TCU
Notre Dame
Preview: Notre Dame
12/3/2025 6:17:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Horned Frogs Host the Fighting Irish at 7 p.m. on Friday
FORT WORTH – TCU (5-2) will host its second power conference team of the season when Notre Dame (6-3) visits Schollmaier Arena for a 7 p.m. tip on Friday, which will air on ESPN+. Doors will open at 5 p.m. for fans to catch the TCU women's soccer College Cup match on throughout the arena.
NOTES
- The Horned Frogs hosted Michigan on Nov. 14 and are one of eight Power Five Conference programs nationally to host multiple Power Five Conference teams in nonconference.
- It's the first time since 2011 that TCU will play three-straight games vs. nonconference power conference opponents
- For the first time this season, TCU received votes in the AP Top 25 released on Monday.
- TCU's top returner in scoring and rebounding, David Punch, leads in those categories this season with 12.7 points and 7.0 rebounds per game.
- Punch's 2.3 blocks per game ranks third in the Big 12 and his 58.1 percent shooting from the field ranks fifth.
- Five different players have led the team in scoring through the seven games so far this season.
- Jayden Pierre has made at least one 3-pointer in every game.
- Pierre is averaging 11.7 points and 2.1 made threes per game.
- Brock Harding was named to the Big 12 Starting Five on Monday after the Rady Children's Invitational performance.
- Harding is the only player nationally averaging at least 10.0 points, 6.0 assists and 3.0 steals.
- Harding ranks first in the Big 12 and eighth nationally with 3.3 steals per game.
- Harding ranks third in the Big 12 and 20th nationally with 6.1 assists per game.
- Harding ranks eighth in the Big 12 with a 2.69 assist/turnover radio.
- TCU ranks 15th nationally in KenPom's defensive efficiency rating at 96.1.
- TCU ranks third in the Big 12 and 16th nationally with 17.1 turnovers forced per game.
- TCU ranks second in the Big 12 and 19th nationally in turnover margin at +5.1.
- TCU ranks second in the Big 12 with 9.3 steals per game.
- TCU ranks third in the Big 12 with 16.3 fastbreak points per game.
- TCU ranks third in the Big 12 and 21st nationally with 5.6 blocks per game.
- TCU returns nine players and welcome seven newcomers as well as two others who redshirted last season.
- TCU returns six "scholarship" players from last season, the second most in the Big 12 only to Houston's nine.
- It is Jamie Dixon's 10th season with the Horned Frogs. His 509 career wins ranks 20th among active coaches.
- Under Dixon, TCU has a record of 89-20 in November and December combined.
- Under Dixon, TCU is 108-19 against nonconference teams.
- Dixon was inducted into the Southwest Conference Hall of Fame in August.
- Dixon is one of just 11 active head coaches who have made at least 15 appearances in the NCAA Tournament.
ABOUT THE OPPONENT
- Notre Dame is 6-3 following a 76-71 win over Missouri on Tuesday.
- The Fighting Irish are led in scoring by Markus Burton's 19.9 points per game and in rebounding by Carson's Towt who leads the ACC with 10.2 boards per game.
- It will be Notre Dame's second road game of the season. On Nov. 16, the Fighting Irish fell at Ohio State, 64-63.
- Like TCU in the Big 12, Notre Dame was picked to finish 10th in the ACC Preseason Poll.
SERIES HISTORY
- Notre Dame leads the all-time series 5-0. Friday will be the first meeting in Fort Worth.
- Of the five games in the series, three have come in postseason play including the last meeting in the series on March 18, 1997. The Fighting Irish won 82-72 in South Bend, Ind., in the second round of the NIT.
- Other postseason meetings came in the NCAA Tournament. Notre Dame won 102-94 in the first round on March 13, 1971 and also won 58-57 on March 14, 1987 in the second round. Jamie Dixon recorded 10 points and six assists in his final game as a collegiate player.
LAST TIME OUT
- TCU led the entire game in a 74-63 win over Wisconsin to win the Rady Children's Invitational in San Diego, Calif.
- The Horned Frogs shot a season-best 57.1 percent (8-of-14) from 3-point range.
- Brock Harding was named MVP. He and David Punch were named to the All-Tournament Team.
UP NEXT
- The Frogs will play a designated road game against North Texas at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth. The game is part of the US LBM Coast-to-Coast Challenge and begin on ESPN+ at 4:30 p.m.
