Can TCU Horned Frogs Basketball Reclaim Their Championship Legacy This Season?
I remember watching TCU basketball during their championship glory days, and there was this electric energy that seemed to follow the team everywhere they went. As someone who's followed college basketball for over two decades, I've developed a sixth sense for when a program is truly ready to reclaim its former greatness. This season's TCU Horned Frogs squad has me feeling that familiar tingle of anticipation, but also a healthy dose of skepticism based on what we've witnessed so far.
When I came across Dawn Gumabao's recent comments about the team's self-awareness, it struck me as both refreshing and concerning. Her honest assessment that "we know we're lacking" speaks volumes about where this team currently stands mentally. In my experience covering college athletics, this level of raw honesty from within a program usually indicates one of two things: either a team on the verge of collapse or one that's about to turn the corner. Gumabao specifically mentioned those moments where they should have shown maturity but instead made crucial mistakes. I've seen this pattern before with teams trying to rediscover their championship DNA - it's not about talent but about developing that killer instinct when games are on the line.
Looking at their performance metrics this season, the numbers tell a compelling story. The Horned Frogs have played 24 games so far, with a 16-8 record that looks decent on paper but masks some frustrating inconsistencies. What stands out to me is their performance in close games - they're 3-5 in contests decided by five points or fewer. That statistic alone validates Gumabao's concerns about letting winnable games slip away. I've always believed that championship teams find ways to win those tight matchups, while good teams find ways to lose them. The Horned Frogs have shown flashes of brilliance, like their impressive victory over Kansas where they shot 48% from beyond the arc, but then followed it with head-scratching losses to teams they had no business losing to.
The defensive metrics particularly concern me. They're allowing opponents to shoot 44.2% from the field, which places them in the bottom half of the Big 12 conference. Having studied championship teams throughout basketball history, I can tell you that no team has ever won meaningful hardware with mediocre defense. It's the foundation everything else is built upon. Their rebounding numbers are more encouraging though - they're averaging 36.8 rebounds per game, which shows they're competing physically. But basketball IQ matters just as much as physical effort, and that's where Gumabao's comments about maturity really resonate with what I've observed from the sidelines.
What gives me hope is their offensive firepower. They're averaging 78.3 points per game, with an effective field goal percentage of 52.1%. Those numbers would make any offensive coordinator smile. Mike Miles Jr. has been spectacular, averaging 17.2 points while shooting 49% from the field. But here's the thing I've learned from watching great players - individual brilliance can win games, but only collective maturity wins championships. The Horned Frogs have the pieces, but do they have the poise?
I recall speaking with a former TCU player from their 1998 championship team, and he emphasized that their success wasn't about X's and O's as much as it was about developing what he called "situational awareness." That's exactly what seems to be missing from this current squad based on Gumabao's assessment. Those moments she mentioned where they know they should be mature but make mistakes instead - that's the gap between being a tournament team and being a championship team.
The schedule ahead presents both challenges and opportunities. They face three ranked opponents in their final eight games, including a tough road matchup against Baylor. In my view, these games will tell us everything we need to know about their championship aspirations. Great teams elevate their play against quality opposition, while good teams use tough opponents as excuses for coming up short. The Horned Frogs have shown they can compete with anyone - now they need to show they can consistently beat quality teams.
What encourages me is that this level of self-awareness from players often precedes significant improvement. When team leaders like Gumabao openly acknowledge their shortcomings without making excuses, it creates accountability throughout the locker room. I've seen this pattern before - the 2014 UConn team comes to mind, where players' public acknowledgment of their defensive lapses sparked a turnaround that led to an unexpected championship run.
The Horned Frogs have the talent, there's no question about that. But talent alone doesn't win championships - it's the marriage of talent with timing, poise, and that elusive quality we call "clutch." As we approach tournament season, I'm cautiously optimistic about their chances. They need to tighten up their defensive rotations, improve their decision-making in crunch time, and develop the mental toughness that defines all great teams. If they can address these issues, there's no reason they can't make a deep tournament run. But if they continue to let winnable games slip away, we might be having this same conversation next year about unrealized potential. The foundation is there - now they need to build upon it with the consistency that separates good teams from great ones.
