TCU 74, Mississippi State 81: Coming Up Short

TCU headed to Starkville to face Mississippi State and their massive lineup within the Large 12/SEC Problem with no Eddie Lampkin. TCU headed into the sport on a excessive, knocking off Kansas per week prior, adopted by a totally dominating win over an Oklahoma squad who would go on to do the identical to #2 Alabama in mentioned convention problem. Miss. State was on a 5 recreation skid, having dropped powerful contests to ranked opponents Alabama, Tennessee, and Auburn.

Nonetheless, the Frogs discovered themselves brief thrice thon Saturday. With out Lampkin, Jakoby Coles and Xavier Cork had been the primary programs of motion to attempt to suppress Tolu Smith, the looming large man for the Bulldogs and easily had been “too small” for the duty because the Smith constantly ate all afternoon lengthy in opposition to Coles, Cork, and your entire squad. Second, the Frogs discovered themselves much more shorthanded as Mike Miles suffered an harm early within the recreation that took him out for the rest of it (extra on that later), and lastly, TCU simply couldn’t sustain with Smith and squad by 45 minutes, developing brief in extra time as Mississippi State went on a run after TCU scored a simple first bucket simply seconds into the additional body.

First Half:

TCU knew that this matchup wasn’t superb for the squad, particularly lacking Eddie Lampkin. Tolu Smith is a beast of a giant man at 6’11” and 250, averaging almost 15 factors and eight rebounds a recreation. With out Lampkin, many of the defensive assignments had been anticipated to fall to Coles and Cork (standing at 6’7” and 6’9” respectively), and the mismatch was instantly clear. Tolu Smith acquired off to a sizzling begin, not simply scoring at an environment friendly price—he began the sport 8-10 from the sphere—but in addition serving to create alternatives for the Bulldog guards by clogging the lane with defenders and incomes some second likelihood scoring alternatives with tip-outs to the three level line. As TCU was struggling to search out a solution for Smith, the Bulldogs managed to begin hitting some threes, one thing they hadn’t performed a lot of all season, and leaping out to a lead that pushed double digits. Coming into the sport, Mississippi State had made lower than 30 three pointers all season, however they related on seven in opposition to TCU.

Early within the half, Mike Miles went to chop by the lane, however planted awkwardly and appeared to hyperextend his knee. He was instantly down and in ache, and clearly wouldn’t be returning to the sport. Down Lampkin, then down the main scorer and potential Large 12 Participant of the Yr, the adversarial climb elevated in issue. Damien Baugh and Shahada Wells labored to maintain TCU shut within the first half, and because the closing minute slipped away within the half, TCU was down 11 when each had a sequence of performs to inject life into the Frogs. Wells scored a pleasant layup on a easy drive to the basket, then instantly stole the inbound go, main to a different fast rating. Mississippi State acquired the ball again, missed a shot, however then Damien Baugh was deliberately fouled with one second left, getting free throws to make it a two-score recreation heading into the half. He hit one, and the Frogs headed to the locker room all of a sudden down solely six, somewhat than 10+.

Second Half:

Tolu Smith acquired any and all the pieces he needed, particularly within the first half, however credit score TCU for popping out robust after making some changes within the second half. The 1-2-2 comfortable press helped management tempo within the half, the zone protection allowed for collaborate protection in opposition to Smith, and Mississippi State was recognized for letting early leads slip away. Miller got here into the second half with a fast rating to make it a four-point recreation, and the see-saw was in movement. TCU grinded away by the second half. As Tolu Smith and Dashawn Davis hit photographs for MSU, TCU discovered methods to reply. TCU led late within the recreation, with their largest lead of 4 coming with below 2 minutes to play. Nonetheless Mississippi State saved getting photographs to fall. After TCU scored to tie the sport with below a minute to play, the Bulldogs discovered themselves with the ball and seemingly the final possession. However, the TCU protection as soon as once more stepped up, forcing a missed shot, and the operating jumper on the finish of regulation did not drop—facet be aware, it regarded like Coles had slipped the play and there was a risk of throwing an extended lob to him to attempt to beat the buzzer—and the groups had been headed to extra time. With Miles out and getting torched by Tolu Smith, it’s a must to admire that TCU had the grit to remain within the recreation, discover a late lead and push it to extra time even, however we had been left questioning when the Frogs luck would run out in Starkville. That second seemed to be with 4:30 left in extra time. After a fast layup to get the additional body began, it was all Bulldogs. Smith continued his tear, and Shakeel Moore hit again to again threes to seal the deal for Mississippi State.

On paper, TCU performed to a degree the place they may have gained this recreation, save two areas: three-point taking pictures—the properly is as soon as once more dry—6-27 from deep is mostly a recipe for a poor offensive outing for the Frogs, and stopping Tolu Smith. We merely didn’t have the matchup wanted to carry him up. He ended the sport with 27 factors, 13 rebounds, and eight assists.

From a constructive perspective, TCU took care of the ball once more (10 turnovers), earned 13 offensive rebounds (though we had been outrebounded by 12 whole) and mixed for 7 steals and a pair of blocks to assist the quick break. Nonetheless, the Frogs discovered themselves within the face of a tricky matchup and shedding Miles early undoubtedly appeared just like the nail within the coffin on this one. Miles was identified with a hyperextended knee, appeared constructive on Twitter with the prognosis, and we are going to wait to see what the MRI reveals about his anticipated period out of the lineup. We hope it’s not extreme and whereas he will definitely miss a while, hopefully he’s again and in a position to get tuned up forward of the event.

Trying Forward:

There’s a stretch of video games on the horizon that appear formidable and much more foreboding with out Miles (at Okay-State, v. Baylor, at ISU consecutively in February), however first TCU takes on West Virginia at residence on Tuesday, adopted by a visit to Stillwater on Saturday afternoon.