WAC report

SportsLine.com Report
April 14, 2000

Things didn't go as planned for Texas Christian head coach Billy Tubbs.

Pegged as conference contenders in the preseason, the Horned Frogs turned out to be pretenders, instead, leading to plenty of speculation in these parts.

It promoted TCU athletic director Eric Hyman to recently release this statement regarding Tubbs' future: "Coach Tubbs will be on the court next season as head coach of the Horned Frogs. He is on a multi-year contract that was just extended last year; his job is not in jeopardy. TCU men's basketball has achieved many milestones under his guidance and will continue to be a nationally prominent program."

That may be, but the Horned Frogs are going to have to develop better chemistry in the coming season. Part of the problem this year were injuries, suspensions and players deciding to leave the program. It kept TCU from reaching its potential.

The Frogs wound up second in the nation to Duke in scoring, averaging 89.7 points a game. They also became the first team in WAC history to lead the league in scoring four consecutive seasons. Still, they were passed over by the NIT this year for rival Southern Methodist.

The Coach

Much like WAC counterpart Jerry Tarkanian at Fresno State, Tubbs has been something of an outlaw coach during his flamboyant career. In six seasons at TCU, Tubbs has a solid 119-70 record and has led the Horned Frogs to the postseason three times, including an NCAA appearance two years ago that resulted in a first-round defeat to Florida State.

The reason TCU didn't contend this season was because the Frogs didn't do well against top WAC teams Fresno State and Tulsa University, finishing a combined 0-5 against them. Tubbs will need to improve upon that mark and try to blend this team into a better competitor in the coming season.

Who'll Be Back

The recent suspension of Myron Anthony leaves the Frogs in a bit of a quandary. The transfer from Kentucky who started 10 games last season is a key component for TCU's success. He is suspended indefinitely for breaking team rules.

Still, TCU welcomes back a minimum of three starters in forward Ryan Caroll, and guards Thomas McTyer and Estell Laster. Carroll finished second on the team in scoring, averaging 16 points a game. McTyer came on strong the latter half of the season to finish with an average of four assists.

Who's Gone

TCU loses only one player, but it's a big one in center Marquise Gainous. He averaged 21 points and eight rebounds a game this year to be one of the dominant forces in the WAC. Replacing him will be difficult.

Key Newcomers

Tubbs landed a big one in rangy shooting guard Cory Hightower, but when he declared for the NBA Draft, the class took a dive. Still, 6-11 Bryan Carter should help fill the interior void as will Marion DuMont, a Jamaican project.