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TCU Closes Out Regular Season at Air Force
Frogs looking to avenge Jan. 29 overtime loss to Falcons
GAME #31
TCU (10-20; 1-14 MWC) at AIR FORCE (14-13; 5-9 MWC)
TCU GAME NOTES
| AF GAME NOTES
| LISTEN LIVE
| GAMETRACKER
GAME DAY INFORMATION
Wednesday, March 2, 2011 | 6 p.m. MT | USAFA, Colo. | Clune Arena (5,858)
Television: The Mtn. (DirecTV ch. 616) | Talent: Dan Gutowsky (pxp), Bob Donewald (analyst)
Radio: 1460 AM (KCLE) | Talent: Brian Estridge (pxp), John Denton (analyst)
Internet: GoFrogs.com (radio, GameTracker)
Series Record: Air Force leads, 7-6 | Last Meeting: Jan. 29, 2011 in Fort Worth (L, 65-66 ot)
TCU Head Coach: Jim Christian (Rhode Island, ‘88)
Record at TCU: 37-56 (.398) in 3rd season | Overall: 175-114 (.606) in 9th season
AF Head Coach: Jeff Reynolds (UNC Greensboro, '78)
Record at AF: 50-69 (.420) in 4th season | Overall: 131-103 (.560) in 8th season
FORT WORTH--TCU wraps up its 2010-11 regular-season schedule Wednesday, when it travels to the Air Force Academy for a 6 p.m. MT matchup at the Falcons' Clune Arena. The game will be televised live by The MountainWest Sports Network (The Mtn.).
TCU, 10-20 overall this season and 1-14 in Mountain West Conference play, looks to build momentum heading into next week's MWC tournament. The Frogs are already locked into the No. 9 seed for the tourney and will face either Wyoming or Air Force in the #8/9 game on Wednesday in Las Vegas at 2:05 p.m. PT.
Air Force, 14-13 overall and 5-9 in the MWC, can clinch at least the No. 7 seed for next week's tournament with a victory against the Frogs and could still earn a seed as high as No. 5 if it wins its final two contests. The Falcons recorded a 66-65 win in overtime against TCU in the teams' first meeting back on Jan. 29 in Fort Worth.
TCU and Air Force will be meeting for the 14th time. The Falcons own a 7-6 edge after breaking a four-game losing streak against the Frogs back in January. Air Force is 4-2 against TCU in games played at the Academy.
Tuesday's game marks TCU’s 19th televised matchup this season and its 16th on The Mtn. Broadcast duties will be handled by Dan Gutowsky (play-by-play) and Bob Donewald (analyst). The Mtn. is available nationwide on DirecTV channel 616.
In addition to television, the contest also will be broadcast live on the radio throughout the Metroplex on 1460 AM KCLE. Brian Estridge (play-by-play) and John Denton (analyst) will serve as the on-air talent. Live stats and a link to an Internet radio feed will be available via TCU’s official athletics website, GoFrogs.com.
A LOOK AT THE STARTERS*
TCU Projected Starters
No. - Name - Pos. - Ht. - Wt. - Yr. - PPG, RPG, APG
10 - Hank Thorns - G - 5-8 - 165 - Jr. - 10.3, 3.4, 6.9
12 - Nikola Cerina - F - 6-9 - 245 - So. - 5.3, 3.8, 0.9#
23 - J.R. Cadot - G - 6-5 - 205 - Jr. - 8.0, 5.8, 0.9#
25 - Greg Hill - G - 6-2 - 205 - Sr. - 7.8, 5.8, 1.0#
33 - Garlon Green - F - 6-7 0 - 210 - So. - 11.3, 4.8, 1.0
Air Force Projected Starters
No. - Name - Pos. - Ht. - Wt. - Yr. - PPG, RPG, APG
10 - Todd Fletcher - G - 6-2 - 180 - So. - 5.1, 2.3, 2.5
14 - Michael Lyons - G - 6-6 - 190 - So. - 13.1, 3.6, 1.9
20 - Tom Fow - F - 6-6 - 205 - Sr. - 12.2, 3.7, 0.9
34 - Taylor Broekhuis - C - 6-10 - 210 - So. - 7.8, 3.6, 1.4
35 - Evan Washington - G - 6-4 - 200 - Sr. - 7.4, 4.7, 4.1
^-blocks per game; #-steals per game;
*-players determined by starters from each team’s previous game
FROG QUICK NOTES
- Nikola Cerina is averaging a double-double over his last two games with 12.5 ppg and 10.0 rpg.
