Sophomore leads team both on, off court
By Carmen Castro
Staff Reporter

Head coach Neil Dougherty, who enters his second year at TCU, is determined to rebuild the men’s basketball program this season. With four freshmen and two transfer players joining the team for the 2003-04 season, the Frogs are young, leaving Dougherty searching for players to assume leadership roles.

One of those players expected to become a team leader this season is sophomore forward Chudi Chinweze. Chinweze, Dougherty’s first player signed before last season, finds himself in a mentor role, despite entering his second year.

Although he is only a sophomore, Chinweze said he is doing his best to help out his new teammates. He said he has tried to share all the knowledge he acquired during his freshman season about playing the inside game to all the new players.

“I always try to tell them early so they don’t come out kind of rocky,” Chinweze said. “The thing is, there are a lot of big guys and we’re a small team.”

Dougherty said Chinweze has matured from last year and that he has a better understanding of what he is capable of doing.

“We don’t change philosophy from year to year, so players get to settle into a comfort zone,” Dougherty said. “Now when we go through things, Chudi will be like ‘Oh yeah, I remember that.’”

Dougherty said it is kind of funny to have a sophomore as a mentor this year but that Chinweze has the ability to show the new guys what he wants the players to do.

“Last year only I could tell the team what to do,” Dougherty said. “Now we have half the class two years into the process.”

Freshman forward Blake Adams said his relationship with Chinweze can be traced to their high school playing days in Houston. He said he knew coming to TCU would be a great opportunity to play alongside Chinweze.

Adams said Chinweze warned him practice was going to be hard, because college basketball is played at a much faster pace.

“He says I’m going to have to fight through it and play tough, and to keep my head up,” Adams said.

Junior transfer Aaron Curtis said Chinweze has also helped him transition from junior college to Division I.

“He let me know about the first-year jitters,” Curtis said. “I’m having a good time and I’m hoping it’s more fun as the season goes on.”

Curtis scored a game high 23 points during the team’s first exhibition game.

“I’m always comfortable scoring,” Curtis said. “It’s just the defense part I have to work at. Putting the ball up I’m the best at, I think.”

Curtis said he cannot wait to unleash his game combination alongside Chinweze, who he said is more a defensive player.

“It’s going to be wild,” Curtis said. “We’re going to keep it live, keep it crowded.”

Chinweze said the offense should be more explosive this year with more dunking action.

“We have a couple of posts with a couple of show times,” Chinweze said.

Dougherty said the team has a way to go before they establish the intensity level they need to be at. He said once that’s established, an additional level will be built after the players get used to playing with each other, since they are so young.