TCU
North Texas
Preview: vs. North Texas
12/6/2025 11:36:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Horned Frogs Face Mean Green for first time since 2004
FORT WORTH – For the seventh-straight season, TCU (5-3) will compete at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth when the Horned Frogs face North Texas (7-2), in a designated road game, in the US LBM Coast-to-Coast Classic on Sunday at 4:30 p.m. on ESPN+.
The game follows the Texas Tech and LSU matchup, which starts at 2 p.m. One ticket is good for both games and can be purchased through the Dickies Arena box office.
NOTES
- TCU is 4-2 all-time in Dickies Arena and played in the inaugural game there in 2019 against USC.
¬ It will be counted as TCU's first road game of the season.
- 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 13.6 points and 7.0 rebounds per game.
- Punch's 2.1 blocks per game ranks fourth in the Big 12 and his 57.5 percent shooting from the field ranks fifth.
- Punch is shooting 57.5 percent from the field which ranks fifth in the Big 12.
- Punch is one of two players nationally averaging at least 13.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 2.0 blocks.
- Five different players have led the team in scoring through the eight games so far this season.
- Jayden Pierre has made at least one 3-pointer in all eight games, the longest streak to start a season since 2022.
- 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, 3.0 steals and 2.0 or less turnovers.
- Harding ranks first in the Big 12 and 12th nationally with 2.9 steals per game.
- Harding ranks third in the Big 12 and 17th nationally with 6.4 assists per game.
- Harding ranks sixth in the Big 12 with a 3.19 assist/turnover radio.
- TCU ranks 25th nationally in KenPom's defensive efficiency rating at 97.7.
- TCU ranks second in the Big 12 and 17th nationally with 16.8 turnovers forced per game.
- TCU ranks second in the Big 12 and 16th nationally in turnover margin at +5.3.
- TCU ranks second in the Big 12 with 8.9 steals per game.
- TCU ranks third in the Big 12 with 16.4 fastbreak points per game.
- TCU ranks third in the Big 12 and 32nd nationally with 5.0 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 89-21 in November and December combined.
- Under Dixon, TCU is 108-20 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
- North Texas is 7-2 this season and have won its last four games, all at home. Last time out, the Mean Green defeated Houston Christian, 77-75, on Dec. 2.
- UNT's only two losses are at Oregon State and Saint Mary's.
- UNT is led by Je'Shawn Stevenson's 16.8 points per game.
- The Mean Green were picked to finish seventh in the American Athletic Conference Preseason Poll.
SERIES HISTORY
- TCU leads the all-time series, 43-31, including a 24-12 lead in games played in Fort Worth.
- It is the first meeting between the two programs since Dec. 4, 2004 when the Horned Frogs won 88-78 in Denton. Current TCU assistant coach Corey Santee led the Frogs with 18 points, five rebounds and five assists.
- The last time the two teams played in Fort Worth was Dec. 13, 2003, a 62-58 win by TCU.
LAST TIME OUT
- TCU led most of the game, but fell in overtime to Notre Dame, 87-85, Friday at Schollmaier Arena.
- TCU led for 25 minutes and by as many as 11 points in the first half. The game saw 10 ties and 13 lead changes.
- The Horned Frogs were led in scoring for the third-straight game by David Punch, who had a career-high 20 points.
UP NEXT
- The Frogs will have some time away from competition for finals week before hosting Incarnate Word on Monday, Dec. 15 at 7 p.m. on ESPN+.
