TCU men relaxed and focused as they await chance at history against No. 1 Duke
TCU men’s basketball has a chance to make history and secure arguably the biggest win in program history if it can upset No. 1 overall seed Duke on Saturday.
The No. 9 seed Horned Frogs will tip off against the Blue Devils at 4:15 p.m. on CBS in a second-round game that could attract the most NCAA Tournament viewers this weekend.
TCU has played a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament when it faced Arizona in 2022, and the Horned Frogs also had a marquee game against Gonzaga, a No. 3 seed, in 2023. Those are two of the biggest brands in college basketball, but even they pale in comparison to the brand power of the Blue Devils.
It’s only fitting that TCU’s quest for history — the first true Sweet 16 berth in program history — will go through one of the juggernauts of the sport.
“We want to take a next, and it’s the No. 1 team in the country, and it’s Duke,” TCU coach Jamie Dixon said. “I think I’ve coached against them [four times], but it’s more about being in the tournament and winning a second game.”
As large as the stage is, the Horned Frogs’ players are approaching Saturday like any other game in the Big 12. TCU has already faced three other No. 1 seeds in Arizona, Michigan and Florida plus No. 2 seeds Houston and Iowa State this season. The Horned Frogs are 2-3 in those games.
Saturday will be no different from those matchups; the only difference will be the jerseys of the opponents.
“Nope,” TCU senior guard Jayden Pierre said when asked if there was any extra weight to the Duke matchup.
“Obviously they’re the No. 1 seed, but we look at every opponent in this tournament as a team we want to beat. I think every game we value the same. We go into playing our game with the same mentality. So whoever we play, it’s going to be same for us no matter what.”
The challenge of No. 1 Duke
While TCU isn’t adding any extra pressure to the game, the Horned Frogs are certainly excited about the matchup.
The primary goal will be guarding potential National Player of the Year and No. 1 overall pick Cameron Boozer. Listed at 6-foot-9, 250 pounds Boozer has lived up to his five-star billing by averaging 22.5 points, 10.3 rebounds and a team-high 4.2 assists.
For 95% of the country, the matchup with Boozer would be stressful to prepare for, but TCU has faced its fair share of lottery picks this season, including BYU AJ Dybantsa, Houston’s Kingston Fleming and Kansas’ Darryn Peterson.
Boozer is “amazing,” Dixon said. “Obviously we’ve played against the best freshman in the country. I remember seeing him as a sophomore [in high school] and how good he was. I just think there are other freshmen in that caliber in the draft that are in that same [tier] of first five picks. It’s remarkable how good of a freshman class it is.
“.We played against them. You go down the list, AJ, Fleming, Peterson, and you can go down the list. We have younger guys that move like him and are confident.”
David Punch, Xavier Edmonds excited for opportunity
Those younger guys are sophomore David Punch and junior Xavier Edmonds, and the big men will be the two biggest keys to TCU pulling off the upset.
Edmonds, a third-team All-Big 12 selection, scored 16 points and grabbed eight rebounds in the win over Ohio State, while Punch added 16 points, 13 rebounds and three blocks. Both players view this as a showcase game for them as they battle the potential top pick.
“I think he’s a lot like us in how he creates his shots,” Punch said. “I’m excited to see how me and X go against him. It’s a great opportunity for me and him to showcase how good we are on a stage like this.”
Edmonds felt the same and also thinks Punch’s defensive versatility could be the key in frustrating Boozer.
“Great player, real physical,” Edmonds said. “We feel like we’re somewhat of the same makeup just in terms of physicality and weight. Hopefully we match up well, especially Punch. He’s real athletic, he can move, and I’m excited to see how it goes.”
Edmonds is listed at 6-8, 245 pounds, while Punch comes in at 6-7, 245 pounds. That doesn’t include an impressive wingspan that allows him to play larger than his height.
Both players are capable of making Boozer work for 40 minutes on both sides of the court, which could bode well for the Horned Frogs if they’re able to wear him down.
With the biggest brand in college basketball, the potential No. 1 pick and the increased viewership through March Madness, all eyes will be on TCU as it aims to make history.
But TCU isn’t letting the noise around the game alter its focus with a berth in the Sweet 16 on the line.
“We know we have a chance to do something special,” sophomore forward Micah Robinson said. “We’re one game away from making history.”
