TCU continues to gradually increase its standing as an at-large NCAA Tournament team.
The Horned Frogs head to No. 10 Texas Tech where they can make a statement against the streaking Red Raiders in a Big 12 Conference game on Tuesday in Lubbock, Texas.
Ever since JT Toppin, the reigning Big 12 Player of the Year, went down with a season-ending ACL tear in a 72-67 upset loss at Arizona State on Feb. 17, the Red Raiders (22-7, 12-4 Big 12) have been on a roll.
Texas Tech has won three straight games and is coming off an 82-73 upset win at then-No. 4 Iowa State on Saturday, where it handed the Cyclones their first home loss of the season. The Red Raiders were the biggest risers in the March 2 Associated Press poll, moving up six spots to No. 10.
Texas Tech coach Grant McCasland said Josiah Moseley, Luke Bamgboye and Marial Akuentok are all finally healthy and stepping into the void created by Toppin’s absence.
“We felt like we had a great team,” McCasland said. “Just putting those guys out there together was the biggest part. We lost JT but we didn’t lose the fight. We gained — at this time of year — three guys that have good size and depth at that position. People are just now seeing what this team could have been had we put it all together and added JT to the mix.”
Also with three straight wins, TCU (19-10, 9-7) continued to separate itself from other bubble teams for an NCAA Tournament berth. The Horned Frogs wrapped up February with a 6-2 record, the highlight being a 62-55 win over then-No. 5 Iowa State on Feb. 10.
TCU could use another signature win late in the season.
In their latest game, the Horned Frogs took down a struggling Kansas State squad 77-68 on the road. Xavier Edmonds paced TCU with 15 points and 13 rebounds, Tanner Toolson added 14 points off the bench and David Punch contributed 13 points.
Even though the Horned Frogs had to claw for a win against the Wildcats, who are tied for last place in the Big 12, TCU coach Jamie Dixon pointed to the quality competition in the league where every team provides a stern test.
“Here’s what I notice,” Dixon said. “We are playing in the best league in the country. Even teams that aren’t going to be in the NCAA Tournament, they don’t just allow the best teams (to win). We’ve gone through some dry spells, but I think we’ve gotten better.”
Against Iowa State, Donovan Atwell led Texas Tech with 18 points. The senior guard connected on 6 of 10 3-point attempts. He is tied for second in the nation in 3-pointers per game (3.8) and has converted 46.2% from behind the arc.
“Guards win and if you have good guard play in space that’s kind of the most difficult thing to defend,” McCasland said. “(We can) put pressure on the rim but have the threat at the 3-point line but in space.”
