TCU Basketball: 2018-19 season preview for the Hornfrogs

DETROIT, MI - MARCH 16: The TCU Horned Frogs bench reacts during the second half against the Syracuse Orange in the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Little Caesars Arena on March 16, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

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Photo by Elsa/Getty Images /

TCU’s 2018-19 non-conference schedule

Nov. 7 (H) – Cal State Bakersfield

Nov. 11 (H) – Oral Roberts

Nov. 15 (H) – Fresno State

Nov. 20 (H) – Lipscomb

Nov. 26 (H) – Eastern Michigan

Nov. 30 (H) – Central Michigan

Dec. 5 (A) – SMU

Dec. 7 (N) – USC at Staples Center

Dec. 16 (H) – Indiana State

Dec. 22-25 (Diamond Head Classic) – Charlotte, Bucknell or Rhode Island, and UNLV, Saint Mary’s, Colorado or Indiana State

Dec. 28 (N) – Hawaii Pacific

Jan. 26 (H) – Florida (SEC/Big 12 Challenge)

This isn’t a strong overall schedule for the Horned Frogs but it fits how Coach Dixon always schedules. He’ll usually pick a couple of good opponents and mix them in with several mid-majors who’re capable of winning their respective conferences (manipulating the RPI). Florida, USC, and SMU are the only teams who look like at-large contenders, meaning that those games will have extra meaning.

When it comes to the Diamond Head Classic, it’s more important that TCU goes 3-0 rather than who they would face. None of the other seven teams are as good as the Horned Frogs, although Rhode Island and Colorado could sneak in as a top-50 win.

The goal with how the schedule is set up (six straight home games to start the season) is to give this team confidence and create the right rotations before Big 12 play. Since there will be at least 14 games that’ll be qualified as tier-1 or tier-2, TCU will be fine with a lighter schedule – as long as they don’t take any bad losses.

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