TCU women\u2019s basketball didn\u2019t get its dream Fort Worth path for the NCAA Tournament.<\/p>\n
The Horned Frogs received a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament on Sunday and will host the first two rounds at Schollmaier Arena, but they were placed in the Sacramento regional instead of the one in Fort Worth at Dickies Arena.<\/p>\n
TCU had hoped that it wouldn\u2019t have to leave Fort Worth to reach the first Final Four in school history<\/a>. Despite landing in Sacramento, the Horned Frogs still were appreciative of reaching another NCAA Tournament and hosting the first two rounds in Fort Worth.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s no disappointment. These things, the margin of error is razor-thin,\u201d TCU coach Mark Campbell said. \u201cDickies was booked four or five years ago and TCU, we weren\u2019t even in consideration that our program would even be at a point to play there. In June that was a goal we chased, and while you chase that, the margin of error is tiny.<\/p>\n \u201cComing into today I knew it was a 50-50 chance with Sacramento and Fort Worth. At the end of the day, it\u2019s March Madness. I don\u2019t care who we play, where we play. To play in this tournament, you\u2019ve got to be mentally locked in and excited for wherever they put you and against whatever opponent.\u201d<\/p>\n TCU (29-5) will face No. 14 UC San Diego (24-8) in a first-round game Friday at Schollmaier. The time will be announced later.<\/p>\n If TCU advances, it will face the winner of No. 6 Washington (21-10) and No. 11 South Dakota State (27-6) in the second round Sunday, March 22, at Schollmaier.<\/p>\n That margin of error might\u2019ve been just one game. One of the No. 3 seeds to land in Fort Worth was Ohio State, which defeated TCU 71-69 on Jan. 19 in Newark, New Jersey.<\/p>\n The players echoed Campbell\u2019s message about not being disappointed. Big 12 Player of the Year Olivia Miles said the snub could benefit the Horned Frogs.<\/p>\n \u201cEverything happens for a reason,\u201d Miles said. \u201cWho knows, it may be a blessing in disguise for us. Just grateful that we heard our name called, first of all. We\u2019re ready to play anywhere. I\u2019m just excited to be on a hardwood court. That\u2019s all that matters.\u201d<\/p>\n Miles is referring to the glass court the Horned Frogs played on<\/a> in Kansas City, Missouri, during the Big 12 Tournament. The court went back to hardwood for the men\u2019s tournament semifinals and championship game after numerous complaints.<\/p>\n The Horned Frogs are hoping to bring in a similar crowd as last year when Schollmaier was sold-out for TCU\u2019s second-round win over Louisville. It was arguably the best basketball environment the program has ever had, and a memory that returning guard Donovyn Hunter remembers fondly.<\/p>\n \u201cAnyone that gets a chance to play in March knows the advantage you have playing at your home site,\u201d Hunter said. \u201cThe fans, the community they all showed out for us last year. I\u2019m super excited that we were able to do it again. It\u2019s a testament to that work that our team has done to be able to host.\u201d<\/p>\n The Horned Frogs reached the Elite Eight last season<\/a> in their second year under Campbell. He successfully rebuilt the team<\/a> this season after the loss of several top players, including Big 12 Player of the Year Hailey Van Lith.<\/p>\n