GREENVILLE, S.C. — TCU’s path in March just got steeper.
Fresh off a narrow first-round victory, the ninth-seeded Horned Frogs will take on top-seeded Duke on Saturday afternoon in the NCAA Tournament’s second round, a matchup that pits one of the nation’s most consistent programs against a surging Big 12 squad that has found its rhythm at the right time.
TCU (23-11) advanced with a 66-64 win over eighth-seeded Ohio State, leaning on late-game execution and balanced scoring. Xavier Edmonds delivered the go-ahead basket as part of his 16-point effort, while David Punch powered the interior with 16 points and 13 rebounds. Micah Robinson added a game-high 18 points, knocking down four shots from beyond the arc.
Now, the Horned Frogs face their toughest test yet.
Top-ranked Duke (33-2), the ACC champion and tournament’s No. 1 overall seed, opened its run with a 71-65 win over Siena. The Blue Devils are anchored by Cameron Boozer, one of the nation’s most productive players, averaging 22.5 points and 10.3 rebounds per game while piling up 20 double-doubles this season.
Saturday marks the first-ever meeting between the programs, though TCU head coach Jamie Dixon is no stranger to Duke. Dixon split four previous matchups with the Blue Devils during his tenure at Pittsburgh, including a win in their most recent meeting in 2016.
For TCU, this stage is becoming more familiar.
The Horned Frogs are making their fifth NCAA Tournament appearance in the past eight tournaments played and their 12th overall. Under Dixon, who is in his 10th season in Fort Worth, TCU has reestablished itself as a postseason regular after making just one tournament appearance in the three decades prior to 2018.
Still, advancing deep into March has remained elusive. TCU has never won more than two games in a single NCAA Tournament and owns an 8-11 all-time record in the event.
This year’s group, however, brings a different edge.
Picked 10th in the Big 12 preseason poll, the Horned Frogs exceeded expectations with a sixth-place finish and a program-record 11 conference wins. They enter Saturday having won eight of their last nine conference games and boast a 3-3 record against AP Top 10 opponents, including wins over Iowa State, Florida and Texas Tech.
Defensively, TCU has been among the nation’s most disruptive teams. The Frogs rank among the top groups in the Big 12 in turnovers forced, steals and blocked shots, while also limiting mistakes on the offensive end. Their ability to create extra possessions — and protect the ball — has fueled a 9-6 record away from home and success in neutral-site settings.
Punch has led the way down the stretch, averaging 22 points and 10 rebounds over his last three games. Edmonds has emerged as a versatile threat, shooting better than 42% from three-point range while compiling 11 double-doubles this season — most of them coming in conference play.
The challenge ahead is historic.
TCU is 1-11 all-time against No. 1-ranked teams, with its lone win coming against Kansas in 2017. Its only previous NCAA Tournament matchup against a No. 1 seed resulted in an overtime loss to Arizona in 2022.
To move on, the Horned Frogs will need to flip that script against a Duke team that has spent the season proving why it sits atop the national rankings.
The winner advances to the East Region semifinals in Washington, D.C., keeping its championship hopes alive. For TCU, it’s another opportunity — and perhaps its biggest yet — to redefine what March success looks like in Fort Worth.
