TCU to unleash tenacious defense vs. Florida Gulf Coast
As TCU and Florida Gulf Coast players get to know each other after each team underwent drastic offseason changes, familiar trend lines have emerged as they prepare to face off Friday night in Fort Worth, Texas.
TCU (1-0) played its usual up-tempo game in a 105-59 season-opening win over Florida A&M on Monday. Six players scored in double figures for the Horned Frogs, led by sixth man Vasean Allette's 20-point outburst.
While the Horned Frogs had balanced scoring, coach Jamie Dixon was pleased they protected the ball while playing at a fast pace.
"A big emphasis for us is improving on turnovers," Dixon said. "We had 29 assists and six turnovers. That's a remarkable number. The assist number is a big part of who we are and who we are going to be."
The Horned Frogs used a 10-man rotation and held the Rattlers to 28.6 percent shooting from the field and 12.5 percent from 3-point range in the first half.
"There has to be constant intensity on defense," Dixon said. "We've got to be able to do that. We have a high standard because we play in the best league by far. This ain't the JV league, this is where the best basketball teams are. That's what it's become, they didn't plan it that way, but it's what's come about. We have to win these games by a good margin and get better as we are doing it."
Of the 12 newcomers on the FGCU roster, six are freshmen - a challenge Eagles coach Pat Chambers has embraced.
"I like having freshmen," Chambers said. "It's been a real joy to go back to my roots and teach foundational stuff."
FGCU (0-1) dropped its season opener at UNC Greensboro 73-64 on Monday. Keeshawn Kellman and Dallion Johnson each scored 15 points to lead the Eagles. FGCU trailed 44-30 at halftime yet rallied to tie the game at 59-59 with 3:54 left. However, an 11-0 UNCG run put the game out of reach.
Kellman, a sixth-year senior, got in better shape during the offseason. Last season, he was second in the nation in field-goal percentage (68.4) and shot 6-for-8 from the floor on Monday, including his only 3-point attempt.
"He can step outside and shoot the 3," Chambers said. "That's an element he's added."
