TCU basketball looking to do something it hasn’t done in more than a decade
The TCU basketball team has a chance to make history tonight at Kansas State.
Since joining the Big 12 in 2012, the Horned Frogs have never started conference play 2-0. In fact, the last time the program got off to a 2-0 start in conference play was the 2008-09 season as a member of the Mountain West.
TCU goes into the game as a 1-point underdog, according to VegasInsider.com, but should feel good about its chances. K-State is reeling with losses in three of its last four, including a 66-61 loss at Oklahoma on Saturday.
The Frogs, meanwhile, have won four of their last five and are coming off a thrilling 81-79 overtime victory over Iowa State on Saturday.
“Every game is like this,” TCU center Kevin Samuel said after Saturday’s game. “Everybody is going to compete.”
Coach Jamie Dixon agreed, referring to the league season as a “grind.”
“You’re not going to have much separation,” Dixon said.
That’s why TCU has to execute in critical situations. Or at least mask mistakes such as a poor free throw percentage.
After missing a potential game-tying free throw with 10.5 seconds on Saturday, TCU sophomore guard RJ Nembhard banked in a 3-pointer with 1.7 seconds left to tie the game at 74-all. Then Samuel, who went 0-for-5 from the free throw line, blocked a shot at the buzzer to force overtime.
“I was pretty sick when I missed the free throw,” Nembhard said. “I thought I let us down in that aspect, but the basketball gods were with me. It came right back around.”
For TCU, it hopes to carry that momentum on the road. The Frogs went just 2-7 in Big 12 play on the road last season.
They have to improve in that department to boost the chances of returning to the NCAA Tournament.
“A poor road record” was the first item mentioned by the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Committee chairman when asked why TCU didn’t receive a bid to the Big Dance last season.
TCU has won just once in the Little Apple since joining the Big 12 (1-6 record), but it’s in position to flip the script this season. After all, it’s shown promising signs of finding ways to win in the last two games.
“There’s room to improve,” Dixon said following Saturday’s game. “We’ll find these next two days, use these two opportunities to get better as we go against Kansas State.”
Tipoff is at 8 p.m. at Bramlage Coliseum in Manhattan. The game will be televised on ESPNU.
