Three takeaways from TCU’s regular-season finale against Cincinnati
TCU ended its regular season with one more Big 12 tilt, this time against Cincinnati on Saturday hoping for another win to polish up its NCAA Tournament resume.
The Horned Frogs did so with a 73-63 home victory over the Bearcats at Schollmaier Arena.
It was a back-and-forth affair in the first half, but the Horned Frogs kept the Bearcats at bay. TCU led by double digits for much of the second half thanks to play-making from Brock Harding (seven points for the game) and David Punch, who scored 13 points for the game. The pair combined for 13 assists to only three turnovers overall.
Jayden Pierre powers Horned Frogs in first half
It was Senior Night for the Horned Frogs, and Providence transfer and senior Jayden Pierre had a big first half for the Horned Frogs, leading the team in scoring and providing a spark on offense when the offense was stagnant.
Pierre talked postgame about how that bucket kickstarted the offense.
“I think our, initially, our defense, jump-started. They were stacking the first conversation of the game. I felt that really got me going. I’m pretty sure that rushed the team going. So at that point, I just really felt confidence going into offense,” said Pierre.
Head coach Jamie Dixon talked about what Pierre, a Providence transfer has brought to the program.
“He’s a defender consistently, and so that’s important. Low turnovers is what we have. We have a 2 guard that has a good assist-to-turnover ratio and can play some point. So he gives us a lot of versatility,” said Dixon.
Pierre finished with 18 points, five rebounds, five assists and two steals, with one turnover.
It was the second straight double-digit scoring game for the guard who had 14 in the team’s upset win over Texas Tech.
Pierre scored three straight buckets in the first half which kicked off an offensive stretch that saw the Horned Frogs make 8 of their 13 baskets before taking a slim lead into halftime.
How did this game affect their NCAA Tournament chances?
TCU came into Saturday’s game trending toward an at-large bid in the NCAA Tournament, provided the Horned Frogs don't win the Big 12 Tournament, with ESPN, CBS and the NCAA’s projections all having the Horned Frogs in the field.
Pierre talked about how getting back to the NCAA Tournament was a big reason he chose the Horned Frogs in the portal.
“I mean, I was [in the NCAA Tournament] one time my freshman year, played two minutes, lost first round to Kentucky. Haven’t been back since, so coming here, I mean, that’s that’s been the goal,” said Pierre, ”[Our] coaching staff, I know they know what it takes.”
A win over the Bearcats (17-14, 9-9) provides the Horned Frogs with another quality Big 12-opponent win, and with only the Big 12 Tournament remaining, it seems very likely TCU will be back in March Madness for the first time since 2023.
TCU sets new mark under Jamie Dixon
Jamie Dixon has coached the Horned Frogs since the 2016 season, but this season marked the first for TCU with a winning in-conference record.
That comes as the talent in the Big 12 is at an all-time high with the conference tied for the national lead with five teams in the AP Top 25 Men’s Basketball poll. The Horned Frogs won eight of their past nine games against Big 12 opponents, including two wins over top-ten opponents.
The Horned Frogs are getting hot at the right time and Pierre said the knowledge and experience from these wins would help the Horned Frogs as the postseason approaches.
“We know what it takes to win games,” Pierre said. “We know what it looks like. We know what our preparation needs to be. We know when we need to focus and lock in. ... We know when to let things go. I feel like all these things have really taught us a lot of lessons, a lot of valuable lessons, and we’re clicking at the right time.”
TCU finished the season with an 11-7 conference record it’s best conference mark since the team went 14-0 as a member of the WAC in 1997.
Punch said the team’s journey to a wining conference record was special and not easily forgotten.
“It means a lot, said Punch. “I think it’s a testimony to who we are as a team. I mean we’ve come together a lot these last couple weeks, and like I said earlier, I mean, we had some tough games, and those really built who we are today. We all know that as a team, and I don’t think we’ll ever let go of that. So I think that’s something that fuels us going forward.”
TCU will play next in the Big 12 Tournament which begins on Wednesday in Kansas City, and their opponent and time are yet to be determined.
This story was originally published March 7, 2026 at 3:22 PM with the headline "Three takeaways from TCU’s regular-season finale against Cincinnati."
