FORT WORTH – No one, not even the coach, had any objections to the torrential downpour of made 3-pointers TCU used to flood the visitors on Tuesday night in a 98-65 victory at Schollmaier Arena.
The Horned Frogs’ 18 made 3-pointers against short-handed Louisiana will go in the record books as a school best, eclipsing the mark of 17 set twice, in 1999 against Grambling State and 2008 against UNLV.
Six Frogs scored in double-figures, including Desmond Bane, who had a game-high 25 points on a career-high seven 3-pointers. As a team, TCU shot 47% from 3, including 57% in the first half.
Even with those record-book numbers, Jamie Dixon would be even more pleased if sometime soon a wing defender emerged.
“We’ve got a lot of guys – when I say ‘a lot,’ almost all – who are strictly offensive minded,” Dixon said. “We’re looking for that wing defender, the guy we know will make it hard for people to get baskets. That [person] is still to be decided.”
RJ Nembhard, the redshirt sophomore from Keller, had a career high in points, 16, against the Ragin’ Cajuns, but he could be TCU’s most valuable asset this season if he could emerge as that defender Dixon and staff are looking for.
There are certainly other candidates. Jaire Grayer, a graduate transfer, and freshman Diante Smith, who didn’t play because of a leg injury, are two.
“He is better. He should be better. That’s what they’re supposed to do,” Dixon said of Nembhard’s game. “The biggest challenge for guys when they come here is recognizing they have to get better. You can’t be the same guy you were in high school. Can’t play the same way. It’s great what you did, but it’s all in the past. He’s had a good off-season. He’s worked hard, he’s been in the gym.
“He needs to become a great defender for us and that’s a work in progress.”
Defense hasn’t been a highlight through TCU’s first two games, both victories. They’ve forced 20 turnovers in each, but that doesn’t tell all.
Like Southwestern, Louisiana spread the floor and hurt the Frogs with 3-pointers of its own in the first half. The Ragin’ Cajuns confounded TCU with matchup advantages, namely top scorer Jalen Johnson, a big man who can shoot it from 20 feet, forcing Frogs big Kevin Samuel to guard him on the perimeter. Louisiana led 27-21 at the 11-minute mark.
TCU began to adjust in the middle of the first 20 minutes.
Samuel, who had a second double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds (and six blocked shots) and Nembhard both got hands on shots, spurring what became a 31-11 TCU run that erased the deficit and put the Frogs in control.
Between Louisiana unforced errors and TCU’s defense, the Rajin’ Cajuns turned the ball over 11 times in the last 11 minutes. Depth probably became a topic on the Louisiana bench. Louisiana played only eight, with four total reserves, because of a suspension and injuries.
“We let guys get some open ones early and confidence builds,” Dixon said of Louisiana’s first 10 minutes of play. “It’s an issue. We’ve addressed it; we’ve got to fix it.”
Dixon noted he was most satisfied with how his team continued to guard in the last five or 10 minutes with the big lead.
Nembhard played 32 minutes, shooting 5 for 13 and 2 for 7 from 3-point range.
“Going into the season, [his focus was on not putting] so much pressure on myself,” Nembhard said. “Go out there and do what I can to help this program take the steps we want to take.
“If it’s needed, I can do it. I can score the ball, I can defend. I want to utilize my abilities on both ends to help this team win.”
If he can be that guy Dixon is looking for, he’ll be a reason TCU wins games in the Big 12.
(Photo: TCU Athletics)