- Cerina is averaging 7.8 ppg and 5.0 rpg in MWC play. He owned figures of 2.9 ppg and 2.6 rpg prior to the conference season. Five of his six double-figure scoring efforts have been in league play.
- Hank Thorns needs 14 assists in TCU's regular-season finale to match Mark Dickel’s (UNLV) 1999-00 MWC record for assists in a conference season (133). Thorns already owns the record for helpers by a non-senior.
- Thorns is one assist shy of tying former Frog Prince Fowler (1997-98) for third place on TCU's single-season assist chart (200).
- Thorns leads the MWC in assists and was No. 4 nationally as of Feb. 28. He also is No. 2 in the MWC and No. 16 in the NCAA in assist/turnover ratio (2.73).
- As of Feb. 21, Thorns was the only player ranked among the nation's top-10 players in assists who also was among the top-43 in assist-turnover ratio.
- Thorns has eight 10-assist games, six more than any other MWC player. The total ranks No. 3 among all players nationally.
- Thorns posted averages of 12.6 ppg and 8.4 apg during the month of February.
- Garlon Green is ranked No. 3 in the MWC for 3-point field-goal percentage in league play (43.6%) and is No. 10 in treys made (1.60 3pg).
- Amric Fields ranks No. 3 among all MWC freshmen in both scoring (7.4 ppg) and rebounding (2.9 rpg).
- TCU is shooting 47.4% from the field at home with an average scoring margin of +4.6 ppg, compared to figures of 38.7% and -11.0 ppg away from Fort Worth.
- TCU is 10-2 when scoring 70 points or more this season and 0-18 when totaling fewer than 70.
SCOUTING THE AIR FORCE FALCONS
Air Force, led by fourth-year head coach Jeff Reynolds, is 14-13 overall this season and sits in seventh place in the MWC standings with a 5-9 league record following Saturday's 74-57 home win over Colorado State. The Falcons returned 12 letterwinners and three starters from last year's team that finished 10-21 overall and ninth in the MWC with a 1-15 mark.
As a team, Air Force ranks second in the MWC in field-goal percentage (46.8%), 3-point percentage (37.2%), 3-pointers made (6.44 3pg) and 3-point field-goal defense (31.9%). The squad is No. 9 in scoring offense (64.4 ppg) and No. 3 in scoring defense (64.0 ppg).
Sophomore guard Michael Lyons leads the team and is No. 9 in the MWC in individual scoring at 13.1 ppg, while senior forward Tom Fow is 14th with a 12.2-point average. Senior guard Evan Washington paces the squad in both rebounding (4.7 rpg) and assists (4.1 apg). Fow is No. 1 in the league in 3-point shooting percentage (46.3%).
INSIDE THE SERIES
Air Force leads the all-time series with TCU by a 7-6 margin after snapping a four-game losing streak to the Frogs earlier this season. TCU had swept the two previous season series and has won two straight at Clune Arena after dropping its first four decisions at the site. Each contest between the two squads has come since 1998-99.
