Indiana 66, TCU 56.

The final score doesn't tell the story, but this was, at least for the first 38 minutes, IU's finest performance of the season. IU was ahead by 20 with 1:27 remaining, but turned the ball over on its last five possessions and allowed TCU to finish within 10. Certainly, a late-game collapse like that isn't to be completely ignored, but hopefully this young team learned some lessons in a win, for once.

As noted, IU played well for most of the game, particularly early in the second half. IU's 28.5 turnover possession (18 in a 63 possession game), isn't great, but still is above average for this team. Through the first 58 possession, IU had 12 turnovers, and that 22 percent rate would have been IU's best of the year against a D-I opponent. In addition to taking care of the ball better IU dominated the offensive boards, pulling down 50 percent of their own misses despite TCU's size advantage. TCU actually shot pretty well, but IU won on turnovers (TCU had 21), offensive rebounding, and free throw shooting.

The individuals:

• Tom Pritchard was his reliable self: 15 points on 9 shots, 11 rebounds;
• Devan Dumes scored 20 points on 12 shots;
• Daniel Moore scored 4 points on 1-4 shooting, but had 7 assists to 4 rebounds;
• Nick Williams scored 11 points on 6 shots and had 7 rebounds;
• Malik Story couldn't reprise his Gonzaga performance: he scored 7 points on 2-9 from the field.

I'm afraid that false hope will be the main outcome of this game. This remains a flawed team. Still, I'm dreading the Kentucky game much less than I was a week ago.

The TCU game.

Texas Christian Horned Frogs
Current record: 7-3
Current RPI: 70
Current Sagarin: 106
Current Pomeroy: 97
2007-08 record: 14-16
2007-08 RPI: 200
2007-08 Sagarin: 181
2007-08 Pomeroy: 169
Series: IU leads 2-0
Last IU win: 12/27/1993 (81-65 in Indianapolis)
Last TCU win: never
Pomeroy scouting report
TV: 8 pm, ESPN2

TCU, like IU, is a program in transition. Jim Christian, formerly of Kent State, took over for Neil Daugherty, who had only one winning season (2004-05) in six seasons. After a 1-3 start, TCU has won six in a row, including against Big 12 cellar-dweller Colorado and the recently prominent Wichita State of the MVC. As the numbers above show, TCU is a borderline top 100 team at this point, and so this will be an important test. IU has defeated all worse teams and has lost badly to all better teams. The Frogs are led by senior Kevin Langford and junior college transfers Edvinas Ruzgas and Zvonko Buljan. Buljan was a teammate of Devan Dumes at Vincennes last season.

Like IU, TCU is more impressive defensively than offensively. TCU gets to the line and shoots free throws well, but doesn't shoot well and turns the ball over quite a bit. Defensively, TCU's tempo-free numbers are above average except for two point field goal defense. They force turnovers at a reasonably high clip, 23.5 percent of possessions. IU now ranks #343 in Division I in turnover percentage, ahead of only lowly Arkansas-Pine Bluff. IU turns the ball over on 29.8 percent of its possessions, a number that has to improve.

Unfortunately, it does not appear that Verdell Jones will be back anytime soon and therefore won't be taking the burden off of Daniel Moore in the near future. The Hoosier Scoop reports that Jones is cleared for non-contact work only, which makes me speculate that it's unlikely Jones will play against Kentucky on Saturday.

Again, offensive turnovers have been IU's biggest problem and defensive turnovers have been TCU's strength. An improved TO number by IU would be some cause for optimism, but also will be a tall order.