Teammates lift TCU sophomore, he returns favor

By Stefan Stevenson

sstevenson@star-telegram.com

Amric Fields was alone on the floor of Daniel-Meyer Coliseum an hour after TCU defeated Air Force on Wednesday.

The same was true after the Horned Frogs beat Boise State on Jan. 21. In fact, most nights Fields is the last one to leave the court.

Over the last six games the sophomore is averaging 12.5 points off the bench and shooting a team-best 55.8 percent from the field headed into the Frogs' Mountain West game at 5 p.m. today at New Mexico.

TCU (12-7, 2-2 in the MWC) has won consecutive league games for the first time in three years, but the Lobos (16-4, 2-2) in Albuquerque present another stiff challenge.

Fields defers to his teammates for his recent offensive heroics.

"They find me when I'm open, they create shots for me, give me a big screen," he said. "Without that it wouldn't be possible. Even when I'm off they still encourage me."

That happened against Boise State last Saturday when Fields was 0 for 4 before making his first basket with 7:13 left in the game. He came right back and drilled a 3-pointer from the top of the key to pull the Frogs within four.

"Before I hit that big 3 they're telling me to 'shoot; we believe in you,'" Fields said. "As a shooter, that gives me great confidence."

Fields is also gaining more confidence in his defensive skills. As a freshman last season he was a defensive liability. If his shot wasn't falling, his defense would slide.

"I thought I knew everything," he said. "I became like a sponge and tried to soak up everything I could. I was getting taken to the goal, getting posted up easily, and giving up cheap fouls being out of position. Nothing should affect your defense. It's pure effort."

Effort isn't something Fields lacks.

"He holds himself to a high standard," TCU coach Jim Christian said. "I think he's maturing and I think he's understanding that you have to be more than just a jump shooter to be a good basketball player."

Defense has been the key in the Frogs' two-game winning streak. They held Boise State and Air Force to a combined 3 of 19 shooting in the final nine minutes.

"The guys on our team know if they don't play hard defensively they're coming out," Christian said. "So the guy coming off the bench can't make the same mistakes as the guy who was just in there. We need to get better at that. That's really where teams grow if those things happen."

Stefan Stevenson

817-390-7760

Twitter: @FollowtheFrogs

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