TCU vs. Air Force – All-Time Series
Date - W/L - Score - Site
Jan. 21, 1999 - W - 114-87 - Fort Worth
Feb. 20, 1999 - L - 78-81 - Colorado Springs
Jan. 14, 2006 - L - 49-75 - Colorado Springs
Feb. 15, 2006 - L - 45-63 - Fort Worth
Jan. 23, 2007 - L - 39-72 - Colorado Springs
Feb. 24, 2007 - W - 71-66 - Fort Worth
Feb. 2, 2008 - L - 46-56 - Fort Worth
March 5, 2008 - L - 36-57 - Colorado Springs
Jan. 17, 2009 - W - 64-57 - Colorado Springs
Feb. 18, 2009 - W - 62-50 - Fort Worth
Jan. 6, 2010 - W - 59-50 - Fort Worth
Feb. 6, 2010 - W - 65-51 - Colorado Springs
Jan. 29, 2011 - L - 65-66 (ot) - Fort Worth
LAST TIME WE MET: AF 66, TCU 65 (OT)
TCU led by as many as five points in overtime, but Air Force regrouped to pull out a 66-65 victory over the Horned Frogs Jan. 29 at Daniel-Meyer Coliseum. Guard Taylor Stewart made the winning points for the Falcons on a goaltending call with 11.8 seconds remaining.
TCU scored the first five points in extra time on a layup by Hank Thorns and a 3-pointer by Greg Hill. A pair of free throws by Garlon Green with 1:59 put the Frogs up by four points, 65-61, but the shots would prove to be the squad’s final points of the night. A final TCU layup attempt at the buzzer rattled off the rim.
Guard Derek Brooks hit a Falcon trey with 55.7 seconds remaining, then Stewart added the final margin after Green was called for slapping the ball against the glass on its way down with 11.8 to play.
Green led TCU with team highs of 16 points and nine rebounds, while Amric Fields added 10 points and six boards. Hill, Thorns and Nikola Cerina totaled nine points each, while Thorns dished out 10 assists. Brooks scored a game-high 18 points to lead Air Force. Michael Lyons chipped in 15 points and a team-high six boards, while Tom Fow totaled 11 points.
It looked as if Air Force would earn the victory in regulation, moving ahead by five points on a Lyons basket with 2:16 remaining, but TCU was able to rally. Cerina cut the deficit to two points on a layup and ensuing foul attempt off a nice feed from Thorns with 1:50 left, then Green tied the game at 58-58 on a deep jumper at the 1:00 mark.
A THORNS IN THEIR SIDE
Hank Thorns, in his first season as TCU’s point guard, has provided an instant impact in his first season on the court for the Frogs. His performance thus far ranks him among the nation's top handles at the point.
- Thorns leads the MWC in assist average (6.86 apg) and ranked No. 4 nationally as of Feb. 28. His 2.73 assist-turnover ratio is second in the MWC and No. 16 nationally.
- As of Feb. 28, Thorns was the only player in the nation's top-10 players in assists who was also ranked among the top-43 in assist-turnover ratio.
- Thorns' 199 assists this season currently rank as the fourth-best single-season total in MWC history:
MWC All-Time Top-5 Assist Seasons - All Games
Rnk - Name - Class - School - Year - Total
1 - Mark Dickel - Sr. - UNLV - 1999-00 - 280
2 - Matt Montague - Sr. - BYU - 2001-02 - 217
3 - Jerel Blassingame - Jr. - UNLV - 2003-04 - 205
4 - Hank Thorns - Jr. - TCU - 2010-11 - 199
5 - Ronnie Moss - So. - TCU - 2009-10 - 189
- Thorns' 119 helpers in league play only rank second in MWC single-season history and No. 1 for a non-senior:
MWC All-Time Top-5 Assist Seasons - League Games Only
Rnk - Name - Class - School - Year - Total
1 - Mark Dickel - Sr. - UNLV - 1999-00 - 133
2 - Hank Thorns - Jr. - TCU - 2010-11 - 119
3 - Jerel Blassingame - Jr. - UNLV - 2003-04 - 104
4 - Matt Montague - Sr. - BYU - 2001-02 - 102
5 - Curtis Terry - Sr. - UNLV - 2007-08 - 95
- Thorns has eight 10-assist games, five more than any other MWC player. As of Feb. 28, he was third nationally in the category:
