Oklahoma State University Athletics
Saturday, January 2
Stillwater, OK
3 p.m.
Oklahoma State University
vs
TCU
Rim Protection Key Heading Into Saturday's Big 12 Opener Against TCU
January 01, 2016 | Cowboy Basketball
STILLWATER – Without a true go-to scorer, the Oklahoma State coaching staff has preached great team defense starting at the rim. That's exactly what the Cowboys got against UMKC, and what they'll need to continue doing as Big 12 play begins Saturday against TCU.
OSU (8-4, 0-0 Big 12) center Anthony Allen blocked six Kangaroo shots, including two in the opening two minutes of the game, which changed the way UMKC had to attack the Cowboy defense.
That kind of rim protection means the OSU point guards and wings can be more aggressive, and the results are just 43 points allowed to a team that fielded the Western Athletic Conference Player of the Year.
The UMKC game isn't an isolated case. The Cowboys are 7-1 when blocking at least four shots as a team, and 1-3 when they don't. Look for rim protection to continue to be a key as the Cowboys head into Big 12 play.
Game Center
• Opponent: TCU Horned Frogs (8-4, 0-0 Big 12)
• Date: Jan. 2, 2016
• Tipoff: 3 p.m. Central
• Tickets: okstate.com/tickets or toll-free 877-ALL-4-OSU
• TV: ESPNews (Dave Lamont & Bryndon Manzer)
• Radio: Cowboy Radio Network (Dave Hunziker & John Holcomb)
• Satellite Radio: Sirius 145, XM 199
• Internet Radio: http://okla.st/osutunein
• Live Stats: okstate.statbroadcast.com
• OSU Game Notes
The Basics
• Oklahoma State (8-4 overall; 0-0 Big 12) enters the 20th season of Big 12 play against TCU (8-4, 0-0 Big 12) on the heels of a great birthday present for Cowboy head coach Travis Ford - a standout defensive performance in a 61-43 win over UMKC on Tuesday.
On the Air
• ESPNews will have all the action between the Cowboys and Horned Frogs. Dave Lamont and former Cowboy guard Bryndon Manzer will have the call from Gallagher-Iba Arena. As always, the game can be heard on the Cowboy Radio Network with Dave Hunziker and John Holcomb.
Inside the Series with TCU
• The Cowboys lead the series with TCU, 22-3, including wins 11 of the last 12 meetings. Last season's 70-55 loss at TCU snapped OSU's 10-game win streak over the Horned Frogs.
• The Cowboys are 7-1 all-time in Stillwater against TCU. The lone Frogs victory in Stillwater was a 37-16 win on Jan. 30, 1925. OSU has never lost to TCU in Gallagher-Iba Arena (5-0).
• The Cowboys are 12-7 all-time in Big 12 openers, including last season's 61-47 win over K-State in Gallagher-Iba Arena. OSU is 9-1 when it opens Big 12 play at home. OSU had opened Big 12 play against either K-State or Texas Tech in each of the last six seasons.
• The Cowboys are 427-469 (.477) all-time against current members of the Big 12, including a 57-55 (.509) mark in the Travis Ford era. OSU is 174-138 (.558) in Big 12 Conference games (60-60 in the Ford era).
TCU From A Distance
• The Horned Frogs enter Saturday's matchup at Gallagher-Iba Arena riding a four-game win streak, including a 75-47 win over Delaware State at home on Monday night. Karviar Shepherd paved the way for TCU with 15 points and a career-high 19 rebounds, and the Frogs held DSU to 31.3 percent shooting on the night. Chauncey Collins and Malique Trent both had 12 points, while Brandon Parrish tallied 10.
• The Frogs have held their last two opponents under 50 points, and now rank 59th nationally in scoring defense. On the year, TCU is holding teams to 64.8 points. TCU ranks 71st nationally in three point field goal defense (30.9 percent), while their 4.5 blocks per game rank 84th.
• TCU knows how to get to the free throw line. The Frogs lead the Big 12 and rank 26th in the country with 320 free throw attempts, while their 216 makes also lead the league and rank 49th in the NCAA.
• Vladimir Brodziansky is one of the Big 12's most skilled forwards. The sophomore leads the Frogs in scoring at 13.9 points per game on 60.7 percent shooting, which ranks third in the conference and 23rd in the country.
• TCU's home facility, the Ed and Rae Schollmaier Arena, recently received a $72 million renovation. The interior has a lower playing surface to increase courtside seating, as well as wider concourses, new concession stands, restrooms and courtside club lounge. The facility also includes the new TCU Athletic Hall of Fame and offices for the athletics administrative staff as well as coaches in various sports.
