TCU’s trip to San Jose, Costa Rica gave Jamie Dixon and his new-look roster two clean looks at where things stand, and the early returns were encouraging. The Horned Frogs went 2-0 against the University of Ottawa, opening with a 93-66 win on Saturday before following it up with a 99-70 victory on Sunday night.
The first game was a strong showcase for the transfers making up the top of the scoring column. Long Beach transfer Gavin Sykes led the way with 20 points and five made threes, a welcome sign for a TCU program that has often had to grind for perimeter production.
West Virginia transfer DJ Thomas added 15 points and three triples while bringing what was described as lockdown defense. Texas Tech transfer Luke Bamgboye scored 13, and highly anticipated JUCO transfer Trent Lincoln chipped in 11 points and three threes.
Lincoln also fits the pattern of Dixon leaning into the JUCO route, joining the previously No. 1 JUCO-rated player, Xavier Edmonds.
TCU controlled that opener from the jump, taking a 28-15 lead after the first quarter and a 51-32 edge at halftime. By the end of the third, the Frogs were up 70-40, with the defense tightening the screws on Ottawa. They finished with 14 made threes and 37 deflections, two numbers that stood out in a game that was otherwise shaped by TCU’s pressure and depth.
The returners contributed too. Micah Robinson scored 10 points, hit two threes, and moved the ball well.
Brock Harding had five points, Ryan Hunt added three, and Tanner Toolson finished with seven. That first game also featured a starting group of Micah Robinson, Brock Harding, Ryan Hunt, Tanner Toolson, and Xavier Edmonds, a reminder of how fluid this roster could be going forward into 2027.
Sunday brought a different feel, even if the result stayed the same. TCU trailed 16-6 at one point in the first quarter before clawing back to tie it 20-20 at the end of the period.
From there, the Frogs settled in, outscoring Ottawa 34-14 in the second quarter to take a 54-34 halftime lead. They kept stretching the margin from there, scoring 18 in the third and 27 in the fourth.
Sykes was the headliner again with another 20-point performance, giving TCU a scorer it can lean on when the offense needs a steady answer. Tanner Toolson added 18 points, while Lincoln scored 13.
Bamgboye, Robinson, and Thomas each finished with 11 points. TCU also kept the ball cleaner, finishing with nine turnovers to Ottawa’s 14.
The three-point shooting wasn’t as sharp in the second game, but the broader picture still looked promising for a team trying to figure out its rotation and identity. TCU used a different starting lineup on Sunday, with Sykes, Lincoln, Bamgboye, Thomas, and Micah Robinson all getting their first starts alongside Robinson.
By the end of the weekend, the Frogs had played a lot of different guys in a lot of different combinations, and that was the point of the trip. The level of competition wasn’t Big 12 caliber, but the games gave TCU a chance to test pieces, sort through rotations, and gather a baseline before the season gets real.
In Other News...
TCU's North Carolina Rematch Just Got More Complicated For The Tar Heels
North Carolinas buildup to a key stretch has taken another turn, and it does not make life any easier for the Tar Heels before their meeting with TCU. The program announced that defensive coordinator Stephen Belichick is on medical leave, with the rest of the defensive staff handling his duties in the meantime, while head coach Bill Belichick said his son will be back as soon as possible.
The timing matters because North Carolina is trying to navigate important games while also operating without general manager Michael Lombardi, who remains on paid administrative leave. For TCU, that means the rematch comes with an opponent still sorting out who is steering major parts of the operation, especially on defense, and there is no clean answer yet on when that stability will return. [Read more 🡒]
TCUs Offensive Line Battle Could Decide How Physical This Team Becomes
TCUs fall camp has put the offensive line under a microscope, and for good reason. After losing key pieces from last season, the Frogs are trying to rebuild the front while also figuring out how much versatility they can squeeze out of the group. Offensive line coach and co-offensive coordinator A.J. Ricker has been mixing and matching players to create a rotation that could eventually stretch to 8-10 linemen, a sign that the staff wants both competition and depth before the real hits start.
Among the players in the mix, senior left tackle Ben Taylor-Whitfield stands out as an important anchor for a unit still sorting itself out. Transfers and returning starters are all battling for spots, and the bigger question may be less about who opens the season in a starting role than how physical this line can become once Ricker settles on the best combinations. For TCU, the answer could shape the identity of the offense as much as anything else in camp. [Read more 🡒]
TCU Fans Have One Big Reason To Watch Jaden Craig Closely
Fall camp has given TCU a clearer look at Jaden Craig, and the early reviews around the transfer quarterback have been encouraging. Brad Robbins praised Craigs steady approach, intelligence and leadership as the Horned Frogs get ready for their season opener against North Carolina, while wide receiver Ed Small said the offense has shown noticeable improvement in intensity and chemistry with Craig running it.
Craig, who arrived from Harvard, is being asked to step into the role vacated by Josh Hoover, and the early signs suggest he has settled in quickly. The bigger question now is how far that growing comfort translates once the games count, especially with TCU entering a new season expecting its quarterback to set the tone for the entire offense. [Read more 🡒]