GETTING INSIDE
Coaches always crave balanced scoring and TCU has a trio of players ranked among the top seven scorers in the Mountain West Conference.
Sophomore guard Ronnie Moss is fourth in the Mountain West with a 16.2 scoring average while Zvonko Buljan and Edvinas Ruzgas are tied for sixth at 15.3.
The three players are accounting for more than 62 percent of TCU’s points and rate as a prime reason why the Horned Frogs are a much more potent team than in recent seasons.
The three players have different strengths and styles that complement one another.
Moss is the do-it-all point guard who can distribute the ball as well as score. His assists-to-turnover ratio of 2.0 (86 assists, 44 turnovers) is third best in the Mountain West.
Buljan is the Horned Frogs’ top all-around player and ranks second in the Mountain West in rebounding (9.3).
Ruzgas ranks second in the Mountain West in field-goal percentage (56.0) and third in 3-point shooting (43.7).
Together, they are making TCU tougher to beat as the Horned Frogs try to make progress and aim to surprise a few teams during the conference portion of the schedule.
NOTES, QUOTES
• Led by Edvinas Ruzgas’ seven 3-point baskets, the Horned Frogs made 11 3-pointers against St. Gregory’s, one short of their season high.
• TCU’s defense needs to improve. The Horned Frogs’ field-goal percentage defense (45.9) is the worst in the Mountain West. They also rank eighth in scoring defense (73.8).
January At A Glance: The Horned Frogs have settled into a nine-man rotation, but the starting lineup continues to fluctuate depending on matchups. Zvonko Buljan, Edvinas Ruzgas and Ronnie Moss have started all 12 games but five other players have started two or more games. Solidifying the starting lineup would be nice, but the production has to warrant it.
Quote To Note: “Ed practices right and plays the right way. He comes to practice with the right mentality and played hard. When he makes mistakes, he keeps playing. That’s the difference between him and some other guys right now.”—TCU coach Jim Christian, on Edvinas Ruzgas after he scored 32 points against St. Gregory’s.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
Season Recap: The Horned Frogs (6-6) have showed progress this season but have stumbled against all the better programs on the schedule (Texas Tech, Arizona State and Wichita State). A breakthrough win would have helped the confidence for a team that figures to only get better under coach Jim Christian’s tutelage.
Player Rotation: Usual Starters—F Nikola Cerina, C Zvonko Buljan, G Edvinas Ruzgas, G Greg Hill, PG Ronnie Moss. Key Subs—F Kevin Butler, G Keion Mitchem, G/F Garlon Green, G Xavier Roberson.
Game Review:
Wichita State 80, TCU 68
Tcu 89, S t. Gregory’s 62
Houston 105, TCU 81
Game Preview:
vs. Northern Colorado, Wednesday, Dec. 30
vs. Rice, Saturday, Jan. 2
vs. Air Force, Wednesday, Jan. 6
at Utah, Saturday, Jan. 9
vs. Wyoming, Tuesday, Jan. 12
In Focus: TCU doesn’t leave Fort Worth again until a Jan. 9 game against Utah and has a chance to build some momentum. Opening Mountain West Conference play against Air Force (winless in league play last season) gives TCU a chance to start conference play on a winning note.
Roster Report:
• Senior G Edvinas Ruzgas was the Mountain West Conference Player of the Week after scoring a career-high 32 points against St. Gregory’s. Ruzgas hit 7 of 9 3-point shots in the contest.
• Freshman G Garlon Green was in the starting lineup for the second time this season when the Horned Frogs played Houston.
• Sophomore PG Ronnie Moss leads the Mountain West Conference in assists (7.2 per game).