National Leaders - 10+ Assist Performances
Rnk - Name - School - Total
1 - Scott Machado - Iona - 10
2 - Aaron Johnson - UAB - 9
3 - Hank Thorns - TCU - 8
4 - Darius Morris - Michigan - 7
D.J. Cooper - Ohio - 7
TCU Closes Out Regular Season at Air Force
Frogs looking to avenge Jan. 29 overtime loss to Falcons
GAME #31
TCU (10-20; 1-14 MWC) at AIR FORCE (14-13; 5-9 MWC)
TCU GAME NOTES
GAME DAY INFORMATION
Wednesday, March 2, 2011 | 6 p.m. MT | USAFA, Colo. | Clune Arena (5,858)
Television: The Mtn. (DirecTV ch. 616) | Talent: Dan Gutowsky (pxp), Bob Donewald (analyst)
Radio: 1460 AM (KCLE) | Talent: Brian Estridge (pxp), John Denton (analyst)
Internet: GoFrogs.com (radio, GameTracker)
Series Record: Air Force leads, 7-6 | Last Meeting: Jan. 29, 2011 in Fort Worth (L, 65-66 ot)
TCU Head Coach: Jim Christian (Rhode Island, ‘88)
Record at TCU: 37-56 (.398) in 3rd season | Overall: 175-114 (.606) in 9th season
AF Head Coach: Jeff Reynolds (UNC Greensboro, '78)
Record at AF: 50-69 (.420) in 4th season | Overall: 131-103 (.560) in 8th season
FORT WORTH--TCU wraps up its 2010-11 regular-season schedule Wednesday, when it travels to the Air Force Academy for a 6 p.m. MT matchup at the Falcons' Clune Arena. The game will be televised live by The MountainWest Sports Network (The Mtn.).
TCU, 10-20 overall this season and 1-14 in Mountain West Conference play, looks to build momentum heading into next week's MWC tournament. The Frogs are already locked into the No. 9 seed for the tourney and will face either Wyoming or Air Force in the #8/9 game on Wednesday in Las Vegas at 2:05 p.m. PT.
Air Force, 14-13 overall and 5-9 in the MWC, can clinch at least the No. 7 seed for next week's tournament with a victory against the Frogs and could still earn a seed as high as No. 5 if it wins its final two contests. The Falcons recorded a 66-65 win in overtime against TCU in the teams' first meeting back on Jan. 29 in Fort Worth.
TCU and Air Force will be meeting for the 14th time. The Falcons own a 7-6 edge after breaking a four-game losing streak against the Frogs back in January. Air Force is 4-2 against TCU in games played at the Academy.
Tuesday's game marks TCU’s 19th televised matchup this season and its 16th on The Mtn. Broadcast duties will be handled by Dan Gutowsky (play-by-play) and Bob Donewald (analyst). The Mtn. is available nationwide on DirecTV channel 616.
In addition to television, the contest also will be broadcast live on the radio throughout the Metroplex on 1460 AM KCLE. Brian Estridge (play-by-play) and John Denton (analyst) will serve as the on-air talent. Live stats and a link to an Internet radio feed will be available via TCU’s official athletics website, GoFrogs.com.
A LOOK AT THE STARTERS*
TCU Projected Starters
No. - Name - Pos. - Ht. - Wt. - Yr. - PPG, RPG, APG
10 - Hank Thorns - G - 5-8 - 165 - Jr. - 10.3, 3.4, 6.9
12 - Nikola Cerina - F - 6-9 - 245 - So. - 5.3, 3.8, 0.9#
23 - J.R. Cadot - G - 6-5 - 205 - Jr. - 8.0, 5.8, 0.9#
25 - Greg Hill - G - 6-2 - 205 - Sr. - 7.8, 5.8, 1.0#
33 - Garlon Green - F - 6-7 0 - 210 - So. - 11.3, 4.8, 1.0
Air Force Projected Starters
No. - Name - Pos. - Ht. - Wt. - Yr. - PPG, RPG, APG
10 - Todd Fletcher - G - 6-2 - 180 - So. - 5.1, 2.3, 2.5
14 - Michael Lyons - G - 6-6 - 190 - So. - 13.1, 3.6, 1.9
20 - Tom Fow - F - 6-6 - 205 - Sr. - 12.2, 3.7, 0.9
34 - Taylor Broekhuis - C - 6-10 - 210 - So. - 7.8, 3.6, 1.4
35 - Evan Washington - G - 6-4 - 200 - Sr. - 7.4, 4.7, 4.1
^-blocks per game; #-steals per game;
*-players determined by starters from each team’s previous game
FROG QUICK NOTES
- Nikola Cerina is averaging a double-double over his last two games with 12.5 ppg and 10.0 rpg.
