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Photo by David Dunai - Senior Photographer Sophomore forward Bingo Merriex dunks against Southern Methodist Saturday in Dallas. Merriex will play a key role for the Frogs in the Western Athletic Conference Tournament as the team is down to seven scholarship players. |
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Frogs
to take on Hawaii The TCU men’s basketball players will enter the Western Athletic Conference Tournament confident in themselves and their ability to emerge as champions. “We’re playing our best basketball right now, and it couldn’t come at a better time,” sophomore forward Bingo Merriex said. The Frogs open the tournament at 2:30 p.m. Thursday against Hawaii. The Frogs split the season series with the Rainbow Warriors, with the home team winning each matchup. TCU won, 103-64, in Daniel-Meyer Coliseum Jan. 4, while Hawaii took a, 102-87, decision in Honolulu Feb. 22.
Both TCU and Hawaii played well at home and poorly on the road this season. The Frogs went 16-1 in the friendly confines of Daniel-Meyer Coliseum, but a modest 4-9 on the road. Hawaii contrasted a 13-5 home record with a 1-8 mark on the mainland. Both teams will look to find consistency on the “neutral” site of Tulsa’s Reynolds Center, where neither team has a victory. Merriex said playing on a neutral site will be an adjustment for both teams. “Hawaii is a good team, but this time its on a neutral court,” Merriex said. “Whoever goes out and jumps out quick will win. We’ll find out which team is better.” Despite their poor mainland record, the Rainbow Warriors have fared well in the WAC Tournament. In last season’s tournament, Hawaii upset Southern Methodist in the first round, 87-82, before taking eventual conference champion Fresno State into two overtimes. Knowing what they did last year, Tubbs said the Frogs are not taking the Rainbow Warriors lightly. “You never know about these tournaments, especially those first-round games,” Tubbs said. “All our focus is on Hawaii right now.” Having defeated Texas-El Paso (99-91) and SMU (84-76) to close the regular season, the Frogs’ players said they are finding something that eluded them all season: momentum. “We’re playing with confidence right now,” Merriex said. “We’ve won two games and had two good practices. I think we’re ready.” Tubbs said the Frogs have proven themselves resilient this year, bouncing back from losses (two to Rice) and having two teammates dismissed from the team. He said that quality should come into play in the tournament. “You really have to give our team a lot of credit,” Tubbs said. “They pulled together and played team ball. I think it speaks well for our players.” Tubbs said the Frogs are starting to peak at the right time. “The key is we’re still excited about playing basketball,” Tubbs said. “Our attitude is good, our conditioning is good and we’re pumped. That’s exactly where you want to be this time of year.” Merriex said the Frogs are going to Tulsa to win the tournament. “Everybody has that in mind,” Merriex said. “In the first game, we have to be focused on Hawaii. In the second game, we have to be focused on the second game. Then in the championship, we can think about it. If we have the right mindset, we can do it.” Matt
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