FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) 鈥� TCU’s 42-game home winning streak started more than two years ago with a group known as the 鈥淯nderfrogs” after that team had to forfeit two games. That extended through last year’s breakout in Hailey Van Lith’s lone season with the Horned Frogs, and now into another at home with Olivia Miles, their playmaking point guard.
鈥淚t’s maybe one of the things I’m most proud of … a 42-game winning streak that each team has contributed to,鈥� third-year TCU coach Mark Campbell said Thursday. 鈥淚 absolutely love it.鈥�
Three distinctly different rosters for Campbell, all bolstered by experienced transfers, have been part of the streak that matches Texas for the nation’s longest. Both teams are hosting NCAA regional games again. Third-seeded TCU takes on Big West tournament champion UC San Diego (24-8) on Friday, before sixth-seeded Washington (21-10) plays South Dakota State (27-6) in the other game in Fort Worth.
“Being able to play last year, make it to March and then continue that this year, I think (Campbell) has just done a great job putting together pieces of a puzzle and making sure that we all fit together, making sure that the culture is right, that our consistency as a team is put together well,鈥� junior guard Donovyn Hunter said.
Hunter and senior guard Taylor Bigby are the only returners who played last season when the Horned Frogs made their after their first Big 12 regular-season title 鈥� with newcomers Miles, Marta Suarez and Clara Silva in the starting lineup. That record 34-win season last year included victories and Louisville when TCU hosted NCAA Tournament games for the first time.
There are no players left from Campbell’s first TCU team in 2023-24, a roster with Sedona Prince that started 14-0 before the standout post player broke her finger, then top shooter Madison Conner got hurt. The Frogs were down to six scholarship players when they forfeited two games the week they were having . That squad started the streak at Schollmaeir Arena by winning its last two home games.
鈥淚t shows that we鈥檙e able to win with the hand that we鈥檙e dealt,鈥� Campbell said. 鈥� is so unique and amazing, and I love that they played a part in the winning streak. But to do it 42 games, if you told me that three years ago that you鈥檇 have the longest home winning streak in college basketball, men or women, I probably wouldn鈥檛 believe you.鈥�
Old Huskies
Washington has a roster with four seniors who have stayed together for four seasons, while the team’s leading scorer Sayvia Sellers (18.5 ppg) is a third-year junior.
The Huskies last season made the NCAA tourney for the first time since a Sweet 16 appearance in 2016-17. , but now have another chance in March Madness.
鈥淐oming back, obviously you have more confidence naturally. We鈥檝e been here before, so just trying to continue to learn, stay in the moment.鈥� said guard Elle Ladine, one of the four-year seniors.
鈥淲hen the senior class, especially our four seniors that have been here for four years, came into the program, we had a lot of growth ahead of us,鈥� coach Tina Langley said. 鈥淚t’s just been really neat to see them continue to help us grow each year.鈥�
Tritons 2 for 2
UC San Diego has made the NCAA Tournament in both seasons since gaining full Division I postseason eligibility, after to Southern last year.
鈥淟ast year we were really excited to experience actually our first year that we were eligible in Division I,鈥� said Tritons coach Heidi VanDerveer, the sister of Hall of Famer and former Stanford coach Tara VanDerveer. 鈥淭his team is totally different than last year鈥檚 team. So I think the experience comes from three or four people of embracing a tremendous opportunity.鈥�
Even with some transfers, their leading scorer and rebounder is 6-foot-4 junior forward Erin Condron (15.7 ppg, 8.6 rpg), who is in her third season in the program.
鈥淔rom when I first entered this program to now, there鈥檚 been just insane growth鈥� Condron said. 鈥淚t drew me in, the culture that Heidi wanted to create and has continued to build.鈥�
Streaking Jackrabbits
South Dakota State brings a 10-game winning streak and its 15th consecutive 20-win season into the NCAA Tournament.
The 11th-seeded Jackrabbits from the Summit League have twice won as a double-digit seed, including .
The only other programs with such a long streak of 20-win seasons are No. 1 overall seed UConn, Baylor, Louisville and South Carolina.
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