, the Frogs should have a major advantage bringing in guys like Brandon Parrish, Karviar Shepherd, and Chris Washburn off the bench. I also expect Alex Robinson and Kenrich Williams to continue to shine. Richmond has some great players and will be a tough out, but I expect TCU to get it done tonight at Schollmaier Arena.

Score Prediction: TCU 81, Richmond 73