TCU is riding a wave of momentum into the Big 12 tournament as they gear up to face Oklahoma State in the second round on Wednesday night in Kansas City, Mo.
This showdown marks the third encounter between the squads this season. TCU, the No. 6 seed, has already edged out Oklahoma State in two nail-biters, including a thrilling 95-92 overtime win back in February.
That victory was the catalyst for a hot streak where the Horned Frogs claimed six of their last seven games, including the past five straight. This impressive run features a significant 73-65 triumph over then-No.
10 Texas Tech and a solid 73-63 win against Cincinnati to wrap up the regular season.
The Horned Frogs have transformed since their rough patch in January when they dropped four consecutive conference games. TCU guard Brock Harding, a key playmaker with 5.9 assists per game, emphasized the team's focused mindset.
"The biggest thing is to not think about who we're playing," Harding noted. "We've taken every game as it's us against whoever's in front of us."
On the scoring front, David Punch has been a reliable force, leading TCU with 13.6 points and 6.6 rebounds per game. Meanwhile, Xavier Edmonds, matching Punch's rebounding average, has stepped up to lead the team in scoring in three of the last five outings. Jayden Pierre also shined with 18 points in the win over Cincinnati.
Oklahoma State, the tournament's 14-seed, is coming off a strong performance, winning two of their last three games. They put up a fierce fight against then-No.
7 Houston, narrowly falling 82-75. In their first-round clash, Oklahoma State powered past Colorado with a 92-83 victory, highlighted by Anthony Roy's 24 points and Christian Coleman's impressive double-double of 17 points and 14 rebounds.
"We're excited to be advancing in the tournament," Cowboys coach Steve Lutz shared. "It's another step forward for the program. More importantly, I'm proud of the guys for their fight and composure."
With TCU enjoying a first-round bye, they are poised and ready to continue their impressive run in this high-stakes matchup.