Four big questions facing TCU men’s basketball this season
TCU men’s basketball is less than a month away from its season opener vs. Florida A&M on Nov. 4.
Coming off three straight NCAA Tournament appearances, the Horned Frogs are entering a new chapter with former stars like Emanuel Miller, Mike Miles Jr. all moving from the program in the last few seasons.
TCU returns just one player that earned minutes in the rotation last season along with redshirt freshmen Isaiah Manning and Jace Posey. The Horned Frogs rebuilt their roster with the program’s best high school recruiting class of all-time and another deep transfer class.
But how will all the pieces mesh in a deeper, tougher Big 12? Here are the four biggest questions facing TCU basketball this season:
Who replaces Emanuel Miller?
Emanuel Miller is one of the many former players that helped turn TCU basketball around and he was the team’s best player and leader last year. Miller could do a bit of everything from the forward spot including rebounding, scoring in transition and knocking down the occasional 3-pointer. His presence in the locker room was just as valuable as his skill set on the court, but now Miller is trying to earn a spot with the Dallas Mavericks.
So how does TCU replace his 15.8 points and 6.1 rebounds? There are some intriguing options on the roster led by UNC-Wilmington transfer Trazarien White. White averaged 19.8 points and 6.8 rebounds for the Seahawks last season including breakout games against Arkansas and Kentucky. White isn’t as physically gifted as Miller, but knows how to score at a high level and is also coming off a season where he shot nearly 40% from 3.
The program would love if true freshman Micah Robinson is able to seize that role at some point this season. One of the highest ranked recruits to ever sign with TCU, Robinson is called a man child around the gym for his work ethic and size at his age. It could be a lot to ask of a freshman, but Robinson may already be the most talented player on the roster.
Frontcourt depth?
Speaking to the media recently, head coach Jamie Dixon said he didn’t see any glaring holes on the roster, but while Dixon is optimistic about the group, there is one area that looks questionable. The Horned Frogs have just two true centers on the roster in returning starter Ernest Udeh and true freshman Malick Diallo. Dixon did say Diallo has been one of the bigger surprises during the preseason, but Diallo could take a redshirt this season.
If he does, who backs up Udeh? There’s freshman forward David Punch, who is currently listed at 6-foot-7, and the Horned Frogs also added 6’10 freshman center Adam Stewart over the summer. Stewart was a three-star recruit in the Class of 2022. The Horned Frogs will be relying on youth to back up Udeh, who doesn’t have a ton of live game reps himself. Udeh won’t be the best player, but he could be the most important.
If he lands in foul trouble, how will TCU respond, especially on defense? The Horned Frogs need some of their youth to grow up rapidly.
Guard play
TCU’s backcourt production took a step back after the departure of Miles and Damion Baugh. With no true point guard on the roster, TCU’s offense struggled to find consistency when teams took away transition opportunities. The Horned Frogs feel like they’ve upgraded in that area with the signings of Arizona State transfer Frankie Collins and Green Bay transfer Noah Reynolds.
Collins is a downhill, athletic floor general that started the last two seasons for the Sun Devils before transferring to Fort Worth. Reynolds is a prolific scorer that can create for himself and others at a high level. Reynolds 20.0 points and 4.5 assists last season. Both are capable of playing on or off the ball and Dixon says both have already emerged as leaders of the new group.
TCU also has impressive depth with Old Dominion transfer Vasean Allette, Kansas State transfer RJ Jones and Wyoming transfer Brendan Wenzel. Allette fits the profile of a sixth man, bringing in a scoring punch off the bench. Wenzel should help with his 3-point shooting while Jones was a blue chip recruit in the Class of 2023.
Will the redshirts take a leap?
Isaiah Manning and Jace Posey are two players, Dixon is high on and the Horned Frogs will need both to become contributors this season. Manning is a skilled forward and tenacious rebounder with an underrated shooting stroke. With TCU’s lack of depth at the center spot, it wouldn’t be a surprise if the 6’8 Manning has to run some small five at times. Manning took a nice in the right direction physically during the redshirt season and seems ready to battle opposing bigs.
Posey, the son of two-time NBA champion James Posey, might be the most athletic player on the roster. His slashing ability in transition is sure to lead to a few highlights. Listed as a guard, Posey will have more competition to overcome, but Dixon also praised his rebounding ability and TCU’s up-tempo offense is perfectly suited for his skill set.
Don’t sleep on either carving out a big role in the rotation this season.
This story was originally published October 11, 2024 at 5:00 AM.
