Before you stick a fork in TCU, know this: The last time JaKobe Coles was asked to defend Gonzaga’s Drew Timme, he held the Zags star scoreless for more than six minutes straight.

“We definitely don’t shy away from anything,” TCU forward Coles, Ball Arena’s late-night hero, told me inside the Horned Frogs locker room after his last-second teardrop cinched a 72-70 NCAA tourney win over Arizona State and shot the 6 seed into a Sunday tussle with the third-seeded Zags.

“We’ve played the best teams. We’ve played in the biggest environments. We’re ready for this opportunity. We’re ready to win. And that’s what we’re looking forward to. Go back to the drawing board, get some rest, be ready for Sunday.”

“So what do you know about Gonzaga?” I asked.

The 6-foot-7 sophomore pondered for a second.

“I know a couple of players,” Coles replied. “Drew Timme, I played his high school in the playoffs one time.”

Yeah, but it was one heck of a time. Back in February 2019, Timme was a 6-foot-10 monster at Richardson (Texas) Pearce High, having already committed to the Zags as a McDonald’s All-American nominee.

The teen’s senior year came to a screeching halt, though, once he ran into Guyer High. Or, more specifically, when he ran into Coles.

With the Guyer standout and future Frog all up in his grille, the insanely gifted Timme didn’t score until there were only a few seconds left in the first quarter. Timme finished the first half with nine points, most of which came after Coles had picked up two quick fouls trying to keep one of the best prep big men in the country from going ballistic.

On the first possession of the second half, Coles got whistled for his third foul, forcing Guyer coach Grant Long to rotate him away from Timme …read more

Source:: The Denver Post