TCU is ranked, but Belmont will be a challenge (Nov 29, 2017)
TCU broke into the Top 25 this week at No. 23, its highest ranking in almost 20 years.
The Horned Frogs, who host Belmont on Wednesday in Fort Worth, Texas, are 6-0 to start the season and have an 11-game winning streak that started with a five-game run to the NIT title in March. It is the longest active streak in the country.
TCU won the Emerald Coast Classic over the weekend, beating St. Bonaventure in the title game behind a career-high 20 points from point guard Jaylen Fisher.
The Frogs, picked to finish third in the Big 12 Conference, are ahead of schedule in second-year coach Jamie Dixon's rebuilding plan.
"I hate to sound like the old guy that's been through it, but I put myself in that category," Dixon told the (Fort Worth) Star-Telegram before the season. "I feel like I'm coaching and preparing to win a league championship, and I think our guys feel that way. So, I feel comfortable. I feel like I've been here before."
The Frogs won 24 games a year ago, second-most in school history.
"I feel our guys have the same belief, the same mission that I've had before and I have now -- that we're here to win a conference championship while playing in the best conference in the country," Dixon said. "I've done that in the Big East. We're preparing and thinking that way. Now we've just got to do it.
"I want people to have high expectations here. I'm fine with that, I promote that, and I encourage that. I expect our players to live up to that standard and strive to. I've always been like that."
Belmont (4-3) might provide TCU with its biggest test so far.
While the Bruins are coming off an upset loss to crosstown rival Lipscomb, they beat Vanderbilt and lost a nail-biter to Providence.
In Monday's 74-66 loss, Lipscomb defenders keyed on 6-foot-9 Belmont forward Mack Mercer, holding him to just two points on free throws.
"We've got to find an inside presence," Belmont coach Rick Byrd told The Tennessean newspaper. "I've not had to coach too many teams that didn't have an inside post presence. I'm going to have to start getting creative."
Belmont had won the previous 11 meetings between the schools.
In Providence, the Bruins shot 63 percent in the second half, but lost on a 3-pointer as time expired.
"Belmont is a very, very good team, very well-coached. We're fortunate to win," Friars coach Ed Cooley told the Providence (R.I.) Journal. "They capitalized on every mistake we made."
Amanze Egekeze, a 6-8 senior, leads the Bruins with 18.3 points per game, and junior forward Dylan Windler is averaging 15.7 points and is ninth in the nation with 11.6 rebounds per game.
TCU and Belmont both have home games on Saturday. The Horned Frogs take on Yale, while the Bruins will welcome Green Bay.
