With four returnees and eight transfers, here’s what’s next for TCU men’s basketball
College basketball season is almost here. Last week’s Big 12 media days in Kansas City mark the unofficial start to the season.
For the TCU men’s team, it’s looking to rebound from the first losing season of Jamie Dixon’s career. The Horned Frogs are optimistic about surprising a few folks after overhauling their roster this offseason.
They have just four returning players, including guards Mike Miles and Francisco Farabello, and eight transfers.
The Star-Telegram recently attended a preseason practice and, as always, were first in line peppering Dixon with questions at the media day.
Here’s five storylines to watch:
1. This is Mike Miles’ team. This isn’t breaking news given that Miles is the leading returning scorer and coming off an offseason in which he played on USA Basketball’s U19 gold medal-winning team coached by Dixon.
In a scrimmage earlier this month against Mississippi State, Miles led the team with 14 shot attempts. The next most? Emanuel Miller and Maxwell Evans with six.
Clearly, the offense is going to run through Miles, who had a team-leading 22 points in the scrimmage against Mississippi State. TCU won that scrimmage, 73-69.
Miller and Evans were the only other Frogs to reach double digits as each posted 12 points.
2. Get ready for Miller Time. Outside of Miles, Emanuel Miller may be generating the most preseason hype of any Frog. He did have 12 points against Mississippi State, although it wasn’t his best performance.
Miller shot just 2 of 6 from the field, but drew six fouls and was a perfect 8 of 8 from the free-throw line. He also led the team with seven rebounds.
Barring injury, Miller and Miles are the two locks to be in the starting lineup. Miller is a do-it-all kind of player on the offensive and defensive end.
3. Depth at the 5. Kevin Samuel started all 95 games the past three seasons at center. He’s moved on to Florida Gulf Coast. The good news for TCU, though, is it has multiple options emerging at the five.
Sophomore Eddie Lampkin (6-foot-11, 268 pounds) has lost weight and is essentially a new player from his freshman season. He may be the most improved player on the roster from last season (yes, there isn’t much competition with only four returners).
Another player who has generated positive buzz is junior Xavier Cork, a transfer from Western Carolina. Cork is listed as a forward at 6-foot-9, 228 pounds, but Dixon said that Cork is playing primarily as a five for the Frogs. The Frogs have the roster to go small and play a fast-paced brand of basketball if they choose.
Another center to keep an eye on is Navarro College transfer Souleymane Doumbia, the top-ranked JUCO big man in the country last season. Doumbia has missed time this fall due to a concussion, but brings much-needed depth to the position at 6-foot-11, 235 pounds.
4. Don’t forget about Baugh. Asked which transfer has impressed him the most at media day, Miles didn’t hesitate in answering Damion Baugh.
Baugh, a transfer from Memphis, adds depth to the backcourt. In the scrimmage against Mississippi State, Baugh went just 1 of 5 from the field, including 0 for 3 from 3-point range, but he had two assists and two steals.
And, despite the underwhelming shooting numbers against Mississippi State, Baugh has impressed in practices as a legitimate 3-point threat.
5. Rotation matters. Dixon said this is among his deepest teams since coming to TCU and finding playing time for everyone remains a work in progress.
One player who appears headed for a reduced role, though, is Chuck O’Bannon Jr. He averaged 18 minutes a game last season, but played 6 minutes, 31 seconds and scored three points in the scrimmage against Mississippi State.
With the addition of Texas Tech transfer Micah Peavy, Butler transfer JaKobe Coles and Miller, the minutes may be difficult to find for some.
Peavy, by the way, is expected to become a big contributor but had an off night against Mississippi State. He went 0 for 5 from the field, finishing with two points and three rebounds.
S-T’s starting five
Much can change before the Nov. 11 opener against McNeese State, but here’s our starting five: Miles, Baugh, Miller, Peavy, Lampkin.
