FORT WORTH, Texas (Ticker) -- No. 24 Vanderbilt tries to match
the best start in school history Saturday night as it concludes
non-conference play with a visit to Texas Christian.
Vanderbilt (10-0) has opened a campaign with 10 straight wins
for the fourth time and first time in 31 years. The Commodores
won their first 11 contests in the 1960-61 season.
The Commodores will be playing their first road game outside of
the state of Tennessee and second overall.
Vanderbilt is led by senior forward Matt Freije, who averages
19.6 points. Freije is the Presesaon SEC Player of the Year and
needs three 3-pointers to pass Dan Langhi's school record for
3-pointers by a forward.
Freije has helped the Commodores win every game by at least 10
points. He scored 15 points as Vanderbilt concluded a nine-game
homestand with Tuesday's 85-59 win over Lehigh.
The Horned Frogs (4-6) have won three of five following a
four-game losing streak. In their previous game against a
ranked foe, they suffered an 85-66 home loss to then-No. 1
Kansas on December 1.
Texas Christian coach Neil Dougherty and assistant Rick Callahan
were assistants with the Commodores from 1989-93 and assistant
David Cason played two years for Vanderbilt coach Kevin
Stallings at Illinois State from 1993-95.
The Horned Frogs are led by guard Marcus Shropshire, who
averages 12.7 points and Chudi Chinweze, who chips in 11.1.
Shropshire scored a season-high 26 points in Monday's 99-71 home
win over Grambling.
Vanderbilt leads the series, 2-1, and the teams are meeting for
the first time since the Commodores posted a 113-56 home win on
December 18, 1963.