On a four game losing streak, TCU (15-8, 2-10 Big 12) is looking for its first win of the month against No. 24 West Virginia (20-3, 9-3 Big 12) Tuesday, Feb. 13 at 6:30 p.m. CST. It will be the annual Play4Kay game to support breast cancer awareness. Coaches and players will be wearing pink to help out the cause.
This will be the third straight game the Horned Frogs have played a ranked opponent, coming off losses to No. 24 Oklahoma and No. 7 Texas. TCU will play the Mountaineers twice in the next three weeks, finishing the regular season on March 2 in Morgantown.
TCU will continue to be without Jaden Owens, Sedona Prince, DaiJa Turner and Madison Conner, all with various injuries. Combined, these players account for 70% of TCU’s scoring. The Horned Frogs have gone 1-4 since having to forfeit games against Kansas State and Iowa State because of these injuries.
Similar to recent games, expect to see this starting lineup from the Frogs:
TCU and West Virginia both started 13-0 to start the 2023-24 season. They both ran the non-conference schedule for the first time in each program’s history. It has been two successful seasons for two first-year head coaches.
The Mountaineers come into the matchup tied for third in the Big 12 at 9-3 with Texas. At 22nd in the NET rankings, West Virginia is one of the best teams in the nation. The Mountaineers run through star guard JJ Quinerly who averages 19.3 points, 3.4 assists and 3.3 steals. If the Horned Frogs want to get the win, containing Quinerly will be a major key.
A player to highlight for TCU is point guard Tara Manumaleuga. She has handed out the third-most assists (32) of any guard in the Big 12 over the past two weeks. Since Jaden Owens has been out, Manumaleuga has been the heartbeat for the Horned Frog offense that has kept them going. Look for her to make a significant impact against West Virginia.
A Horned Frog win will double its overall win total from last season and give new head coach Mark Campbell his first career ranked victory as a head coach. Beating the Mountaineers will be the fourth home victory ever against West Virginia and guarantee a winning overall record heading into postseason play for the first time since the 2019-20 season.
The game will be broadcasted via Big 12 on ESPN+ by Ron Thulin and Jada Curtis. It will also be available on KTCU 88.7 FM by Chris Blake.
