In a stunning twist that has captured the attention of sports fans everywhere, the TCU Horned Frogs pulled off a remarkable upset against the No. 5 ranked Iowa State Cyclones, handing them their third loss of the season. This shocking event unfolded on Tuesday night in Fort Worth, where the Horned Frogs welcomed the Cyclones into their arena, aiming to disrupt Iowa State’s strong momentum in Big 12 competition.
But TCU had other plans in mind. Under the leadership of Coach Jamie Dixon, the team not only fended off a late-game charge from Iowa State but also reclaimed the lead in the final minutes of the second half. Despite Iowa State's efforts to rally, they struggled to convert enough critical shots when it mattered most, while TCU excelled at the free-throw line. The atmosphere inside Ed and Rae Schollmaier Arena erupted into chaos as jubilant fans stormed the court to celebrate the unexpected victory.
As noted by commentators during the FOX broadcast, this victory was crucial for TCU, which currently finds itself on the precarious edge of NCAA tournament contention. In fact, analyst James Fletcher recently excluded them from his latest Bracketology predictions. However, with this significant win over Iowa State, alongside an earlier victory against Florida, TCU is now beginning to attract some much-needed attention as they strive for a place in the tournament.
Interestingly, TCU achieved this victory despite not being at the peak of their offensive game. They managed to connect on only 40% of their field goal attempts, and their three-point shooting was particularly dismal, making just five out of 18 attempts. The heart of their success lay at the free-throw line, where they converted an impressive 15 attempts, while Iowa State was limited to just eight attempts throughout the game.
Defensively, the Horned Frogs stood out, especially considering that Iowa State typically averages nearly 86 points per game, placing them among the top 25 scoring teams in college basketball. The Cyclones’ struggles were evident as they shot a mere 22% from beyond the arc, which is far below their usual standards.
This raises the question: was Iowa State perhaps looking ahead? Their upcoming showdown with the Kansas Jayhawks looms large on the horizon this Saturday. Kansas recently secured a noteworthy win against Arizona, setting the stage for what was anticipated to be a thrilling top-10 clash within the Big 12. However, after this loss, Iowa State will need to regroup and refocus if they hope to bounce back effectively.
On the other hand, TCU is hopeful that this victory marks the beginning of a strong push toward NCAA tournament eligibility. With only one ranked opponent left on their schedule, they will have to rack up more wins to solidify their chances. But for the moment, this victory over Iowa State is a significant step in the right direction.
