Vanderbilt Men’s Basketball will hit the road for the second time this week, heading to Fort Worth, Texas, to take on the TCU Horned Frogs in the USLBM Coast to Coast Challenge. Head coach Mark Byington and his squad will look to snag their ninth victory of the season, which would tie Vanderbilt’s 2023 win total. TCU, despite sitting 15 spots below Vanderbilt at No. 80 in KenPom’s rankings, is favored by ESPN.
The ‘Dores haven’t faced the Horned Frogs since 2018 when they notched a three-point victory thanks to a stellar performance from program legend Riley LaChance. Vanderbilt has won five of its six all-time matchups against TCU and has not lost since 1952. It’ll look to keep this streak alive on Dec. 8.
The Commodores’ last win came earlier this week against Virginia Tech, when they went on the road and held the Hokies to a 38.3% field goal percentage. Jason Edwards and MJ Collins Jr. were cornerstones for the Commodores, pouring in a combined 34 points.
Meanwhile, TCU is coming off a narrow victory at home versus Xavier. The Horned Frogs used 27 points off the bench and 13 steals to their advantage.
Byington will have to hone in on these key areas if he wants to improve to 3-0 against Power Four teams in 2024.
Pouring in points
In terms of point production, Vanderbilt has what TCU does not: Jason Edwards. The standout junior averages 18.2 points per game, 7.2 points more than the team’s second-leading scorer (Devin McGlockton) and has attempted 31 more shots than any other Commodore. The Horned Frogs’ closest competitor is Frankie Collins, who matches McGlockton’s 11.0 average. Vanderbilt also boasts a team average of 83.6 points per game — TCU checks in far behind at 68.3.
Vanderbilt is also 32nd in the country in bench points per game at 32.3. Edwards (19) and Collins Jr. (15) were the leading scorers in Vanderbilt’s win at Cassell Coliseum on Dec. 4, and neither player started. TCU ranks 129th in comparison, getting 25.5 points per contest from its bench. The Horned Frogs often rely more on starters like Collins and Trazarien White to contribute scoring.
Controlling the boards
The Hokies, despite the Commodores’ decisive double-digit victory, outrebounded Vanderbilt 37-27. Vanderbilt may have made up for it by shooting 52.7% from the field, but it cannot expect to keep winning if it doesn’t crash the boards. Its rebound margin is dead even at 0 — 236th in the country.
Vanderbilt has been outrebounded in six of its eight matchups — Cal, Jackson State, Nevada, Seton Hall, Drake and Virginia Tech — and thrice by double digits. The Black and Gold will have to look out for TCU’s top rebounder, Ernest Udeh Jr. (8.5 boards per game) and quash the TCU’s rebound game if it wants to control this game.
Matter of inches
Vanderbilt doesn’t have designated “bigs” — every player on its roster is listed as a point guard — and TCU has the advantage when it comes to height. Jaylen Carey (6’8) and McGlockton (6’7) are the tallest Commodores on the team and have played as the team’s de facto centers so far this season.
Udeh Jr. (6’11) is a towering presence at center for the Horned Frogs. The Florida native has clocked in for an average of 27.0 minutes per game, and ranks 88th in Division I in defensive rebounds percentage (24.2%); Vanderbilt will have to work hard to keep the ball out of his hands. Carey and McGlockton will have to step up to limit Udeh Jr.’s control of the glass.
Vanderbilt will face TCU at Dickies Arena on Sunday, Dec. 8 with tipoff scheduled for 11:30 a.m. CST.
