TCU savors NCAA statement opportunity in Big 12-SEC Challenge

TCU men’s basketball coach Jamie Dixon says he likes the idea of a nonconference game in January, which the Horned Frogs will play Saturday against Auburn as part of the Big 12-SEC Challenge, to break up a stretch of 18 conference games to conclude the regular season.

Dixon said a win by the Horned Frogs (14-6) over Auburn (13-7) in Schollmaier Arena could benefit the team in efforts to land an at-large berth in the NCAA Tournament because it should boost the team’s RPI rating.

“At first, the coaches didn’t like it being during conference play. I actually like it being in the conference season,” Dixon said, noting that a strong showing by Big 12 teams during Saturday’s 10 games might move the league past the ACC in this year’s rankings of the nation’s top conferences. “Obviously, we’re 1 and 2 with the ACC (in league RPI rankings). Maybe we can move ahead of them. With 10 games, we probably can. I think it’s a big weekend for us.”

TCU guard Desmond Bane said the Frogs, after a day off Tuesday, should be mentally refreshed and ready to end their three-game losing streak.

“I think we’re a pretty strong team mentally,” Bane said. “We’re sticking together. We’re going to keep battling and we’re going to figure this thing out.”

This story was originally published January 25, 2017 at 6:15 PM with the headline "TCU savors NCAA statement opportunity in Big 12-SEC Challenge."