• Head coach Trent Johnson is in his fourth season at the helm in Fort Worth, and his 16th overall as a head coach. He has been named Coach of the Year in three different conference (2003 WAC, 2008 Pac-10 and 2009 SEC) and has over 270 victories to his credit. Johnson has made five trips to the NCAA, including a run to the Sweet 16 a Stanford in 2008.
Oklahoma State From a Distance
• Tuesday's final non-conference home game of the season saw one of the best defensive efforts by the Cowboys in years. OSU held UMKC to 43 points, which are the fewest allowed by the Cowboys since beating Utah Valley 93-40 on Nov. 12, 2013. The Roos scored 18 first-half points, which are the fewest allowed by the Cowboys since holding South Carolina to 15 on Dec. 6, 2013. Anthony Allen blocked 6 shots, which ties his career high and ties for the 11th best outing in program history.
• The Cowboys field a solid defensive unit that ranks 40th nationally in field goal percentage defense (38.7 percent) and 35th in the country in scoring defense at 63.5 points allowed per game. OSU's interior defense ranks 39th in the country with 5.3 blocked shots per game.
• Freshman Jawun Evans continues to make strides - and spectacular no-look passes - as the Cowboy point guard. Evans was named the Big 12 Newcomer of the Week after racking up a game-high 17 points to go with a career-high seven rebounds against the Gators. The Dallas native tallied five assists in the game, and now ranks sixth in the Big 12 with 4.42 assists per game.
• Three of OSU's four losses this season have been by three points or less, including the team's last two losses which came at the hands of Florida and Missouri State.
• OSU has a knack for getting to the free throw line, and making opponents pay from the charity stripe. The Cowboys rank fourth in the Big 12 in total free throws made (206) and lead the league and rank 26th nationally with a free throw mark of 74.6 percent. Jeff Newberry leads the OSU efforts from the free throw line. At 46-of-52 (.868), Newberry ranks fifth in the league.
• Senior Phil Forte injured his elbow in the first half of the win over Towson, which snapped his streak of consecutive games played at 102. The senior hadn't missed a single game in his career up to that point. Forte was a Preseason All-Big 12 Honorable Mention honoree, and needs just 55 three-pointers to tie Keiton Page (2008-12) for the school record.
• Head coach Travis Ford enters his eighth season with the Cowboys, and ranks third in school history in both total wins (151) and win percentage (61.3 percent). Ford ranks behind only Eddie Sutton and Mr. Henry Iba in both categories.
OSU (8-4, 0-0 Big 12) center Anthony Allen blocked six Kangaroo shots, including two in the opening two minutes of the game, which changed the way UMKC had to attack the Cowboy defense.
That kind of rim protection means the OSU point guards and wings can be more aggressive, and the results are just 43 points allowed to a team that fielded the Western Athletic Conference Player of the Year.
The UMKC game isn't an isolated case. The Cowboys are 7-1 when blocking at least four shots as a team, and 1-3 when they don't. Look for rim protection to continue to be a key as the Cowboys head into Big 12 play.
Game Center
• Opponent: TCU Horned Frogs (8-4, 0-0 Big 12)
• Date: Jan. 2, 2016
• Tipoff: 3 p.m. Central
• Tickets: okstate.com/tickets or toll-free 877-ALL-4-OSU
• TV: ESPNews (Dave Lamont & Bryndon Manzer)
• Radio: Cowboy Radio Network (Dave Hunziker & John Holcomb)
• Satellite Radio: Sirius 145, XM 199
• Internet Radio: http://okla.st/osutunein
• Live Stats: okstate.statbroadcast.com
• OSU Game Notes
The Basics
• Oklahoma State (8-4 overall; 0-0 Big 12) enters the 20th season of Big 12 play against TCU (8-4, 0-0 Big 12) on the heels of a great birthday present for Cowboy head coach Travis Ford - a standout defensive performance in a 61-43 win over UMKC on Tuesday.
On the Air
• ESPNews will have all the action between the Cowboys and Horned Frogs. Dave Lamont and former Cowboy guard Bryndon Manzer will have the call from Gallagher-Iba Arena. As always, the game can be heard on the Cowboy Radio Network with Dave Hunziker and John Holcomb.
Inside the Series with TCU
• The Cowboys lead the series with TCU, 22-3, including wins 11 of the last 12 meetings. Last season's 70-55 loss at TCU snapped OSU's 10-game win streak over the Horned Frogs.
