TCU Falters in Boulder: Defensive Woes and Offensive Drought Doom Horned Frogs in Blowout Loss to Colorado
After navigating a brutal opening stretch in Big 12 play - one that featured four ranked opponents and two rivalry games against Baylor - TCU had a golden opportunity to reset and build momentum. But instead of capitalizing, the Horned Frogs delivered one of their most disappointing performances of the season, falling flat in an 87-61 loss on the road to Colorado.
This wasn’t just a loss - it was a collapse. TCU trailed by as many as 28 points in the second half, and at no point after the midway mark did it feel like the Horned Frogs had a real shot to claw back into the game. What was supposed to be a chance to stack a much-needed win turned into a missed opportunity that could linger into March.
A Second-Half Slide That Sealed It
There was a brief flicker of hope early in the second half. After Brock Harding knocked down a three to cut the deficit to 48-35 with just over 16 minutes to play, it looked like TCU might be ready to mount a comeback. But Colorado had other plans.
The Buffaloes responded with a 16-3 run that blew the game wide open. By the 10:49 mark, they led 64-38 - and TCU never got closer than 20 the rest of the way.
The contrast between the two offenses was stark. Colorado operated with precision, spacing the floor, moving the ball, and knocking down shots.
TCU, meanwhile, looked disjointed. The Horned Frogs struggled to find rhythm or efficiency, particularly from beyond the arc, where they hit just 5-of-22 (23%).
Defensive Identity Takes a Hit
TCU came into conference play with a top-25 defense by rating, and much of its early-season success was built on that foundation. But against Colorado, that identity simply didn’t travel.
The Buffaloes, who came in averaging over 80 points per game, looked every bit the offensive juggernaut they’ve been all season. They shot north of 50% from the field for the entire game and drilled 11 three-pointers. The Horned Frogs had no answers.
What made it even tougher to defend was Colorado’s balance. Five different players scored in double figures, led by Isaiah Johnson and Sebastian Rancik, but the bench chipped in as well. TCU couldn’t key in on any one player, and as a result, the Buffaloes picked them apart.
For a TCU team that’s prided itself on defensive toughness, this kind of showing is a gut punch - especially when you consider the postseason implications. This was a Quad 2 opportunity, the kind of win that boosts your NCAA Tournament resume. Instead, it’s likely to send the Horned Frogs tumbling in bracket projections.
Xavier Edmonds Shines in the Loss
If there was one bright spot for TCU, it was the continued emergence of Xavier Edmonds. The sophomore forward, fresh off earning his first Big 12 honor, notched his fourth straight double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds. And he didn’t just pad stats - he kept TCU afloat during its roughest stretches.
Late in the first half and early in the second, Edmonds scored nine straight points for the Horned Frogs. He was the only TCU player to reach double figures, and his energy on the glass was one of the few things that didn’t waver.
But Edmonds couldn’t do it alone. TCU shot just 34% from the field as a team and managed only 22% from deep. Without more consistent scoring options, especially from the perimeter, the Horned Frogs were outgunned and outpaced.
A First Half to Forget
The game started with promise. Both teams came out aggressive, trading buckets early.
A three from Micah Robinson gave TCU a 17-15 lead with 12:42 left in the first half. But that would be one of the last offensive highlights for a while.
TCU’s offense unraveled down the stretch of the half. After David Punch scored back-to-back buckets to cut Colorado’s lead to 22-21 with just over nine minutes left, the Horned Frogs went ice cold. Nearly eight minutes passed without a single point.
Turnovers, poor shot selection, and a lack of execution plagued TCU, while Colorado capitalized. A 12-0 Buffaloes run pushed the lead to 34-21 before Edmonds finally snapped the drought. By halftime, TCU trailed 38-25 - and it could’ve been worse.
What’s Next?
TCU has time to right the ship, but this one will sting. The loss in Boulder wasn’t just a bad night - it was a missed chance to build momentum and strengthen a tournament resume. And more than that, it was a performance that could shake confidence in a group that’s leaned heavily on its defensive grit.
The Horned Frogs will return home to face Kansas State in Fort Worth on Saturday at 1 p.m. They’ll need a bounce-back effort - not just to get back in the win column, but to reassert the identity that’s carried them this far. Because if Sunday’s showing is any indication, the margin for error is shrinking fast.