TCU Basketball: 3 takeaways from blowout win versus USC
TCU Basketball absolutely demolished USC in the Hall of Fame Classic, dismantling the Trojans from the opening tipoff.
Despite being 6-1 through their first seven games, the TCU Horned Frogs had struggled to find an identity early on in non-conference play.
Those struggles were just about erased on Friday night, as the Horned Frogs destroyed USC by the score of 96-61.
The game was played at Staples Center in Los Angeles as a part of a triple header, with New Mexico and Saint Mary’s playing in the first game, and Nevada and Arizona State playing in the final game.
While Nevada will get all the attention from overcoming a 15-point deficit to keep their undefeated season alive, the Horned Frogs certainly deserve quite some credit after their beatdown of USC.
Alex Robinson led the way with 15 points and eight assists in 28 minutes, however it was more of an all-around team effort for TCU, who scored a season-high 96 points on the Trojans.
Six Horned Frogs scored double-digits, including all five starters. For a team that has struggled to catch fire consistently from the field, TCU certainly looked like a real threat on Friday night, proving their danger when everything is clicking.
The Horned Frogs have now won their fourth game in a row following their only loss of the season to Lipscomb. Here are three takeaways from the win.
TCU’s guards are (very) good
The only two players that TCU lost from last season were perhaps their two best players in forwards Kenrich Williams and Vladimir Brodziansky.
The guards were expected to step it up this season, and to this point, they had done just enough. Friday night, however, was more than enough.
Desmond Bane, Jaylen Fisher and Alex Robinson combined for 41 points and 16 assists, with each player turning the ball over just once.
Fisher, who had missed just about all of November with a knee injury, looks to be back in full form, as the junior point guard scored 15 points, all on three pointers.
The highest-ranked recruit in school history, Fisher finally has molded into the premier scorer that many expected him to be coming out of high school. As conference play looms, Fisher will look to become even more of a force on the offensive side of the ball.
Robinson, the nations leading assister, added 15 of his own points, as well as a team-leading eight assists and four steals. Robinson’s production in non-conference play has suddenly made him a dark horse candidate for Big 12 Player of the Year.
TCU was never thin at guard going into the season, but the guard position has emerged as a serious strength for the Horned Frogs. Friday’s masterpiece just about summed up how excellent the guard play has been, and should continue to be for TCU.