TCU, still seeking identity, set for Alcorn State

Field Level Media|published: Tue 19th November, 07:32 2024

TCU Horned Frogs head coach Jamie Dixon talks to an official during NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament game against the Utah State Aggies, Friday, March 22, 2024, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Utah State Aggies won 88-72.

After suffering its first loss of the season Friday against Michigan, TCU will host Alcorn State Tuesday in Fort Worth, Texas, in their final contest before Thanksgiving.

TCU (3-1) was without junior center Ernest Udeh Jr. against the Wolverines, and his absence was felt. Udeh, the Horned Frogs' lone returning scholarship player, is averaging 8.0 points and 9.3 rebounds, which ranks fourth in the Big 12. TCU was outrebounded 41-29 in the 76-64 loss to Michigan after Udeh suffered a back injury in the prior game against Texas State.

The Horned Frogs, featuring six transfers and four freshmen, remain a work in progress. Guards Frankie Collins, a senior transfer from Arizona State, and Noah Reynolds, a senior transfer from Green Bay, are steering the ship for TCU, averaging a combined 19.3 points and 8.5 assists per game. Sophomore guard Vasean Allette, who played his freshman season at Old Dominion, is tied with Wyoming transfer Brendan Wenzel in averaging a team-leading 11.3 points per game.

The blending of new faces, including freshmen Micah Robinson and David Punch, requires a longer leash to achieve cohesion. The Horned Frogs would be better served by improving their proficiency at the free-throw line, where they are currently shooting a woeful 59.5 percent.

"We're still figuring ourselves out," TCU coach Jamie Dixon said.

"Whoever we're playing I'm going to be excited about it because I just want to get better."

Alcorn State (0-4), is coming off an 84-51 loss to Tulane on Nov. 11. This will mark the fifth of 13 nonconference road games for the Braves, who won't open their home schedule until Jan. 4 against Southwestern Athletic Conference foe Jackson State.

Daniel Braster and Omari Hamilton pace the Braves in scoring at 8.7 and 8.5 points per game, respectively.

TCU won the previous meeting between the teams 93-74 on Nov. 21, 2023. The Horned Frogs finished 32 of 39 from the line including a 20-for-21 showing from the stripe in the second half -- stats Dixon undoubtedly would like to repeat.

--Field Level Media