Deep bench strengthens Vanderbilt for challenge from TCU

Vanderbilt, with its deep lineup, will square off with TCU on Sunday in the first game of the USLBM Coast to Coast Challenge in Fort Worth, Texas.

Vanderbilt, (8-1) picked up an 80-64 win at Virginia Tech on Wednesday in the SEC/ACC Challenge. The Commodores didn't win their eighth game until Feb. 27 last season, when they went 9-23.

Meanwhile, the Horned Frogs (5-3) topped Xavier 76-72 at home in the Big 12-Big East Battle.

Vanderbilt's bench scored 49 of its 80 points, and the team's reserves are a strength that coach Mark Byington said makes his job easier. Both Jason Edwards, who scored a game-high 19 points, and MJ Collins Jr., who scored 15, came off the bench.

Collins, who transferred to Vanderbilt from Virginia Tech, scored 11 straight points in the first half.

"We really don't have a starting group," Byington said after the game Wednesday. "We have eight or nine different guys that could start. We have different guys finish and play different guys for stretches. I had a lot of options tonight with a lot of guys playing well."

Edwards is averaging a team-high 18 points per game, followed by Devin McGlockton (11.2) and A.J. Hoggard (10.9). McGlockton is the top rebounder (8.1 average), and Hoggard averages the most assists (4.1).

While the Horned Frogs led the nation in fast-break points the past two seasons, they're currently ranked 31st at 15.9 points per game. Against Xavier, TCU racked up 19 fast-break points for a positive development, and coach Jamie Dixon wants more.

"We haven't been running well enough, and that's something we've emphasized," Dixon said. "There's not a list of just two or three things to improve on. We're just not where we need to be, but at this time, probably, most teams aren't."

The Horned Frogs led Xavier for most of the game, surrendered the lead in the second half and had to rally late for the win. TCU got a solid, all-around game from leading scorer Frankie Collins. The senior guard led the Horned Frogs with 16 points, seven rebounds and five assists. He averages team bests in points (11.9), assists (4.1) and steals (1.9) per game.

Brenden Wenzel battled illness the past two games and missed practice, yet he came off the bench and scored 15 points for TCU. The Horned Frogs allowed the Musketeers to shoot 48.3 percent (28 of 58) from the field, but forced 15 turnovers, 13 of which were steals.

"Normally teams shoot 48 or 49 percent against us and they win," Dixon said. "We forced turnovers to make up for the field-goal percentage not being where it needs to be."

--Field Level Media