2011-12 • TCU WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
2011-12 T C U P R E S E A S O N N OT E B O O K
A BRAND NEW SEASON
Six letterwinners who accounted for 82 of 165 starts from a season ago return for TCU in 2011-12. Thought to be among the returnees was Starr Crawford who earned All-Mountain West Conference honors as an underclassmen in 2010-11, but she has been ruled out for the season. The Frogs’ returning starters are senior Antoinette Thompson, who made 23 starts a season ago, and junior Delisa Gross, who is the most experienced starter from a year ago returning after starting 30 games.
A YOUNG TEAM
Going into 2011-12, the Horned Frogs will look to replace graduated all-conference honorees Helena Sverrisdottir and Emily Carter. Look for Briesha Wynn, Latricia Lovings and Meagan Henson to all make solid contributions this season after gaining valuable experience on the court as freshmen. The Frogs will also welcome the addition of five newcomers in Ashley Colbert, Logan Mittie, Jazz Parker, Chelsea Prince and Natalie Ventress. 4In total, eight of the Frogs 12 players are either freshmen or sophomores.
TCU RANKED AMONG NATIONS BEST
TCU ranked among the nation’s top-60 teams in seven of the 17 major statistical categories in 2010-11: Category Field-Goal Per. Defense Free-Throw Percentage Turnovers Per Game Scoring Margin Assist Turnover Ratio Turnover Margin Three Pt FG Defense
NCAA MWC 23 2 25 1 30 3 39 3 41 3 54 2 60 3
Figure 35.8 74.8 14.7 9.0 0.93 2.7 29.3
FROGS WILL RELY ON NEWCOMERS
TCU added six players to its roster in the offseason, including five freshmen and the addition of Whitney Williams, who redshirted in 2010-11. All five of the freshmen are Texas natives in Ashley Colbert (Fort Worth), Logan Mittie (Aledo), Jazz Parker (Houston), Chelsea Prince (Fort Worth) and Natalie Ventress (Fort Worth). Colbert, a Crowley High School product, ranked as the No. 13 post-player in the country according to ESPN/ HoopGurlz and was four-star rated prospect by ESPN/ HoopGurlz. Ventress, who was ranked as high as the No.
91 overall prospect in the country by ESPN/HoopGurlz Hot 100, was also four-star rated recruit. Prince will don the Purple and White this season after being rated as one of the top-150 players in the nation according to All-Star Girls Report. Parker was considered the 34th-best guard in the nation and a three-star rated prospect by ESPN/ HoopGurlz. Finally, Mittie, the daughter of head coach Jeff Mittie, was a two-time all-state selection at Aledo High School Also available to play this season will be Williams, a transfer from Iowa State, who sat out the 2010-11 season. Williams averaged 5.9 points per game as a sophomore for a Cyclone squad that advanced to the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Tournament.
CRAWFORD OUT FOR THE YEAR
TCU received news before the season-opener against Georgia as junior forward Starr Crawford was ruled out for the 2011-12 season due to injury. Crawford, who earned preseason all-conference accolades, was a second team all-conference selection in 2010-11. She was the top returning rebounder in the league at 9.7 per game, ranking 36th in the nation and recorded eight double-doubles as a sophomore. The Arlington native was the only player to average double-digits in points (12.7) and rebounds (10.0) per game last season in the Mountain West and was TCU’s leading scorer returning after averaging 12.0 ppg.
TOUGH SCHEDULE ONCE AGAIN
The Horned Frogs will play one of the top schedules in the country with games against seven opponents who reached a postseason tournament a year ago, including five who made the NCAA Tournament. The Purple and White should be tested early and often with a schedule featuring three squads, Georgia, Oklahoma and Texas A&M, who made it to the third round of the NCAAs, with the Aggies eventually claiming the National Championship. Highlighting the Frogs’ 2011-12 slate is a group of nine home games, including a pair of showcase contests against NC State (Nov. 20) and Texas A&M (Dec. 11). Even more challenging than TCU’s home lineup will be an away schedule featuring four squads that reached the 2011 NCAA Tournament. One of the contests will be played at the annual UCF
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Thanksgiving Classic in Orlando, Fla., Nov. 25-26. The Frogs begin the tournament Nov. 25 with a matchup against NCAA qualifier Hartford, the American East Tournament Champion. In addition to the challenging UCF Thanksgiving field, the Frogs open their season at Georgia on Friday, Nov. 11. The Lady Bulldogs, who are coming off a 21-10 season, made the third round of the NCAA Tournament a year ago before eventually falling to national champion, Texas A&M.
PLAYING RANKED TEAMS
TCU will play three teams ranked in the AP Preseason Top 25. Texas A&M checks in at No. 6, while season-opening opponent, Georgia, enters the season ranked No. 13. Oklahoma sits at No. 15 heading into the season.
RANKED TEAMS BEWARE
TCU’s schedule shapes up to be another tough one this season, which will provide it a chance to extend some impressive streaks. 4TCU has defeated at least one ranked team in each of the last nine seasons. The team has two such wins in three out of the past four years. 4TCU owns 17 victories all-time against ranked opponents, each of which has come in Jeff Mittie’s 12-season tenure. 4TCU has notched at least one win over a ranked team away from Fort Worth in five of the last seven seasons. 4Three of the four victories over top-5 teams in program history have come in the last two seasons (vs. No. 10/5 Texas A&M in 2009-10; vs. No. 3/5 Maryland, at No. 3/3 Cal in 2008-09).
GROSS KEY TO FROGS SUCCESS
Delisa Gross scored in double figures 10 times last season. During those contests, TCU was 6-4 overall with its only losses coming at the hands of Fresno State, Texas A&M, Utah and Oral Roberts. During her two years on campus, the Horned Frogs are an impressive 11-4 when Gross scores in double figures. 4With Crawford out, Gross is TCU’s leading scorer and rebounder returning this season after averaging 7.6 points per game and 4.2 rebounds per game.
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