Center Russell Barlow makes debut for TCU, loses ability to redshirt

Center Russell Barlow isn’t in a redshirt season anymore.

TCU lost its ability to redshirt the true freshman when he entered Saturday’s game against Kansas State. Barlow entered with 19:08 left in the first half, replacing Kevin Samuel who drew an early foul.

Barlow scored the first points of his college career a few minutes later. He finished the game with two points and four rebounds in 20 minutes of action.

Coach Jamie Dixon said pulling Barlow’s redshirt was a combination of TCU being thin with post depth, particularly with Kouat Noi sidelined with an illness Saturday, and Barlow practicing well of late.

“We’d been talking about it,” Dixon said. “I thought we might do it in the West Virginia game, but given that we were up big and the situation we were at ... we talked about it.”

As stated, TCU’s depth issues is a key reason why Barlow isn’t eligible for a redshirt. Big men Yuat Alok and Angus McWilliam sustained season-ending injuries and are in the NCAA transfer portal (Alok recently committed to Central Florida), and Noi served as the latest blow.

Barlow, 6-foot-10, 235 pounds, joined TCU as the No. 36-ranked center in the country out of Dallas Bishop Lynch.

This story was originally published January 19, 2019 at 3:38 PM.