In the second consecutive year, TCU’s basketball season ends in disappointment, losing to the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Gonzaga’s defense was able to stop TCU’s ball penetration and limit their outside shooting opportunities, while Drew Timme proved to be too much for the Horned Frogs. The absence of Eddie Lampkin, who quit the team right before the start of the Big 12 tournament, was felt in TCU’s loss to Gonzaga, as the team lacked a physical presence in the middle to match up against Timme. Despite making it to the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive season and winning a game, TCU fell short of expectations. With Lampkin and Miles returning, many had expected TCU to at least make it to the Sweet 16. However, Lampkin’s departure had a noticeable impact on their performance down the stretch.
TCU’s basketball season ends in disappointment yet again, with the team losing to the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. This marks the second consecutive year that TCU made it to the final game of the Round of 32 only to lose to a higher-seeded team. Despite a 22-13 record, TCU’s performance this season was seen as a “successful disappointment” given the team’s talent and experience.
One factor that likely contributed to TCU’s loss was the absence of center Eddie Lampkin, who quit the team right before the start of the Big 12 tournament. Lampkin had played a key role in TCU’s overtime loss against top-seeded Arizona in last year’s tournament, and his physical presence in the middle could have made a difference against Gonzaga’s Drew Timme, one of the most creative low post scorers in college basketball.
Despite TCU’s efforts to throw different defenders and looks at Timme, he was able to score 28 points on 12-of-21 shooting, eight points above his season average. Without Lampkin, TCU was simply too undersized to adequately cover Timme and was out-rebounded 43-36.
Although TCU’s loss can be attributed in part to Lampkin’s absence, it’s worth noting that the team’s roster had changed dramatically in the last few weeks leading up to the tournament. Still, given the talent and experience on the team, many had expected TCU to at least make it to the Sweet 16. Instead, the team’s season ends in disappointment once again.
Despite a valiant effort by TCU, the team ultimately fell to the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Defensively, Gonzaga was able to stop TCU’s ball penetration and limit their outside shooting opportunities. While junior guard Mike Miles scored 24 points on 8-13 shooting, he was unable to get a shot for more than 10 minutes of the second half when Gonzaga took over the game.
TCU hung around and even had a chance to regain the lead, but ultimately Gonzaga’s Drew Timme proved to be too much for the Horned Frogs. Timme’s lay-in with 1:43 remaining all but knocked TCU out of the tournament.
One factor that may have contributed to TCU’s loss was the absence of center Eddie Lampkin, who left the team right before the start of the Big 12 tournament. Without Lampkin, TCU lacked a physical presence in the middle to match up against Timme. While it’s impossible to know for sure how things would have gone with Lampkin on the floor, it’s clear that his absence was felt in TCU’s loss to Gonzaga.
Overall, TCU’s season was a mix of success and disappointment. The team made it to the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive season and won a game, but ultimately fell short of expectations. With Lampkin and Miles returning, many had expected TCU to at least make it to the Sweet 16. While the team showed flashes of brilliance earlier in the season, Lampkin’s departure had a noticeable impact on their performance down the stretch.
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