TCU’s season opener gave the Horned Frogs exactly the kind of start they wanted, and now they get a quick chance to back it up.
After rolling past Lindenwood 98-59 on Monday, TCU turns to Southern on Friday night at Schollmaier Arena. It’s another early test for a team that looks different from last year and has already shown signs it can play to the preseason buzz around it.
Records: Southern 0-1, 0-0 SWAC; TCU 1-0, 0-0 Big 12
Date: Friday, Nov.
6, 2026
Tip-off: 7 p.m.
CT / 8 p.m. ET
Location: Ed and Rae Schollmaier Arena in Fort Worth, Texas
TV/Streaming: ESPN+
TCU Radio: Talk Radio 1190 AM KFXR
Audio Streaming: Varsity Network
Find the watch, listen and live stats links in TCU’s official game preview.
The Frogs came out of the gate looking like a team that expects more this season. They were efficient, they moved the ball well and they controlled the game from the start. Even with 13 turnovers, they never let Lindenwood hang around.
The biggest early encouraging sign was the shot-making from deep. TCU hit 10 of 19 from three-point range, good for 52.6%.
That’s a sharp contrast to last season, when the Frogs shot 33.2% from beyond the arc on 22.4 attempts per game. If that kind of perimeter touch holds up, it changes the shape of this offense in a big way.
Micah Robinson was one of the clearest bright spots. He averaged 10.9 points last season, and his 19-point outing Monday - on 5-of-7 shooting - hinted at a bigger role this year.
He also got to the line often, making seven of 10 free throws. He was one of TCU’s leading returning scorers, and it wouldn’t surprise me if he ends up leading the team in scoring this season.
DJ Thomas made a strong case for a bigger role off the bench, too. The West Virginia transfer also scored 19 points, knocked down two threes and went 7-for-7 at the free-throw line. He added five steals on the defensive end, and it would be surprising if he isn’t one of Jamie Dixon’s main bench options going forward.
Xavier Edmonds, Tanner Toolson and Brock Harding also picked up right where they left off last season.
Southern comes in after an 85-72 loss to SMU on Monday. The Jaguars stayed close enough to trail by just two at halftime, but the Mustangs pulled away by outscoring them 45-34 in the second half.
Southern leaned heavily on its bench in that game. Six reserves scored at least five points, and the Jaguars finished with 57 bench points. They also made eight threes, one more than SMU, but the difference came at the foul line, where the Mustangs went 32-for-40 while Southern finished 12-for-15.
The Jaguars were called for 27 personal fouls, and that could be a problem against a TCU team that got to the line 38 times in its opener. If the Frogs keep attacking the paint and putting Southern under pressure, they could have another efficient night at the stripe.
TCU looked ready in its opener, and the matchup with Southern offers another chance to prove that Monday was no one-off. Another strong bench showing and steady outside shooting would go a long way.
Edmonds could be a name to watch here. He scored nine points on eight shot attempts against Lindenwood, and more work inside could open up free throws and easy looks at the rim.
In Other News...
TCU Heads Into Ranked Arizona Test With Plenty Riding On Friday
Friday night brings a little something different for TCU, and not just because the Horned Frogs are heading to No. 22 Arizona for a matchup that carries real weight in the Big 12 race. It is their only Friday game of the season and just their second trip to Tucson in school history, which gives the visit a rare feel even before kickoff. TCU is coming off a win over Kansas, a game shaped by key moments from linebacker Max Carroll and quarterback Jaden Craig, and now the Frogs have to carry that momentum into a tougher road setting.
Sonny Dykes also has to manage the broader picture around the team, with the week complicated by a virus working through the roster. The timing is not ideal, because TCU still has plenty to play for in the closing stretch and every game from here carries added meaning. A strong showing against Arizona would not only boost the resume, it would help steady a team trying to keep its season on track as the finish line comes into view. [Read more 🡒]
TCUs Defensive Identity Is Showing Up Before The Rotation Does
The early-season version of TCU basketball is already showing a clear calling card. After a tied first quarter, the Horned Frogs settled in and rolled past Le Moyne 96-41, leaning on defense to dictate the game while also shooting 52% from the field. Le Moyne never found much rhythm, finishing at 29% shooting as TCUs pressure and pace steadily took over.
Laura Vilcinskas gave the Frogs a strong inside presence with a double-double, while Jessie-May Hall and Jadyn Wooten were among the other contributors who helped keep the offense moving. For a team still sorting out its rotation, the encouraging part is that the defensive identity is already there, even before the lineup fully settles in. [Read more 🡒]
Arizona And Noah Fifita Face A Big 12 Test They Need
Friday night brings a Big 12 matchup in Tucson that feels important for both sides, but especially for Arizona as it tries to steady itself at home against a TCU team looking to get back to .500. The Wildcats have been one of the leagues more interesting stories at 6-2, and much of that has centered on Noah Fifita, whose play has helped give Arizona a real chance to matter in its first season of conference play.
The backdrop is a little more complicated now, though, because Arizona is coming off a road loss after a five-game winning streak and needs to show it can keep its footing against a physical opponent with nothing to lose. TCU arrives at 4-4 and has its own reasons to make this a tough night, which puts a spotlight on whether Fifita and the Wildcats can answer the pressure and protect the kind of momentum that has carried them this far. [Read more 🡒]