TCU basketball searching for defensive identity, rebounds as it hosts Texas
TCU coach Jamie Dixon understands the infatuation with offensive numbers these days.
The leading scorer is usually the star. Fans love watching players drain deep 3-pointers, or produce highlight-reel dunks.
At the end of the day, though, games are decided on the defensive end just as much as the offensive end. And that’s where TCU has struggled mightily in losing three of its last four by a combined 73 points (30-plus point losses at West Virginia and Oklahoma, and an 11-point loss at Arkansas on Saturday).
So Dixon has been preaching defense to his team of late and is hopeful to see improved signs when the Horned Frogs (13-6, 4-2 Big 12) host Texas on Wednesday night. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. at Schollmaier Arena.
“We’ve got to defend better. It’s a factor when we lose,” Dixon said. “If you’re looking for common denominators that’s the one.
“It hasn’t been good for us. That’s something we have to do a better job of.”
Of TCU’s six losses, five have come with the opposing team shooting at least 50% from the field. In the last three, West Virginia shot 57.7% from the field; Oklahoma shot 53.7%; and Arkansas shot 54%.
All three teams also made at least six 3-pointers.
Sandwiched between those road losses was an impressive home victory over Texas Tech, which shot 43.1% from the field.
Maybe returning home will help TCU get back on track, much like it did against Tech. And it can’t hurt to face a Texas team that is the second-lowest scoring team in the Big 12 (66 points per game) and ranks last in rebounding margin (-3.37).
TCU knows it has to win the battle on the boards against Texas.
“We have to,” Dixon said. “We’re trying to become the best in the league. We out-rebounded Arkansas by eight. That’s something we have to do. We’ve done a good job and it’s something we can continue to grow on and get better at.”
Added TCU’s leading rebounder Kevin Samuel: “It’s something we really emphasize every game. With [Texas] not being a good rebounding team, that’s something coach is going to be emphasizing a lot.”
Samuel’s confidence
Samuel is coming off a career game at Arkansas, scoring 24 points on 9-of-12 shooting and pulling down 18 rebounds. Of his 24 points, six came from the free throw line (6-of-9).
For as much as Samuel has struggled from the free throw line this season, he’s starting to gain confidence in all aspects of his game. That’s the type of game and inside presence TCU needs him to become on a nightly basis.
“I’m confident in just seeing the ball go through the rim and seeing my free throws go through too,” Samuel said. “I’ve got a lot of confidence and I’m just trying to feed off my teammates energy and just try to do whatever it takes to get the win.”
Finding Bane
It’s no secret that TCU’s success largely depends on senior guard Desmond Bane.
The Horned Frogs are 7-0 when Bane scores at least 20 points. But against Arkansas, Bane had a season-low in field goal attempts (six) and finished with just eight points.
Dixon pointed to early foul trouble on Bane as a reason why he struggled to find a rhythm, as well as the team’s 19 turnovers in limiting the number of possessions.
“We ran a lot of plays for him and got some shots off,” Dixon said. “But we turned the ball over 19 times so that had something to do with it. That kind of takes away from your offense and what you’re trying to do.”
Briefly
▪ Dixon is 5-2 against Texas since coming to TCU.
▪ TCU swept the regular-season series against Texas last season. But the Longhorns knocked off the Horned Frogs in the NIT semifinals in New York.
▪ Bane leads the Big 12 in 3-point field goal percentage (44.6) and 3-point field goals made (2.8).
