Analysis: How can the Horned Frogs rebuild their roster after Elite Eight run?
TCU women’s basketball got off to a hot start with its offseason by landing Kentucky transfer center Clara Silva just one day after the Horned Frogs’ season came to an end in the Elite Eight.
On paper, Silva is the exact type of player that can replace Sedona Prince. Prince was a first team All-Big 12 selection and also made All-Big 12 defense while being the Horned Frogs’ anchor on that side of the floor.
Silva matches Prince’s size at 6-foot-7 and has plenty of potential as she’ll just be a sophomore next season. Silva’s numbers (4.0 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 1.1 bpg) won’t jump off the page, but it should be noted she played behind Clara Strack, the SEC Defensive Player of the Year and Strack was also voted second team All-SEC.
Silva will walk into a situation with plenty of playing time and should be TCU’s center of the future. Replacing Prince was one of TCU’s top priorities, but there’s still more work to be done in rebuilding the roster.
Replacing Hailey Van Lith
It’s fair to say that Van Lith was the biggest portal addition by any team this past season as she took TCU from a solid team to the Elite Eight while becoming the first Horned Frog to be named Big 12 Player of the Year. Not only was she a superstar on the court, Van Lith made TCU one of college basketball’s biggest draws on television and social media.
So how will the Horned Frogs approach replacing her? TCU will surely try and go big game hunting and there’s some rumblings that the Horned Frogs could be involved with Notre Dame transfer Olivia Miles. A projected top three pick in the WNBA Draft, Miles stunned many by entering the transfer portal instead of the draft and will be the top player in the portal. It remains to be seen if the Horned Frogs will be able to win a bidding war for her services.
TCU’s best option for a Van Lith replacement may already be on the roster. Kentucky transfer Maddie Scherr took a medical redshirt this past season and intends to return to Fort Worth next season. A former McDonald’s All-American, Scherr averaged 12.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.4 steals in the 2023-24 season with the Wildcats. That’s above average production in the tough SEC and if she’s 100% it’s reasonable to think her numbers could experience a jump.
Donovyn Hunter could also be the answer after she had a number of breakout performances during March Madness. Hunter scored in double figures in three games in the Big 12 and NCAA Tournament including 18 points in the second round win over Louisville. TCU could have a formidable backcourt with Hunter and Scherr.
Roster retention?
Most of TCU’s roster exhausted its eligibility, but there are a few players outside of Hunter and Scherr with more years to play. The biggest name to watch is Taylor Bigby. Bigby transferred to Fort Worth from USC seeking a bigger role and she found it.
After starting 11 games for the Trojans last season, Bigby started 25 for TCU this season, but by mid-February she was pulled from the starting lineup in favor of Hunter. Her production and minutes plummeted as she appeared to struggle with confidence down the stretch. But with the departure of Van Lith, Prince and Madison Conner there’s ample playing time for Bigby available now.
At her best, she’s a versatile wing that can create her own shot and defend at a high level. She could thrive more with the ball in her hands next season. Forward Aaliyah Roberson has another year and was a quality reserve for the Horned Frogs behind Agnes Emma-Nnopu. Keeping Roberson would give TCU an experienced forward that is capable of knocking down shots from outside.
Taking the next step
TCU reached the Elite Eight thanks to a highly skilled offense led by Van Lith, Conner and Prince. All three were quality shooters that were comfortable scoring in the half court, but there was a common theme in TCU’s losses to Texas, Kansas State and South Carolina.
All three teams had a noticeable athleticism advantage that made the Horned Frogs uncomfortable. TCU’s offensive scheme relies a lot on ball screens and creating open jump shots off the pick and roll. But those teams were able to battle through the screens and turn TCU’s fluid offense into one where the guards had to over-dribble because no one can get open.
These are the type of teams the Horned Frogs will have to overcome to reach the Final Four and beyond and that means the Horned Frogs need to find more athleticism on the wing. Bigby is a good start, but the Horned Frogs need two or three more just like her which isn’t easy to find.
TCU will have size with three players standing at least 6’7 and there should still be plenty of skill with Hunter, Scherr and incoming freshman Clara Bielefeld. Bielefeld is a 6’4 guard from Germany that played professionally and for the German national team in FIBA competition.
Now the Horned Frogs must add more speed and physicality to the roster. It could be the difference in repeating as Big 12 champions in 2025.