• The Cowboys are 7-1 all-time in Stillwater against TCU. The lone Frogs victory in Stillwater was a 37-16 win on Jan. 30, 1925. OSU has never lost to TCU in Gallagher-Iba Arena (5-0).
• The Cowboys are 12-7 all-time in Big 12 openers, including last season's 61-47 win over K-State in Gallagher-Iba Arena. OSU is 9-1 when it opens Big 12 play at home. OSU had opened Big 12 play against either K-State or Texas Tech in each of the last six seasons.
• The Cowboys are 427-469 (.477) all-time against current members of the Big 12, including a 57-55 (.509) mark in the Travis Ford era. OSU is 174-138 (.558) in Big 12 Conference games (60-60 in the Ford era).
TCU From A Distance
• The Horned Frogs enter Saturday's matchup at Gallagher-Iba Arena riding a four-game win streak, including a 75-47 win over Delaware State at home on Monday night. Karviar Shepherd paved the way for TCU with 15 points and a career-high 19 rebounds, and the Frogs held DSU to 31.3 percent shooting on the night. Chauncey Collins and Malique Trent both had 12 points, while Brandon Parrish tallied 10.
• The Frogs have held their last two opponents under 50 points, and now rank 59th nationally in scoring defense. On the year, TCU is holding teams to 64.8 points. TCU ranks 71st nationally in three point field goal defense (30.9 percent), while their 4.5 blocks per game rank 84th.
• TCU knows how to get to the free throw line. The Frogs lead the Big 12 and rank 26th in the country with 320 free throw attempts, while their 216 makes also lead the league and rank 49th in the NCAA.
• Vladimir Brodziansky is one of the Big 12's most skilled forwards. The sophomore leads the Frogs in scoring at 13.9 points per game on 60.7 percent shooting, which ranks third in the conference and 23rd in the country.
• TCU's home facility, the Ed and Rae Schollmaier Arena, recently received a $72 million renovation. The interior has a lower playing surface to increase courtside seating, as well as wider concourses, new concession stands, restrooms and courtside club lounge. The facility also includes the new TCU Athletic Hall of Fame and offices for the athletics administrative staff as well as coaches in various sports.
• Head coach Trent Johnson is in his fourth season at the helm in Fort Worth, and his 16th overall as a head coach. He has been named Coach of the Year in three different conference (2003 WAC, 2008 Pac-10 and 2009 SEC) and has over 270 victories to his credit. Johnson has made five trips to the NCAA, including a run to the Sweet 16 a Stanford in 2008.
Oklahoma State From a Distance
• Tuesday's final non-conference home game of the season saw one of the best defensive efforts by the Cowboys in years. OSU held UMKC to 43 points, which are the fewest allowed by the Cowboys since beating Utah Valley 93-40 on Nov. 12, 2013. The Roos scored 18 first-half points, which are the fewest allowed by the Cowboys since holding South Carolina to 15 on Dec. 6, 2013. Anthony Allen blocked 6 shots, which ties his career high and ties for the 11th best outing in program history.
• The Cowboys field a solid defensive unit that ranks 40th nationally in field goal percentage defense (38.7 percent) and 35th in the country in scoring defense at 63.5 points allowed per game. OSU's interior defense ranks 39th in the country with 5.3 blocked shots per game.
• Freshman Jawun Evans continues to make strides - and spectacular no-look passes - as the Cowboy point guard. Evans was named the Big 12 Newcomer of the Week after racking up a game-high 17 points to go with a career-high seven rebounds against the Gators. The Dallas native tallied five assists in the game, and now ranks sixth in the Big 12 with 4.42 assists per game.
• Three of OSU's four losses this season have been by three points or less, including the team's last two losses which came at the hands of Florida and Missouri State.
• OSU has a knack for getting to the free throw line, and making opponents pay from the charity stripe. The Cowboys rank fourth in the Big 12 in total free throws made (206) and lead the league and rank 26th nationally with a free throw mark of 74.6 percent. Jeff Newberry leads the OSU efforts from the free throw line. At 46-of-52 (.868), Newberry ranks fifth in the league.
• Senior Phil Forte injured his elbow in the first half of the win over Towson, which snapped his streak of consecutive games played at 102. The senior hadn't missed a single game in his career up to that point. Forte was a Preseason All-Big 12 Honorable Mention honoree, and needs just 55 three-pointers to tie Keiton Page (2008-12) for the school record.
• Head coach Travis Ford enters his eighth season with the Cowboys, and ranks third in school history in both total wins (151) and win percentage (61.3 percent). Ford ranks behind only Eddie Sutton and Mr. Henry Iba in both categories.
Players Mentioned
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