Two star players to return as TCU hoops faces Lipscomb on Tuesday
The TCU men’s basketball team is expected to get a couple reinforcements back for Tuesday’s game against Lipscomb.
Junior guard Jaylen Fisher and sophomore forward Kouat Noi are expected to return from knee injuries and make their season debuts, coach Jamie Dixon said on Monday.
“I’m feeling really good about Jaylen as far as playing tomorrow,” Dixon said. “He practiced well the past couple of days and he’s been practicing with us for about 10 days now. Same thing with Kouat. I anticipate both of them being there.”
Fisher has thrived when healthy. He averaged 12.3 points and 5.4 assists in 17 games last season before going down with a torn meniscus last January, ending his sophomore season.
Fisher then underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee in September, the same knee he tore his meniscus. Fisher has been injury prone his entire career.
Before last season, Fisher had surgery on a torn meniscus in his left knee. As a freshman, Fisher broke his left wrist during the NIT tournament.
That’s why TCU could monitor Fisher’s minutes early in his return, but Dixon didn’t reveal an exact formula or plan.
Dixon said he’ll use two point guards on the floor as he’s done in the past with Fisher and Alex Robinson. Both are among the best players on the team and it’s never a bad thing to have multiple ball handlers on the court.
Noi, meanwhile, gives them another scoring threat inside and outside. He averaged 10.2 points a game last season.
TCU is looking to improve to 4-0 and remain unbeaten in November under Dixon. This Lipscomb game should provide a nice, early-season test.
The Bison went to the NCAA Tournament last season, and are coming off a 79-73 victory over SMU on Saturday in Dallas.
“They’re really good, and it’s not a surprise -- we try to get the best teams and this is one that a lot of teams wouldn’t play,” Dixon said. “They have five returning starters. A senior dominated team, well coached, really skilled and good balance offensively inside and out.”
Even though Lipscomb may not be a household name to your casual fan, this is a game that should help, not hurt, TCU’s NET (NCAA Evaluation Tool) in the long run. Right now, Lipscomb is the highest-rated Atlantic Sun Conference team at No. 127, according to KenPom.com.
That’s a lot better than, say, another A-Sun schools such as North Alabama (No. 333) or Stetson (No. 337).
“One of the things I wanted to change here is who we were going to play,” Dixon said. “There’s a whole different level. Fresno State [TCU’s previous opponent] fits right into that as well. Those are teams that most teams are going to be afraid to play, but if you’re going to elevate your program ... we’ll be in the top 20 for strength of schedule, I’m sure, just as we always were at Pitt.”
This story was originally published November 19, 2018 at 5:30 PM.