TCU Basketball: The key to the Horned Frogs’ defensive improvement
An under the radar player on an under the radar team, Kevin Samuel has been key to TCU Basketball’s defensive improvement this season.
Samuel is a 6-11 freshman from Houston Texas and a Barbuda native. The 4-star recruit redshirted last season and is making the most of his 19.8 minutes per game.
TCU had one of the better offenses in the nation in 2017-18, (9th per KenPom) but their 100th ranked defense limited the Horned Frogs, who fell to Syracuse in the Round of 64.
So far this season, however, things have been different. The offense is still solid at 31st in the country, but the defense has shot all the way up from 100th to 26th.
I believe Samuel has been key to improving TCU’s Defensive 2P% and Block Rate, and thus the defense as a whole.
At 6-11, Samuel has provided a defensive presence down low the Horned Frogs haven’t had in prior seasons. He’s 52nd in the nation with an 8.8% block percentage (next highest block percentages on the roster are 2.8% and 2.3%). Samuel’s combination of size and versatility are solid ingredients for a shot blocker.
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The Horned Frogs are much more balanced this season, and this should bode well in the long run. But although Samuel has been a big part of the defensive improvement, his interior presence has been felt on the offensive end as well.
Samuel is 18th in the nation with a 15.3% Offensive Rebound percentage, and he’s converted at a high rate when he’s gotten his hands on the ball. The freshman is 6th overall in 2-point FG% at 76.3% (45-59 FG’s made).
Samuel is far from a finished product. Although he’s defended well around the basket, his 5.9 Fouls per 40 minutes have put him in some foul trouble. He’s also been a bit turnover prone, with a 27.8% turnover rate (among the highest on team).
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But the numbers speak for themselves. Samuel has provided an interior presence that has clearly helped the Horned Frogs, particularly on the defensive end. It will be interesting to monitor his minutes once TCU enters Big 12 play.