Kansas 75, TCU 66: Frogs give Jayhawks almost all they can handle

TCU fell to 16-14 on the season Wednesday night, following a 75-66 loss to the No. 1 Kansas Jayhawks.

Desmond Bane gave it everything he had in his final trip to Allen Fieldhouse, leading the Frogs with 24 points. The senior moved all the way up to No. 3 on TCU’s all-time scoring list with his performance on Wednesday night.

Of course, if you asked him he would probably say that a win would have been a more satisfying achievement. There’s no doubt though the impact that Bane has had on TCU’s basketball program.

Edric Dennis Jr. had a breakout game in the first half, hitting five threes for 15 points, but was held to just three points in the second half. His 18 points was a season high and they all came from deep, as he went 6-11 from three point range.

RJ Nembhard and Francisco Farabello both returned from injuries, but combined for just three points.

Meanwhile Kansas got a career performance from senior Udoka Azubuike, who scored 31 points and pulled down 14 rebounds in a dominating display. Azubuike got both Kevin Samuel and Jaedon LeDee in foul trouble early, which had the Frogs on their heels in the paint all night long.

In spite of that foul trouble TCU did everything they could to make life hell for Kansas, especially in the first half.

Bane and Dennis combined for nine first-half three pointers, combining for 29 first half points. It seemed at times that the three was the only thing going right for the Horned Frogs in the first half.

Despite 27 first half points from Azubuike and Devon Dotson, being out-rebounded, and turning it over seven times, TCU led 37-35 at the break. It was a surprise to almost everyone, and had people talking nationally about the repercussions should TCU hold on.

The Frogs stayed competitive for the first ten minutes of the second half, but more foul trouble and a dreaded scoreless stretch doomed TCU in the end. That and the fact that TCU really needed a third scorer which never materialized.

Bane and Dennis combined to shoot 14-24 from the floor (58.33%) while the rest of the guys in purple shot just 8-29 (27.6%).

TCU’s stout defense, once again featuring significant time in a 2-3 zone, gave Kansas trouble throughout the game, forcing bad shots and turnovers that kept the game close - even once Kansas had taken the lead.

The Frogs’ attention now turns to Saturday and their final regular season game against Oklahoma. It’s senior night, and the team will honor Bane, Dennis, and Jaire Grayer. Make sure you're there early. The game starts at 5pm.

Let’s send Desmond out with a packed house.