What was an exciting game of basketball turned into a frustrating start to conference play for the TCU Horned Frogs who, who fell short of the No. 2 Kansas Jayhawks 83-81 in controversial fashion.
TCU started out on the front-foot and put together a solid first half of basketball. TCU shot 51.5% from the field and 42.9% from 3-point range. Emanuel Miller led the Frogs with 15 points in the first half, with the next closest being Jameer Nelson Jr. with six.
For the Jayhawks, KJ Adams Jr. and Hunter Dickinson combined for 30 points in the first half, leading Kansas to a 41-40 lead.
Down at the half, Trevian Tennyson came out with hunger and desire. After scoring just five points in the first half, Tennyson led the Frogs in the second half, scoring with 19 points. He was 5-6 from 3-point range and converted on 7 of 9 from the field.
But just as the game clock was winding down, the temperature was heating up. A step-back jumper from Nelson Jr. gave the Frogs a 79-77 lead with 1:38 to play.
Here's where it gets controversial. Trailing 79-77 with 1:05 left in the 2nd half, Kevin McCullar Jr's pass was intercepted by Ernest Udeh Jr. Coming down with the ball, Udeh grabbed possession, fending off Dickinson, who lay on the ground holding his face.
After regaining possession, the Frogs moved up the court until the officials blew the play dead. Unfortunately for TCU, it prevented the Frogs from converting on a fast break, 5-against-4, in the final moments of the game. Now, whether or not TCU converted for points on the break, the controversy lies with the officials calling the play dead in the midst of a break.
Typically, officials are expected to allow play to continue and then come back after the possession to check the potential foul. When Udeh came down with possession, following a jumping movement, his right forearm clipped Dickinson's face. According to CBS Rules Analyst Gene Steratore, "That doesn't fall into flagrant category in my opinion. I just think it's an arm coming down in a normal basketball play."
After further discussions, the officials deemed Udeh's action to be a flagrant foul, giving Kansas two free throws.
On the ensuing Jayhawk possession, Dajuan Harris Jr. put Kansas ahead 81-79 with 43 seconds remaining. TCU stormed down the court and answered back with Peavy's game-tying putback, knotting it at 81 apiece.
With the shot clock turned off, Dickinson got in behind Udeh in the paint and scored the go-ahead basket with 3.4 seconds remaining. After calling a timeout and drawing up one final play, Nelson's effort from beyond the arc fell short of the basket.
It was a tremendous game between two Big 12 heavyweights that included 11 ties and 26 lead changes. While the Frogs matched the Jayhawks offensively, their defense was equally stellar, forcing 18 turnovers against a Jayhawk team that prides themselves in their ball security. Unfortunately for the Frogs, they leave Kansas frustrated and wanting more. Perhaps, more from the officials as the Frogs will feel hard done by with the controversial flagrant foul called against Udeh.
When asked about the controversial flagrant foul in the postgame press conference, head coach Jamie Dixon said, "We can't say anything. We're not allowed to. Actually, they said it the other day to us in a meeting to say nothing."
Contrary to Dixon, Jayhawks head coach Bill Self said, "Thought Hunter sold it well because if he hadn't sold it, they wouldn't have stopped the play. It was an obvious call, but it was unfortunate because [it was] unintentional. But the arm definitely swung and definitely was above the shoulder in the mouth."
TCU now sits at 11-3 after losing their Big 12 Conference play opener, and the Jayhawks subsequently improved to 13-1 on the year. While the Frogs leave Lawrence, KS with a bitter taste in their mouths, they will have a quick turnaround as they prepare for a date with the No. 11 Oklahoma Sooners on Wednesday, Jan 10 at Schollmaier Arena.
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