TCU looks to improve passing game vs. BYU

TCU wants to make more passes while BYU wants to make more shots when the teams square off on Saturday in Fort Worth, Texas.

TCU (8-6, 1-2 Big 12) lost at Houston 65-46 on Monday, while BYU (10-4, 1-2) lost at home to Texas Tech 72-67 on Tuesday.

Horned Frogs coach Jamie Dixon isn't pushing the panic button over their two recent road setbacks, which include a 90-81 loss to Arizona on Dec. 30. Instead, he has TCU focused on the extra pass on offense. TCU had just four assists on 23 made shots against Houston.

Rather than over-penetrating in to help defenders, Dixon wants the Horned Frogs to focus on ball movement and forcing the defense to scramble to cover an additional pass to an open shooter.

"The ‘one more' play is what we talked about," Dixon said. "We've lost on the road to Arizona and Houston. Between the two of them they probably had ten home losses over the last decade. We aren't going to overreact. We are going to get better because of it."

Noah Reynolds leads TCU in scoring at 11.8 points per game. Since he moved into the starting lineup, Vasean Allette (10.9 ppg) has scored in double figures in five straight games.

As the Cougars also search for an elusive road victory in the early portion of the Big 12 schedule, BYU coach Kevin Young said players have to knock down shots. The Cougars shot 21.7 percent (5 of 23) from 3-point range in the loss to Texas Tech.

Richie Saunders leads the four Cougars who average double figures in scoring at 12.9 ppg.

"We've got to make shots, No. 1, that's a huge part of any game," Young said. "We are a pace and ball movement type team, and you've got to be able to make shots. On the road you've got to be able to dig into the details much more which we have not done.

"This will be a really good opportunity to lick our wounds and go out and do it on the road. I've got a locker room full of great guys that want to do the right things, and I look forward to their response as we try to go get the first one on the road."

--Field Level Media