TCU’s basketball programs are both in the midst of winning seasons, and the relationship that the two teams share is one of the reasons why.
The men’s and women’s teams have a combined record of 29-10 in the 2017-18 season thus far. Both teams have beaten top ten teams and both have their eyes on the NCAA tournament in March.
The women have won five straight conference games, and the men secured their first Big 12 win over a top ten opponent against No. 7 West Virginia Monday night.
The contrast to the 2012-13 season, TCU’s first in the Big 12, couldn’t be starker. The teams combined for a record of 20-42.
Head coaches Raegan Pebley and Jamie Dixon both talked about how the teams are working together to change the culture of basketball in Fort Worth.
“We’re close,” Dixon said. “It’s a good thing.”
Pebley has taken notice of Dixon’s support.
“One of the things I appreciate about Jamie is he believes in women’s basketball,” Pebley said. “He believes that the two sports grow together.”
Pebley said she believes some of Dixon’s support comes from his sister, Maggie Dixon. Maggie was the head coach of the Army women’s basketball team and died of a heart attack at the age of 28, weeks after leading Army to their first-ever NCAA tournament.
The TCU women played in the annual Maggie Dixon classic earlier this year against Texas A&M.
The coaches also pointed to the August trip to Australia when the teams traveled together and competed against Australian teams as part of their preseason.
“The trip to Australia, both of us doing that together, I don’t know of any other school that has played doubleheaders and is intentional in both teams really changing the culture of basketball and the fans getting behind basketball here in Fort Worth,” Pebley said.
Dixon said that the trip allowed the teams to get closer than most other programs in the country.
The proximity of the team’s facilities is also another reason why they are closer than most other men’s and women’s programs.The teams share the same practice courts and the offices of the coaching staffs are just across the hall from one another.
Both teams play this Saturday with the men going on the road at Vanderbilt and the No. 24 ranked women taking on Oklahoma at home.
