FORT WORTH, Texas – The Northwestern State men's basketball team may endure a feeling of déjà vu as it hits the road for the second time this season.
 
As they did a week ago, the Demons head west, crossing into Texas. As they did a week ago, the Demons will face a Big 12 Conference team.
 
What the Demons hope will be different is the result when they face No. 14/16 TCU at 7 p.m. Monday inside Ed and Rae Schollmaier Arena. The game can be seen on ESPN+ with free streaming audio available through www.NSUDemons.com and the Northwestern State Athletics mobile app, which can be downloaded free for Apple and Android devices.
 
First-year NSU head coach Corey Gipson said he sees some similarities between the Horned Frogs (2-0) and the Red Raiders, who downed the Demons, 67-44, in the Nov. 7 season opener in Lubbock, Texas.
 
"They both are big, but I think TCU might be bigger than Texas Tech," Gipson said. "They're just as physical. TCU may have a more balanced inside-outside attack than Texas Tech. TCU has guys across the board who can punish you in the paint. We will have to be very conscious in how we guard the interior."
 
Monday's matchup concludes a run of four games in eight days to start the season for the Demons (1-2), who dropped a back-and-forth, 69-67 decision to Illinois State on Saturday night.
 
For the third time in as many games, the Demons forced at least 17 turnovers. Despite a plus-four turnover margin against the Redbirds, NSU and Illinois State each produced 16 points off turnovers.
 
Through three games, the Demons lead the Southland Conference and rank 28^th nationally in turnover margin (plus-8.0) and are third in the league and 29^th nationally in forcing turnovers (21.3 per game).
 
That has been step one for Northwestern State.
 
"These guys have put together a tremendous amount of effort executing the game plan, forcing and causing turnovers," Gipson said. "Now, when we get those turnovers, we have to value possession and not take it for granted. We have to execute offensively and convert those opportunities."
 
As the newcomer-laden Demons continue to gel on the court, they have seen flashes of two key contributors who are rounding into form.
 
Senior point guard Demarcus Sharp and sophomore wing Reggie Hill were a combined 6-for-6 from 3-point range against Illinois State, each registering a Northwestern State career-high scoring night.
 
"Coming off those injuries, you never know when a guy will get his rhythm back," Gipson said. "Not only do you have to get back to where you're physically healthy, you have to get back to where you're mentally healthy. You have to trust your body, trust your limbs. We've seen some glimpses of who Demarcus Sharp really is. The more games, the more mileage, the more time under the lights we have, you'll see the real Demarcus Sharp."
 
While Sharp is working his way back from an injury that cut his 2021-22 season short, the 6-foot-8 Hill had to battle through a more recent injury, one that kept him out for part of NSU's summer and preseason workouts.
 
"Reggie's a big-time player," Gipson said. "He had to sit out the majority of the summer and some of the fall. For him to grow as fast as he has within the system and to have the confidence to step up and make big plays late in the game lets us know what we have to look forward to."