TCU's men's basketball team is on the brink of making history. As they gear up to face No. 1 seed Duke in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, the Horned Frogs are eyeing their first-ever Sweet 16 appearance. Despite being one of the final 16 teams in past tournaments, TCU has never secured a spot in the modern Sweet 16, which requires winning two games in the tournament.
Historically, TCU has been here before. In 1952, 1953, 1959, and 1968, they reached the final 16, but the path was different back then.
In those early years, the tournament structure allowed teams to advance without a win. But today, the challenge is more demanding.
Let’s dive into some memorable moments from TCU's NCAA Tournament history:
1952 was a notable year when TCU faced Kansas in the West regional semifinals, falling 68-64. They bounced back to defeat New Mexico A&M in the regional third-place game. Kansas, who narrowly edged TCU, went on to dominate the tournament, highlighting just how close the Horned Frogs were to greatness.
In 1953, with the tournament field expanded to 22 teams, TCU earned a bye to the West regional semifinals but lost to Oklahoma A&M. They finished strong, however, claiming another third-place regional finish.
By 1959, the field had grown to 23 teams. TCU again had a bye, only to fall to Cincinnati in the Midwest regional semifinals. Yet, they clinched a third-place finish by overcoming DePaul.
The 1968 tournament marked a breakthrough of sorts. TCU won their first game against Kansas State, advancing to the Midwest final, only to be halted by Houston. While they were among the final eight teams, debates linger about whether this constituted an Elite Eight appearance.
Fast forward to 1987, and the Horned Frogs were tantalizingly close to the Sweet 16. Under the leadership of current coach Jamie Dixon, then a standout guard, TCU fell in a nail-biter to Notre Dame. A controversial foul call in the final seconds allowed Notre Dame to edge out a victory, leaving TCU on the outside looking in.
Since Dixon took the helm in 2016-17, TCU has been a regular tournament contender, making five appearances. Despite first-round victories, the Sweet 16 has remained elusive.
The 2022 tournament saw TCU push No. 1 Arizona to overtime before falling short.
The following year, a last-second shot by JaKobe Coles lifted TCU past Arizona State, but Gonzaga proved too strong in the next round.
Now, after a thrilling win over Ohio State, TCU faces another monumental challenge against Duke. With the Blue Devils standing in their path, the Horned Frogs are once again in pursuit of that elusive Sweet 16 breakthrough. Fans are hopeful that this time, history will be made.