I thought TCU was a very average team when I watched them earlier in the year. Since then, they have really gelled as a team and are playing great. I studied TCU’s last three games against Texas A&M-Commerce, at (then) #2 Kansas and vs. #9 Oklahoma.

This will be one of the most athletic teams UH has faced this year.

the daily #161 | 1/12/2024 | Archives
 

TCU Overview

Head coach Jamie Dixon has a very dangerous team this year at TCU. Dixon plays ten guys in the rotation, and all 10 are transfers. They lost by two at Kansas and smoked Oklahoma Wednesday night. They are not the great defensive team Iowa State was, but they have several guys who can get buckets on offense.

Emanuel Miller is the “Head of the Snake.” He is a legit three-level scoring forward with a very high motor. He doesn’t always look like the most skilled player, but he has a knack for putting the ball in the basket. He is extremely athletic and is very good at attacking the rim. The Coogs must find a way to keep him and his friends out of the paint.

The Horned Frogs have a few guys capable of making the three, but as a team, they prefer to get to the rim and draw fouls. UH will have to defend the paint incredibly well without fouling. They are the best team in the nation in transition offense and playing fast. UH loves to tip the ball out for offensive rebound opportunities. It will be crucial to secure those offensive rebounds, or TCU will be off to the races.

Houston is the better team in this game, but we all know how difficult it is to win on the road, especially in this conference. This will be a crazy atmosphere for a team on the rise. Houston must start better in this one than they did at Iowa State because TCU is a team that feeds off energy. Oklahoma discovered that it’s hard to make a comeback when you are down against them. Coach Sampson and his staff will have the Coogs ready to go, and I expect a big bounce-back for UH in this game!

TCU Offense

• They are ranked #15 nationally in scoring offense at 85ppg. Houston is ranked #1 nationally in scoring defense at 50ppg. Something will have to give!
• TCU loves to run in transition. They lead the nation with 23.8 fastbreak points per game. How good is that? No other team averages over 20.
• Their transition offense is great: Micah Peavy likes to leak out for fast-break dunk opportunities. Emanuel Miller, Avery Anderson, and Jameer Nelson Jr. love to attack the rim until they are stopped. Trevian Tennyson loves to shoot the three in transition. Their bigs will rim-run in transition.
• They are trying to get to the rim! 50.4% of their shots are at the rim. They shoot 49.26% from the field. Will the Coogs attempt to play zone defense for the first time this year?
• They do a great job of moving the ball (#8 in NCAA in assists/game). Coogs will have to communicate defensively better than at Iowa State.
• They have great depth. Their bench averages 30ppg (9th best in the NCAA).
• Not a great three-point shooting team (exceptions are Tennyson and Miller)

TCU Defense

• Primarily play halfcourt man-to-man. They like to “blitz” (double team) the guards on the pick and roll (very similar to Houston).
• Ranked eighth nationally in steals per game (10.7 spg). Houston must take better care of the ball than they did at ISU. As Kelvin Sampson said Thursday, no live ball turnovers. He’d rather them throw it at the tuba guy. Live ball turnovers will give them transition opportunities. (TCU had 25 points off of turnovers against Oklahoma)
• Struggle defending the drive; UH must attack the paint! (TCU allowed 42 points in the paint vs Kansas and 34 points in the paint vs Oklahoma)
• Nowhere near as disciplined defensively as Iowa State. TCU is ranked #97 nationally in scoring defense, whereas Iowa State is ranked fifth.
• May try some 1-2-2 fullcourt zone presses (Especially after made FTs).
• May try some fullcourt man-to-man.
• May try some halfcourt 1-3-1 or 2-3 zone.

Ja’Vier Francis must put two halves together, and, according to Kellen Sampson, J’Wan Roberts needs to get 10 FG attempts (and needs that every game going forward). And the Cougar bench must play better so they can play more. Houston can’t afford for Jamal Shead to play 37 minutes like he did against the Cyclones, and J’Wan Roberts can’t play 36.