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MWC Preview: TCU Horned Frogs
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This is the 2nd edition in a 9-part series of MWC basketball previews. For previous editions click the links below.
08-09 Recap and Accolades: 14-17 (5-11) TCU had an up-and-down conference season in ‘07-’08 as they began conference play 4-1 and ended 5-11. There was no postseason for TCU despite the play of big man Zvonko Buljan, who was voted newcomer of the year. Kevin Langford made the all-conference second team, but was the only Horned Frog to make any of the all-conference teams, as Buljan was only an honorable mention.
What they lost: TCU may have lost the least out of all MWC teams. Langford was the Frogs’ leading scorer last year averaging 13.9 per game, but was the team’s only big loss. Jason Ebie was a starter, but his loss shouldn’t affect the team terribly.
What they didn’t lose: Buljan, G Edvinas Ruzgas and G Ronnie Moss all averaged at least 10 points per game last year and will all return to the starting lineup. Guard Keion Mitchem will most likely make his way into the starting lineup this season, after averaging 5.7 points per game off the bench last year. With so many returning impact players it seems strange to have the Horned Frogs picked to finish 7th in the conference, but that just shows the depth of the Mountain West. The battle for sixth place in the conference may ultimately come down to who plays better between last year’s freshman of the year, Wyoming’s Afam Moujeke, and newcomer of the year, Zvonko Buljan.
What’s new: TCU has a difficult time stealing in-state recruits from bigger schools, so not only have they decided to go out of state, they have gone out of the country. Nikola Cerina is a 6-9 forward coming out of Nikola Tesla Secondary School in Topola Oplenac Serbia. Cerina averaged 14 points and 8.5 rebounds per game at his school and will spend most of his time learning from Buljan. Cheick Kone played at a junior college in Texas last year, but is originally from Mali, Africa. At 6-10, Kone is the only true center on the team and has excelled in shot blocking.
Junior guard Greg Hill transfers to TCU from Midland College in Gary, Indiana where he spent two years and led his region in three-point shooting his senior year. Hill was also a teammate of guard Ronnie Moss at Bridgton Academy in ’06-’07.
Xavier Roberson and Garlon Green are the two big freshmen to play for Jim Christian this year. Roberson is a 6-2 guard who played at the Mississippi Elite Christian Academy where he averaged 17.5 points, 7 assists, 6 rebounds, and 3 steals per game as a senior. Garlon Green comes out of Hightower High School in Houston and was named the 12th best player in the state of Texas by texashoops.com. Garlon is the brother of former first-round NBA draft pick Gerald Green, who currently plays for the Dallas Mavericks.
Schedule notes: TCU will join in the Preseason NIT this season which includes teams such as Duke, UConn, LSU and Arizona State in the field of 16. TCU is the 7th seed and takes on Cal State Northridge in the first round. If TCU wins they will then take on the winner of Arizona State and Texas State. Other notable opponents include Nebraska, Texas Tech and Houston.
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