Texas Christian University started 11-1 at home
When one is in the same conference as Baylor and Kansas one is expected to lose a few games. Texas Christian Basketball lost eleven while winning just seven to finish in a tie for seventh place in the Big 12. The story of the Horned Frogs is a long one full of futility. The last time TCU finished with a conference record above .500 was the 1999-’00 season when they were in the WAC. Throughout those 19 seasons, they suffered four losing seasons in Conference-USA, seven losing seasons in the Mountain West Conference and now eight in the Big 12.
Even while suffering through another losing season, the die-hard fans at Schollmaier Arena were treated to some big wins and a number of great games by coach Jamie Dixon’s squad. Most notably was the four-point loss at No.1 Baylor on Feb.1, then bouncing back and beating them by three at home on Feb.29. TCU also claimed wins versus Kansas State by 2, West Virginia by seven in overtime, and a two-point overtime victory over Iowa State. Losses to conference rivals; Texas, Oklahoma State, and Kansas State were by a combined seven points.
Their out of conference games were no less exciting for fans to watch with Desmond Bane and Kevin Samuel wearing the purple and gold. Bane averaged the second-most points per game in the Big 12 and led the conference in three-pointers attempted and made. Kevin Samuel was third in two-point field goal percentage and in offensive rebounding as well as leading the conference in blocks.
TCU’s key players were instrumental in defeating UC-Irvine by one and losing to Southern California and Clemson (in overtime) by two. The close wins and losses are not an indicator that TCU is better than their record, it just proves that this “under the radar” team had an exciting season for those paying attention.