- Cerina is averaging 7.8 ppg and 5.0 rpg in MWC play. He owned figures of 2.9 ppg and 2.6 rpg prior to the conference season. Five of his six double-figure scoring efforts have been in league play.
- Hank Thorns needs 14 assists in TCU's regular-season finale to match Mark Dickel’s (UNLV) 1999-00 MWC record for assists in a conference season (133). Thorns already owns the record for helpers by a non-senior.
- Thorns is one assist shy of tying former Frog Prince Fowler (1997-98) for third place on TCU's single-season assist chart (200).
- Thorns leads the MWC in assists and was No. 4 nationally as of Feb. 28. He also is No. 2 in the MWC and No. 16 in the NCAA in assist/turnover ratio (2.73).
- As of Feb. 21, Thorns was the only player ranked among the nation's top-10 players in assists who also was among the top-43 in assist-turnover ratio.
- Thorns has eight 10-assist games, six more than any other MWC player. The total ranks No. 3 among all players nationally.
- Thorns posted averages of 12.6 ppg and 8.4 apg during the month of February.
- Garlon Green is ranked No. 3 in the MWC for 3-point field-goal percentage in league play (43.6%) and is No. 10 in treys made (1.60 3pg).
- Amric Fields ranks No. 3 among all MWC freshmen in both scoring (7.4 ppg) and rebounding (2.9 rpg).
- TCU is shooting 47.4% from the field at home with an average scoring margin of +4.6 ppg, compared to figures of 38.7% and -11.0 ppg away from Fort Worth.
- TCU is 10-2 when scoring 70 points or more this season and 0-18 when totaling fewer than 70.
SCOUTING THE AIR FORCE FALCONS
Air Force, led by fourth-year head coach Jeff Reynolds, is 14-13 overall this season and sits in seventh place in the MWC standings with a 5-9 league record following Saturday's 74-57 home win over Colorado State. The Falcons returned 12 letterwinners and three starters from last year's team that finished 10-21 overall and ninth in the MWC with a 1-15 mark.
As a team, Air Force ranks second in the MWC in field-goal percentage (46.8%), 3-point percentage (37.2%), 3-pointers made (6.44 3pg) and 3-point field-goal defense (31.9%). The squad is No. 9 in scoring offense (64.4 ppg) and No. 3 in scoring defense (64.0 ppg).
Sophomore guard Michael Lyons leads the team and is No. 9 in the MWC in individual scoring at 13.1 ppg, while senior forward Tom Fow is 14th with a 12.2-point average. Senior guard Evan Washington paces the squad in both rebounding (4.7 rpg) and assists (4.1 apg). Fow is No. 1 in the league in 3-point shooting percentage (46.3%).
INSIDE THE SERIES
Air Force leads the all-time series with TCU by a 7-6 margin after snapping a four-game losing streak to the Frogs earlier this season. TCU had swept the two previous season series and has won two straight at Clune Arena after dropping its first four decisions at the site. Each contest between the two squads has come since 1998-99.
