TCU’s men’s basketball team is looking to solidify its case for a spot in the NCAA Tournament as it hosts rematches against Cincinnati and No.11 Baylor in the coming days.
The Horned Frogs (18-8, 7-6 in the Big 12) currently project as either a seven-seed, an eight-seed, or a nine-seed, according to the latest reports from experts following a last-minute 82-81 loss to Texas Tech in which the Red Raiders recovered from a 10-point second-half deficit.
“We didn’t guard well enough, and that’s what we’ll emphasize,” TCU head coach Jamie Dixon said as he met with the media on Thursday. “You’ve got to get stops to get out in transition. We got no stops down the stretch. Some people say, ‘Well, get out in transition,’ but you’ve got to stop them first to get out in transition. They go hand in hand. One leads to the other. … Down the stretch, we executed, got good shots, and then got baskets, but we couldn’t stop them. So, simply put, our defense didn’t get it done down the stretch.”
TCU is 1-1 against Cincinnati and Baylor this season, but its defense has allowed high point totals in each game. Part of that is due to both games reaching overtime, but defense is still a crucial component in college basketball, especially for a team that likes to get out and run in the open court.
The Horned Frogs have a quick turnaround, with one game being played on Saturday and another on Monday, creating a nine-day stretch in which TCU will have played four games. The team will then travel to No.25 BYU and West Virginia before closing the regular season on March 9 against Central Florida at home.
“I think the important thing is getting the first one and focusing on Cincinnati — knowing that they beat us the first time,” Dixon added. “We have every reason to know how good they are, and just know that in the Big 12, they just keep coming.”
While TCU’s postseason fate could be influenced by how it plays in the upcoming stretch, the team is no stranger to challenging schedules and is approaching the late-season stages by concentrating on each game as it comes as the results become more and more crucial to the season’s success.
“We do this in the nonconference, and we do this in the conference,” Dixon continued. “We’ve got to be ready for Saturday, two o’clock, Cincinnati. That’s what we’ve got to be prepared for. We have to get that win, and we’ve got to play well.”
TCU hosts Cincinnati (16-10, 5-8) at 2 p.m. CT on Saturday and continues its season against No.11 Baylor (19-7, 8-5) at 8 p.m. CT on Monday.
