TCU basketball gets back on the NCAA Tournament path with victory over West Virginia
Emanuel Miller has become a voice for the TCU basketball team.
That speaks positively about his level of play and leadership on the team. However, it comes with the burden of answering questions after losses too.
Miller has handled the unenviable duty well, but was clearly in better spirits on Monday night. Instead of dissecting another loss, which he did for three consecutive games, he enjoyed breaking down TCU’s 77-67 home victory over West Virginia.
“First things first, it feels good to be here and be happy, be back in the win column,” said Miller, who led the team and matched his season high with 18 points. “It feels amazing. It’s what we’ve been doing early in the year. It feels great that we overcame the challenges.”
TCU (17-8, 6-7 Big 12) snapped a three-game losing streak and reaffirmed its position as an NCAA Tournament caliber team. West Virginia (14-13, 3-11), meanwhile, has now lost 11 of its last 12.
The Frogs found their way to success with penetration and getting to the rim. They scored more than half of their points (40) in the paint, which contributed to a season-best 53.7% field goal percentage, and dominated the rebounding battle 42-24.
Miller led the way early and often. He got to the free throw line six times in the first half, making all six, and then made five baskets from the field in the second half. Mike Miles also found success driving to the basket, finishing with 15 points and five assists.
“I’m at my best when I’m getting downhill creating for others and finishing,” Miles said. “It was huge for us. We didn’t get as many against Baylor, so coming in we knew we had to get in the paint.”
Along with Miller and Miles, TCU had three other players score in double figures. Chuck O’Bannon Jr. had 11 points, while Damion Baugh and Xavier Cork both finished with 10.
That combination by TCU helped offset a terrific night by West Virginia senior guard Taz Sherman, who finished with 23 points.
Cork, starting in place of an injured Eddie Lampkin (right knee), garnered praise from his teammates and coach Jamie Dixon. In fact, Dixon said, the team would like to see Cork become even more aggressive going forward.
This is a player who was a double-double threat at Western Carolina last season and, even though the Big 12 is a significant step up, has the ability to become that for TCU.
“I thought he was going to be an impact guy for us and he has been good,” Dixon said. “But he’s obviously progressed and continued to get better as the year went on. We actually think maybe he didn’t play enough in these last couple of games as he probably should have.
“Now he didn’t play as well as he had been playing and that led to that but we need him on the floor because he does some things differently. He makes our defense different in some ways, it makes our offense a little bit different.”
Along with his 10 points, Cork had four blocks and the Frogs were plus-18 points when he was in.
Cork could see extended time once again when TCU returns to action at Texas on Wednesday in Austin. Lampkin is considered day-to-day, according to Dixon.
Overall, Dixon was pleased with the way his team played and recovered from the three-game losing streak. The Frogs led by as many as 11 in the first half but that lead dwindled to one point by halftime. But TCU got off to a strong start in the second half and stayed in front.
Asked what a win does for his team, Dixon simply said: “Just a win. Everybody loses in this league. There’s nobody going undefeated. This thing, top to bottom, is the best it’s ever been since I’ve been here.”
This story was originally published February 21, 2022 at 9:11 PM.