TCU vs. Air Force – All-Time Series
Date - W/L - Score - Site
Jan. 21, 1999 - W - 114-87 - Fort Worth
Feb. 20, 1999 - L - 78-81 - Colorado Springs
Jan. 14, 2006 - L - 49-75 - Colorado Springs
Feb. 15, 2006 - L - 45-63 - Fort Worth
Jan. 23, 2007 - L - 39-72 - Colorado Springs
Feb. 24, 2007 - W - 71-66 - Fort Worth
Feb. 2, 2008 - L - 46-56 - Fort Worth
March 5, 2008 - L - 36-57 - Colorado Springs
Jan. 17, 2009 - W - 64-57 - Colorado Springs
Feb. 18, 2009 - W - 62-50 - Fort Worth
Jan. 6, 2010 - W - 59-50 - Fort Worth
Feb. 6, 2010 - W - 65-51 - Colorado Springs
Jan. 29, 2011 - L - 65-66 (ot) - Fort Worth
LAST TIME WE MET: AF 66, TCU 65 (OT)
TCU led by as many as five points in overtime, but Air Force regrouped to pull out a 66-65 victory over the Horned Frogs Jan. 29 at Daniel-Meyer Coliseum. Guard Taylor Stewart made the winning points for the Falcons on a goaltending call with 11.8 seconds remaining.
TCU scored the first five points in extra time on a layup by Hank Thorns and a 3-pointer by Greg Hill. A pair of free throws by Garlon Green with 1:59 put the Frogs up by four points, 65-61, but the shots would prove to be the squad’s final points of the night. A final TCU layup attempt at the buzzer rattled off the rim.
Guard Derek Brooks hit a Falcon trey with 55.7 seconds remaining, then Stewart added the final margin after Green was called for slapping the ball against the glass on its way down with 11.8 to play.
Green led TCU with team highs of 16 points and nine rebounds, while Amric Fields added 10 points and six boards. Hill, Thorns and Nikola Cerina totaled nine points each, while Thorns dished out 10 assists. Brooks scored a game-high 18 points to lead Air Force. Michael Lyons chipped in 15 points and a team-high six boards, while Tom Fow totaled 11 points.
It looked as if Air Force would earn the victory in regulation, moving ahead by five points on a Lyons basket with 2:16 remaining, but TCU was able to rally. Cerina cut the deficit to two points on a layup and ensuing foul attempt off a nice feed from Thorns with 1:50 left, then Green tied the game at 58-58 on a deep jumper at the 1:00 mark.
A THORNS IN THEIR SIDE
Hank Thorns, in his first season as TCU’s point guard, has provided an instant impact in his first season on the court for the Frogs. His performance thus far ranks him among the nation's top handles at the point.
- Thorns leads the MWC in assist average (6.86 apg) and ranked No. 4 nationally as of Feb. 28. His 2.73 assist-turnover ratio is second in the MWC and No. 16 nationally.
- As of Feb. 28, Thorns was the only player in the nation's top-10 players in assists who was also ranked among the top-43 in assist-turnover ratio.
- Thorns' 199 assists this season currently rank as the fourth-best single-season total in MWC history:
MWC All-Time Top-5 Assist Seasons - All Games
Rnk - Name - Class - School - Year - Total
1 - Mark Dickel - Sr. - UNLV - 1999-00 - 280
2 - Matt Montague - Sr. - BYU - 2001-02 - 217
3 - Jerel Blassingame - Jr. - UNLV - 2003-04 - 205
4 - Hank Thorns - Jr. - TCU - 2010-11 - 199
5 - Ronnie Moss - So. - TCU - 2009-10 - 189
- Thorns' 119 helpers in league play only rank second in MWC single-season history and No. 1 for a non-senior:
MWC All-Time Top-5 Assist Seasons - League Games Only
Rnk - Name - Class - School - Year - Total
1 - Mark Dickel - Sr. - UNLV - 1999-00 - 133
2 - Hank Thorns - Jr. - TCU - 2010-11 - 119
3 - Jerel Blassingame - Jr. - UNLV - 2003-04 - 104
4 - Matt Montague - Sr. - BYU - 2001-02 - 102
5 - Curtis Terry - Sr. - UNLV - 2007-08 - 95
- Thorns has eight 10-assist games, five more than any other MWC player. As of Feb. 28, he was third nationally in the category:
National Leaders - 10+ Assist Performances
Rnk - Name - School - Total
1 - Scott Machado - Iona - 10
2 - Aaron Johnson - UAB - 9
3 - Hank Thorns - TCU - 8
4 - Darius Morris - Michigan - 7
D.J. Cooper - Ohio - 7
