Well, I had to experience this game through the voice of Mark Finkner and Corky Oglesby, which is sometimes good and sometimes really irritating.  But at least we won.

My wish list for Tech-TCU was:

1. Win – Check
2. Limit TCU 3pt shooting – Check
3. Rebound – Check!
4. Limit turnovers – Kind of
5. Run the offense – Okay
6. Avoid getting mad at Corky – Not in the first half.  Better in the second.

Sleep-walking through the majority of the first half was pretty painful, illustrated by the 4-11 from the line which included missing the front end of all three one-and-one opportunities.  That was awesome, almost as awesome as Corky wailing after every TCU offensive rebound.  I think what bothered me most was a lack of defensive intensity.  TCU seemed to be able to execute its offense unmolested early, isolating Buljan for easy looks against Darko.  Pat Knight said he wanted to hold TCU under 68 points, but the Horned Frogs had 41 at halftime.

Finkner’s call on the D’Walyn dunk early in the second half was choice.  Pat rolled with Roberson, Singletary, Roberts, Reese, and Jenkins to start the second half.  Nice move, and as Pat said after the game, more athletic.  TCU went zone after Tech closed to within one.

We won the first five minutes of the second half, something like 12-4, and if you combine that with a 9-0 run to end the first half, that’s a pretty key 21-4 run to reset the game.  We traded baskets for the next ten minutes or so, and eventually stretched the lead to six and held on.  Really nice having a PG like Roberson who has the clutch FT gene (although he was bad in the first half, I know.) 

Overall, you have to be happy with this game.  Obviously you’d like to start the game with more intensity, but being able to D-up and hold your opponent to 29 second half points is nice.  Two stats that make the difference – you win the battle on the boards 42-28 and you hold the Frogs to 5-24 (20.8%) from the 3pt line.  Defense and rebounding can overcome sluggish play.

MVP: D’Walyn Roberts with 9 points, 16 rebounds (unofficial), and some blocks as well.

Co-MVP: All those Red Raider fans!  I heard multiple Raider-Power chants, and at one point with TCU on offense there was a very noticeable chant of DEFENSE!  Gotta love the Red Raider support in the Metroplex.

We get a week and half off now before another road test at Wichita State.  They should be better than TCU, so get ready to look at the next step.  I feel pretty good about our poise and confidence after tonight.  TCU came out crisp and hot, and to be able to regroup and earn the victory, that’s what good teams do.