(Photo/Gregg Ellman )
FORT WORTH, TX – TCU (9-3) will host No. 2 Baylor (10-0) Saturday in Schollmaier Arena at 2 p.m. The Horned Frogs are looking to bounce back from a 93-64 loss to No. 6 Kansas earlier this week.
TCU is coming off a disappointing performance against the Jayhawks. They were outshock 56.5 percent to 42.9 percent. They were also out rebounded 41 to 20.
RJ Nembhard has led the way for TCU, he averages 18.2 points per game. He is accompanied by Mike Miles and Kevin Samuel. Miles is averaging 13.6 points per game and Samuel is averaging almost a double-double, 10 points per game and 9.3 rebounds per game. In the matchup between Kansas, Miles had 0 points and Samuel came up empty on the boards, ending the night with 0 rebounds.
Baylor is looking for their eleventh straight win on Saturday against TCU, they are undefeated on the season and ranked No. 2 in the country. The Bears are led by the trifecta of guards, Macio Teague averages 16 points per game, Jared Butler averages 15.2 points per game, and Davion Mitchell averages 11.6 points per game.
The Bears have a very wide range of offense. Their last matchup against Oklahoma, nine players got on the board, three of which were in double-figures. TCU needs to look out for Butler and his three-point shooting ability and almost perfect free throw shooting. He is shooting 42 percent from beyond the arc and 80.2 percent from the freethrow line.
Their defense is one of the best in the country, the Bears are holding their opponents to 62.4 points per game. Baylor’s defense has forced their opponents to turn the ball over 26.3 percent of the time. Along with putting pressure on the ball they are a force under the glass due to Jonatha Tchamwa-Tchatchoua’s 7.6 rebounds per game.
TCU’s defense will have to turn it up a notch and shut down the triple threat the Bears have with their three guards. The Horned Frogs will need to limit their scoring as they are all averaging in the double-figures. Samuel will need to body Tchamwa-Tchatchoua under the basket and fight for the boards.
Nembhard and Miles need to show up prepared to shoot the ball well and take the ball to the rim. TCU’s offene is going to be tested with Baylor’s high pressure on the ball. TCU will have to take care of the ball and not create turnovers.
Baylor beat TCU last year in both matchups, but the games were closer than what was expected.
The Bears won by 16 on February 1 and won by three on February 29.
TCU is looking to change that Saturday.
