TCU’s basketball schedule is one of the most exciting schedules in recent memory for Horned Frog fans.
TCU will play both Nebraska and Texas Tech at Daniel-Meyer Coliseum in the same week, and TCU has some big names that they could potentially play at the Paradise Jam in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The following is a breakdown and analysis of the Horned Frogs’ out-of-conference and conference schedules followed by a breakdown of the toughest out-of-conference opponents for the rest of Mountain West Conference teams.
TCU
Toughest opponents: Nebraska (Dec. 10), New Mexico (Jan. 28 and Feb. 25), UNLV (Jan. 18 and Feb. 14)
Next toughest: Virginia (Nov. 18 at Paradise Jam), Texas Tech (Dec. 6), at USC (Dec. 19), Marquette or Ole Miss (Potential matchup at Paradise Jam), San Diego State (Feb. 4 and March 3)
Analysis: Jim Christian has assembled the most exciting non-conference slate for the Frogs in a long time. With so many newcomers and new talent, Christian has allowed for his players to be tested quickly in the Paradise Jam. A victory against Virginia, an Atlantic Coast Conference team, could give TCU exactly the early season boost it needed.
The DMC should be rocking when a Big 10 (Nebraska) and Big 12 (Texas Tech) team visit in back-to-back games. USC will be looking to exact revenge against the Frogs for the beatdown they handed Kevin O’Neill’s team a year ago at the DMC.
The Frogs will play two games versus Rice and Tulsa, respectively, during winter break that are vital to establishing momentum heading into conference play.
As the calendar turns and TCU heads into conference play, TCU will begin its conference slate with two tough road games against Colorado State and UNLV .
Colorado State has improved every season under head coach Tim Miles, and the Rams believe they are poised to take another step even further up the conference standings this year. UNLV was picked to finish second in the conference in preseason, and the media has dubbed 2011-2012 the most anticipated season in a long time in Las Vegas.
TCU head coach Jim Christian has stressed the importance of winning the swing games in conference. Although nearly everyone in the conference could beat Colorado State, Colorado State could beat every team in the conference as well. Winning the Colorado State games would take a season from good to great.
The final three home games of the season for the Frogs will be must-see games for TCU basketball fans. UNLV will play at the Daniel-Meyer Coliseum on Feb. 14, followed by preseason conference favorite New Mexico on Feb. 25.
Since New Mexico head coach Steve Alford took over in 2007, the Lobos have been the most consistent team in the conference. New Mexico point guard Hugh Greenwood was the preseason freshman of the year, and the matchup between preseason all-conference point guard Hank Thorns Jr. and Greenwood should be a good one.
TCU will finish its regular season on March 3 against San Diego State. The Aztecs lost a lot of talent this offseason, including NBA lottery pick Kawhi Leonard, but they still managed to earn a top three preseason conference.
