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TCU Basketball: 2018-19 keys for season sweep against Iowa State

LUBBOCK, TX - JANUARY 28: Head coach Jamie Dixon of the TCU Horned Frogs reacts to an officials call during the first half of the game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders on January 28, 2019 at United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TX - JANUARY 28: Head coach Jamie Dixon of the TCU Horned Frogs reacts to an officials call during the first half of the game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders on January 28, 2019 at United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images)
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LAWRENCE, KANSAS – JANUARY 09: Kouat Noi #12 of the TCU Horned Frogs drives the ball on a fast break during the game against the Kansas Jayhawks at Allen Fieldhouse on January 09, 2019 in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
LAWRENCE, KANSAS – JANUARY 09: Kouat Noi #12 of the TCU Horned Frogs drives the ball on a fast break during the game against the Kansas Jayhawks at Allen Fieldhouse on January 09, 2019 in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

TCU Basketball plays its biggest game of the season when it hosts Iowa State on Saturday. With an NCAA tournament spot on the line, will the Horned Frogs come out on top?

It seems like ever since Big 12 conference play began, it has been a downhill spiral for TCU Basketball.

The Horned Frogs lost their top player in Jaylen Fisher, lost two more players to injury, and have played well below expectations.

However amidst it all, they still find themselves well in the picture for a second-consecutive NCAA Tournament berth. Regardless, there is still work to be done. That work begins on Saturday, when the #19 Iowa State Cyclones will come to town.

TCU beat Iowa State in their previous matchup, knocking off a ranked Cyclones team on the road in Ames. TCU would absolutely love to repeat that performance on Saturday.

In that game, literally everything was clicking for the Horned Frogs. TCU dominated on defense, had arguably their best offensive performance of the season, and seemingly didn’t have a poor showing from a single player.

Since that game, TCU has lost three straight, including games to Oklahoma and Oklahoma State. Needless to say, Saturdays game is an absolute must-win for TCU.

Several factors will play into Saturday’s showdown against Iowa State, but TCU must repeat its previous performance, and control all facets of the game. It takes a complete all-around effort to beat a team like Iowa State, but TCU has indicated that they are up to the task, and must validate that indication once again on Saturday.

With a win, TCU will make their life a whole lot easier down the stretch. It would be their second win over a ranked team, and would greatly improve their ranking with less than a month to go before selection Sunday.

With their backs against the wall, TCU needs a win in the worst way possible. Here are three keys for the Horned Frogs to pull off another upset against Iowa State.