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PJ Fuller’s adjustment to the college game didn’t happen overnight, but the freshman guard has really come into his own over the last several weeks and has starred with freshman point guard Francisco Farabello and redshirt sophomore combo guard RJ Nembhard sidelined due to injuries. This week, he was rewarded for his efforts, being named Big 12 Newcomer of the Week:
Fuller scored a career-high 21 points in helping @TCUBasketball to the 75-72 win over No. 2 Baylor.
— Big 12 Conference (@Big12Conference) March 2, 2020
The freshman guard scored 17 of those points in the second half and was 5-of-7 from the field.
PJ Fuller (@PhilipPJFuller) is the #Big12MBB Newcomer of the Week. pic.twitter.com/tDiw3mY60x
Fuller’s 21 points were a career high, and his 17 in the second half helped the Horned Frogs overcome a double-digit deficit. He punctuated the win with a loud dunk in the final seconds, setting off a celebration inside Schollmaier Arena. Fuller has player 28, 34, and 38 minutes over his last three games, scoring 6, 10, and 21 points in that span. He has seven total assists in his last two games as well.
Desmond Bane has been the Frogs’ star all season, but he ascended into national name category Saturday on the big stage. His 23 point performance — that included a 5/5 effort from beyond the arc — got him named Big 12 Player of the Week:
He scored 23 pts, 19 in the second half, to lead @TCUBasketball to its biggest home win in program history over No. 2 Baylor.
— Big 12 Conference (@Big12Conference) March 2, 2020
Bane was 7-of-8 from the field in the second half, including 5-of-5 from 3-pt range.
Desmond Bane (@DBane0625) is the #Big12MBB Player of the Week. pic.twitter.com/033rGZ2AgY
Bane, who is averaging over 16 points per game this season, had two 20-point plus efforts this week, including 22 on the road at Iowa State. He had a double-double in Ames (11 rebounds), and added five rebounds and four assists against the Bears Saturday. After hitting the go-ahead three pointer with 4:42 remaining, Bane blocked a Baylor shot attempted and hit his next two shots, part of a personal 8-0 run that made it a 63-55 TCU advantage. He assisted on Fuller’s punctuation mark jam to seal the victory — the Frogs’ third win over a ranked opponent at home this season.
It hasn’t been the senior season the Frogs’ star expected, but Bane’s performance put him on the map nationally and reminded folks why he’s a legit NBA prospect.
I usually love all basketball players from Indiana equally but I definitely love Desmond Bane a little more than the rest right now
— Mark Titus (@clubtrillion) February 29, 2020
Desmond Bane drills the step-back 3. Top-30 prospect. pic.twitter.com/Bd220rYGU5
— Jackson Frank (@jackfrank_jjf) February 29, 2020
Desmond Bane (@DBane0625)
— Derek Murray (@dmurrayNBA) February 29, 2020
6-6 215 G TCU
Bane caught fire in H2 this afternoon, leading TCU to a victory against #2 Baylor. He's cementing himself as a top shooting prospect in the 2020 Draft.
Isolation: 97th percentile
Spot up: 89th
Dribble jumpers: 93rd@ProBBallCombine pic.twitter.com/yXrLNVB6sk
The Frogs face off with Kansas in Lawrence Wednesday before closing the regular season at home against Oklahoma. Bane will be honored Saturday as part of TCU Basketball’s senior day festivities, and is the only senior to play all four years for the Horned Frogs.