TCU men’s basketball opens practice. What’s the latest on Jaylen Fisher’s health?
TCU snapped a 20-year NCAA tournament drought. With a veteran backcourt returning, the Frogs have high hopes this season.
“We’ve got a good group of guys, young guys, talented guys, it’s going to be a fun year,” said junior guard Desmond Bane, a 46.1 percent 3-point shooter last season.
“You can feel the energy. Us older guys, juniors and seniors, are ready to lead and step up.”
TCU took another step toward its season with its first official practice on Thursday. NCAA allows teams to start 42 days before the first game, which in TCU’s case is Nov. 7 vs. Cal State Bakersfield.
The Frogs had four players out of the first practice, though, including standout junior guard Jaylen Fisher. Fisher is continuing his rehab after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his right knee earlier this month.
It’s the same knee that Fisher underwent surgery on for a torn meniscus last January, ending his sophomore season. But Fisher is confident he’ll be ready by the opener, although he might not play in it.
The goal is for Fisher to be ready to play the entire season even if it means being overly cautious with him in the early parts of the season.
“Facts, facts, facts. I should be ready for the opener, not like I’m coming back for opener, but I should be ready by opener,” Fisher said. “Physically, I’m getting better every day.”
Fisher, TCU’s highest-ranked recruit ever, has battled injuries his entire career. Along with a torn meniscus in his right knee last January, Fisher tore the meniscus in his left knee before last season. He also broke his left wrist in the NIT tournament his freshman season.
Fisher is confident he’ll bounce back, and so is coach Jamie Dixon.
“It is what it is. He’s obviously had a series of injuries unlike anybody I’ve ever seen,” Dixon said. “But he’s come back and he’s stronger each time. I wouldn’t be surprised if he does it again.”
Having a veteran backcourt with players such as Fisher, Bane and Alex Robinson is something that excites Dixon. That is usually necessary for teams to make runs in March.
But Dixon noted that eight of his 13 scholarship players haven’t played college basketball.
“We’re the most veteran young team in America,” Dixon said. “I don’t know how we’re considered. We’ve got eight guys that haven’t played college basketball, yet we’re ranked in the Top 25. It’s the youngest group we’ve ever had. This is the year to be young because you at least have more time to work with your guys.”
With that being said, Dixon didn’t make too big of a deal about the first official practice. The biggest change is time the coaching staff can spend with the team compared to what they’ve been doing in previous weeks.
In previous weeks, TCU could have four hours of basketball and four hours of conditioning. Now that is pushed up to 20-hour weeks.
“We won’t use all of it, but generally about 15 hours of basketball and that includes video tape and watching things, walking through things, scouting reports, all of those things,” Dixon said. “It’s just a lot more time we can spend on basketball.”