BYU Cougars @ TCU Horned Frogs Basketball Recap

BYU 79, TCU 56

And now, the Pride of Provo, Utah, is just one game away from the rematch that all college basketball junkies are craving.

The eighth-ranked Brigham Young Cougars defeated the Texas Christian Horned Frogs in front of the third-largest crowd ever at Daniel-Meyer Coliseum in Fort Worth, Texas on Saturday afternoon. The win kept BYU knotted with San Diego State atop the Mountain West Conference standings at 11-1. The loss dropped TCU to just 1-12 in conference play.  

Yes, it’s true that the Cougars and those San Diego State Aztecs will meet next Saturday in a matchup of top 10 programs. However, BYU must first deal with Colorado State in a midweek matchup before tackling Los Aztecs. The value of this triumph over TCU was simply that it brought BYU one step closer to SDSU without slipping on the proverbial banana peel.

Hoopheads are aware of the magnitude of the San Diego State game. With Texas, Kansas and Pittsburgh losing in the past week, the race for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament is becoming more wide-open in nature, not less. BYU and San Diego State both have a shot at a top seed, so they both need to enter next Saturday’s game without any extra stumbles. San Diego State (which does not play a midweek game this upcoming week) has already achieved that goal; BYU is now just one win away from doing likewise.

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While this game was played in the Lone Star State, the crowd was decidedly pro-BYU in its makeup. It wasn’t disappointed. The Cougars jumped on the overwhelmed Horned Frogs from the opening tip and never trailed. All-American Jimmer Fredette struggled from the field, shooting just 6-of-16 on the day. Despite an off performance, his 23 points were a game-high. Head coach Dave Rose’s Cougars were lifted by terrific play from reserve Stephen Rogers, who contributed 15 points on 4-of-6 shooting in just 15 minutes of action. BYU’s ability to get the free-throw line and connect from distance were the difference-makers in this clash between two of the football powers in the soon-to-change Mountain West. The Cougars made 21 more free throws than the Horned Frogs and connected on six more three-pointers.

J.R. Cadot was a lone bright spot for head coach Jim Christian’s Horned Frogs. Cadot scored 17 points, grabbed 9 rebounds, and at times gave BYU’s front court problems with his athleticism and dexterity near the tin. However, those skills weren’t half as imposing as the gifts possessed by Brigham Young, a team whose national branding and Mormon identity will bring lots of friendly fans to almost any arena in the United States, a fact that was proven on a Saturday when a road game really wasn’t so hostile to begin with.

By: Matt Zemek
DFN Sports Senior Staff Writer