TCU’s Lineup Shake-Up Sparks Statement Win Over No. 5 Iowa State
Sometimes, all it takes is a subtle shift to change the trajectory of a season. On Tuesday night, TCU men’s basketball made one of those moves - and it paid off in a big way.
In a game that could end up defining their season, the Horned Frogs pulled off a massive upset over No. 5 Iowa State, and the catalyst was sophomore forward Micah Robinson stepping into the starting lineup.
The move wasn’t just about shaking things up - it was about unlocking potential. And Robinson delivered, turning in the most complete performance of his young career with 17 points, six rebounds, and two steals.
Let’s be clear: this wasn’t just a feel-good moment. This was a pivotal development for a program that’s trying to establish itself as a consistent force in the Big 12.
Robinson, the third-highest-ranked recruit to sign with TCU since at least 2001, is exactly the kind of player head coach Jamie Dixon needs to not only land, but develop and keep in Fort Worth. Tuesday night was a glimpse of what that investment could return.
So why the change? According to Dixon, it wasn’t just about performance - it was about fit, rotation flexibility, and depth in the frontcourt.
“There were a couple of slow starts, but there were a variety of things,” Dixon said. “We have [Vianney Salatchoum] now.
It gives us another big to throw in there [with Liutaurus Lelevicius]. It was something we were planning on doing, then [Malick Diallo] went down, the rotation changed.”
Dixon has long emphasized minutes over starting roles, a strategy that helps keep morale steady in a deep rotation. But there’s no denying this particular decision had a major impact.
Robinson brought a different energy to the floor. A long, athletic wing with defensive upside, he didn’t just score - he made his presence felt on both ends.
One of the most impressive stretches came late in the game, when he locked down Iowa State’s Milan Momcilovic, a skilled scorer with NBA potential. In the final five minutes, Robinson held him scoreless - a defensive stand that helped seal the win.
This wasn’t Robinson’s first start - he filled in against Baylor when David Punch was out - but it was the first time he got the nod with the full roster available. And he made the most of it.
“It definitely means a lot,” Robinson said postgame. “It shows the trust the coaching staff and my teammates have in me. It meant a lot to be able to come out there and compete.”
Robinson set the tone early with nine first-half points, then capped the night with two rim-rattling dunks in the final minutes to punctuate the upset. More importantly, he played a composed, mature game - showing the patience and decision-making he’s been working on since the preseason.
Against one of the stingiest defenses in the country, he didn’t force anything. He let the game come to him, and it showed.
“He’s a winning player,” Iowa State head coach T.J. Otzelberger said. “He made so many big plays.”
But Robinson wasn’t the only Horned Frog to step up.
Toolson Turns Up the Heat
Reserve wing Tanner Toolson came off the bench and brought a different kind of fire. He matched Robinson’s 17 points, added nine rebounds, and knocked down 10 clutch free throws. His energy was contagious, and his physicality in the paint gave TCU a much-needed edge.
Toolson was a force during a critical 10-0 run in the second half, scoring eight of those points to give the Horned Frogs a 49-41 lead. He didn’t just score - he attacked the Cyclones’ defense with relentless downhill drives, drawing 10 fouls and keeping Iowa State on their heels.
It wasn’t just offense, either. Toolson came up with key defensive rebounds late, preventing second-chance opportunities and helping close out the game.
At 6-foot-5, he gave TCU some much-needed size in the backcourt, especially when Dixon opted to pair him with Jayden Pierre instead of the usual Pierre-Brock Harding combo. Against Iowa State’s long, physical guards, that adjustment helped level the playing field.
“The way I play my game, I’m going to give 100% effort every single time,” Toolson said. “If everybody could play hard, they would. I take pride in that, and it was nice to see the ball go into the basket tonight.”
That motor? You can’t teach it. Toolson plays like every possession is the last one of the game, and on Tuesday, that edge helped tilt the game in TCU’s favor.
“Sometimes I’d like to slow him down offensively and defensively at times,” Dixon admitted. “But if you can’t do it, you can live with him going full speed all the time.
He’s just so passionate about it. He cares and he plays hard.”
Toolson’s hustle plays - the long rebounds, the loose balls, the physical finishes - were the kind of moments that don’t always show up in the box score, but absolutely swing games.
Big Picture: A Season-Saving Adjustment?
Heading into Tuesday night, TCU was hanging on by a thread in the NCAA Tournament conversation. According to ESPN’s Joe Lunardi, they were among the “next four out.” By the next day, they were the last team in the field.
That’s how much this win mattered.
There’s still work to be done, and TCU can’t afford any missteps down the stretch, but Dixon’s willingness to adjust - to trust his young talent and shake up the rotation - might have saved the season.
Micah Robinson brought the polish. Tanner Toolson brought the fire. Together, they gave TCU a jolt of life when the team needed it most.
Sometimes, the smallest tweaks can make the biggest difference.