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Monday, July 30
Updated: July 31, 12:21 PM ET
Team preview: TCU Horned Frogs
ESPN.com
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The lowdown
2000-01 record: 20-11; 9-7 in WAC
Final Ranking: NR
Postseason: None.
Three Questions for 2001-02
1. How will the Horned Frogs replace their top four scorers -- Ryan Carroll, Greedy Daniels, Myron Anthony and Derrick Davenport?
2. Can Bingo Merriex become the go-to player? Can he handle the expected added attention without Carroll?
3. Who is going to score inside? Will their frenetic pace be as dangerous in Conference USA as it was in the WAC?
Three Key Facts
1. TCU was the nation's top scoring club in 2000-01, averaging 93.6 points per game and eclipsing the 100-point mark in 12 games. It'll be tough to duplicate those numbers without the foursome above, not to mention the level of play in C-USA the Horned Frogs will face. Bingo Merriex should help pick up some slack after averaging 21.7 ppg last year over the final seven games of the season.
2. Billy Tubbs, who'll take a 140-80 mark at TCU into his ninth season, is 579-282 overall in 27 years of coaching. Tubbs' teams have posted 18 20-win seasons, including four at TCU over seven straight winning campaigns.
3. Look for the Horned Frogs to shoot the ball from long range again this season. TCU set school records for 3-pointers made and attempted last season, hoisting up 724 attempts and making 268. TCU launched 20 or more treys in 22 of its 31 games and took 30 or more from beyond the arc seven times, including a school-record 36 attempts in a win over Central Oklahoma.
Andy Katz's Scenarios
Best case: The Horned Frogs are competitive and win some games at home, but miss out on the postseason.
Worst case: TCU struggles to score in the post and can't stop anyone, meaning they're near last in their division.
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Key Players Returning
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Player
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Yr.
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Pos.
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Ht./Wt.
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Comment
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Bingo Merriex
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Jr.
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F
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6-8/225
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PTS: 11.5 | REB: 4.8 | AST: 0.6
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Nucleus Smith
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So.
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G
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6-2/193
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PTS: 6.9 | REB: 1.9 | AST: 1.6
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Key Losses
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Player
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Pos.
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Ht./Wt.
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Comment
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Ryan Carroll
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G
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6-4/190
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PTS: 17.8 | REB: 5.8 | AST: 2.6
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Greedy Daniels
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G
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6-0/180
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PTS: 16.7 | REB: 3.0 | AST: 5.8
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Derrick Davenport
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C
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6-10/210
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PTS: 14.1 | REB: 7.5 | AST: 1.0
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Myron Anthony
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F
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6-6/225
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PTS: 14.3 | REB: 7.4 | AST: 0.7
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TCU Signings
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Player
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Pos.
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Ht.
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High School/College
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Corey Santee
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G
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6-2
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Flint, Mich./Southwestern Academy
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Marcus Sloan
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F
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6-8
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Houston/Eisenhower H.S.
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Jamal Brown
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F
F
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6-7
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Baltimore, Md./Seward County (Kan.) CC
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Brian Carter
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C
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6-11
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Rockwood, Mich./Winchendon (Mass.) Prep School
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