TCU’s 1-10 conference record hard to believe for Johnson

As they look at their 1-10 record in the Big 12, it’s safe to say the TCU men can hardly believe it.

“Nobody anticipated us being 1-10 in the league,” coach Trent Johnson said.

No, indeed, not after a 13-0 record in nonconference play that got the Horned Frogs in the Top 25 for a week.

It turned out to be the high point of the year. Since then, there have been close losses and big losses. The Horned Frogs (14-10, 1-10) have been competitive at home and on the road and been blown out at home and on the road.

They have closed the deal only once, at Texas Tech.

“You look at how it’s happened — the responsibility falls on us,” Johnson said. “Because there are certain things that have to happen on a consistent basis.”

The main thing that is lacking is offense, and more specifically, shooting. The Horned Frogs, who play host to Oklahoma State (17-7, 7-5) on Saturday, have shot steadily worse over the past three games, going from 35.7 percent at Baylor to 31.5 percent against Oklahoma and 28.8 percent at Texas on Wednesday night, when they hit a season low for shooting percentage and points in a 66-43 loss.

The Frogs are still tough to score on, but they are consistently losing the rebounding battle. In what used to be its best area, TCU has been outrebounded in four consecutive games.

“Nobody is more patient than me, but you have to go through it,” Johnson said. “What we’re going through is really hard, and they have to stay positive.”

It is no coincidence that the slide has happened in conference. Johnson talked consistently during the nonconference start about how tougher games were coming and that he would be watching for the response to adversity. He still sees fight from the players, but they have had to face the reality of the strength of the Big 12.

“When all is said and done, they’ll have a chance to look back on it, they’ll be able to reflect,” Johnson said. “Because like I told them, regardless of what happens the rest of the way, they were undefeated in November and December. And then they had to play in the best baskbetall conference in college.

“But they’re going to be OK. There’s seven games left, counting the first game of the conference tournament. That’s still a lot of basketball. There’s a lot of basketball left.”

This story was originally published February 13, 2015 at 9:48 PM with the headline "TCU’s 1-10 conference record hard to believe for Johnson."