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Shropshire
brings experience to TCU
Thanks
to Bobby Knight’s offensive system, Marcus Shropshire
arrived at TCU and is reaching his full potential.
By
Brent Yarina
Bobby
Knight may have 819 career victories, but for Marcus Shropshire,
one year of basketball under the General at Texas Tech
University was enough.
And he says the decision to leave Knight and Tech after
his freshman year was not because of the coach’s
infamous fiery temper or overbearing personality.
In fact, Shropshire has nothing but praise for his former
coach.
“He’s a great coach and a great guy,” the
junior guard said. “I enjoyed the time that I played
for him.”
So why then is Shropshire in playing basketball Fort Worth
and not Lubbock?
“I feel that I couldn’t reach my full potential
if I kept playing at Tech,” he said. “I came
here because of the style of the play. And also because
of the coaches.
“I’m from Grand Prairie also, so I got to be
close to home and my family. I always wanted to head back
this way.”
Whatever the reason he chose to transfer to TCU, the Frogs
are just happy Shropshire is a member of their team now.
“He’s great for our team on and off the court,”
junior guard Corey Santee said. “He’s a great
guy who fits in well with the rest of the team and can
give off a spark that really helps the team get going.”
Head coach Neil Dougherty said Tech’s loss has been
the Frogs’ gain
“His joining the team adds quite a bit,” Dougherty
said. “He gives the team an offensive threat and
improves the team’s performance. He’s obviously
added many dimensions to our game and makes other teams
worry about who’s going to cover Shropshire.”
Senior guard Nucleus Smith agrees Shropshire’s arrival
has benefited the team, but he said that it has also been
beneficial to the transfer’s game.
“By being here he can play more of his style of game
and play more to his ability,” Smith said.
Smith said the intensity Shropshire brings to both the
practice floor and game situations is Shropshire’s
best attribute.
“He’s a veteran and knows how to bring the intensity
needed for practice and the intensity needed for when
we play a game,” he said.
Shropshire said he is happy he has been able to provide
veteran leadership for the Frogs, especially since the
team is so young.
“I think I bring some experience to the team, coming
from the Big 12,” he said. “Also, I feel my
age brings some things to the table. This is a young team,
and I try to lead by age and example.”
As for any comparisons between Knight and Dougherty, Shropshire
said the two coaches actually have many qualities in common.
“Both are very focused on winning and are intense
in the way they coach,” he said. “The main difference
is really just control. Knight’s an intelligent man,
but he tends to be a little more excited.”
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Ty
Halasz/Staff Photographer
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| Junior
guard Marcus Shropshire has nothing against Texas
Tech, he just likes TCU’s fast-paced offense
and its proximity to his home town, Grand Prairie. |
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