TCU Stuns No. 5 Iowa State, Dealing a Third Loss to the Cyclones
As the sports world shifts its focus to college basketball, a wave of upsets has emerged. The latest shock came on Tuesday night in Fort Worth, where the TCU Horned Frogs hosted the Iowa State Cyclones. Iowa State, the clear favorite, entered the game on a winning streak in Big 12 play.
However, TCU had other plans. Led by Jamie Dixon, the Horned Frogs held off a late Iowa State comeback, reclaiming the lead in the second half. Despite Iowa State's efforts, they couldn't make enough shots to extend the game, while TCU's free-throw shooting proved decisive. The atmosphere inside the Ed and Rae Schollmaier Arena erupted as the TCU fans celebrated a court storming.
This victory was crucial for TCU, who are currently on the bubble, if not already out. On3's James Fletcher, in his latest Bracketology, doesn't even include them. However, with wins over Iowa State and Florida, TCU has now caught the attention of the selection committee. Interestingly, TCU's offensive performance was subpar, with only 40% of field goal attempts finding the net, and just five three-point makes from 18 attempts. The real story, however, was at the free-throw line, where TCU outperformed Iowa State 15-8.
Defensively, the Horned Frogs shone brightly, a surprising feat considering Iowa State's high-scoring average of nearly 86 points per game. The Cyclones' poor shooting from beyond the arc (22%) didn't help their cause. This performance raises questions about Iowa State's mindset, especially with a crucial game against Kansas on the horizon in Ames.
The Jayhawks, fresh off a victory over Arizona, were set to face a top-10 Iowa State team in a high-stakes Big 12 showdown. Now, with a different mindset, Iowa State will look to bounce back, while TCU hopes this win marks the beginning of a late push to secure a spot in the NCAA Tournament. With only one ranked team remaining on their schedule, TCU will need a string of wins to make the cut.
