Jamie Dixon and the Horned Frogs can have one of the best seasons in program history with this level of retention.
The TCU Horned Frogs enjoyed one of the program's best seasons under Jamie Dixon this year, but despite an unfortunate run-in with Duke in the NCAA tournament, the optimism is growing in Fort Worth ahead of next season.
With the transfer portal now wide open following the big dance - and over a thousand entries already going live - TCU is among the many who were sweating the possibility of roster turnover.
However, that's not the case with many of Dixon's key contributors.
Among the Frogs who's futures were rumored to be in question, starting forward Micah Robinson announced his plans by chaning his profile picture to Dixon, stamping his return to Fort Worth and igniting a thrill in TCU internet circles.
The news joins big man Xavier Edmonds and point guard Brock Harding's return to the program, too.
Edmonds, the 6-8 forward and former No. 1 junior-college recruit in the nation, also posted his news on social media over the last week.
"First and foremost, I want to thank everyone in the TCU community—from my coaches and my teammates to the administrators to the fans," Edmonds wrote. "The way you've embraced me is something I never expected, and this year is one I will always value. With that being said, LET'S RUN IT BACK."
Edmonds was a crucial factor on the inside for the Frogs, scoring 12.7 points, grabbing 6.5 rebounds and landing on the All-Big 12 Third Team after starting 34 of his 35 games played.
Now TCU is being considered a dark horse candidate to compete with the best of the best next season.
According to college basketball insider Jon Rothstein's first preseason rankings for next season, the Horned Frogs are placed at No. 14 in the country. With the new national champion Michigan Wolverines, TCU also lands at No. 16 on ESPN's "Way-Too-Early" Top 25.
"The last time coach Jamie Dixon had this type of continuity, TCU was a top-25 team for most of the 2023-24 season and earned a 6-seed in the NCAA tournament," reporter Jeff Borzello said. "The Horned Frogs had only one senior in the rotation this past season, guard Jayden Pierre, and though Jace Posey has already opted for the transfer portal, there's a chance Dixon brings back most of his key players."
We now know that to be true with Robinson and Edmonds. The last of those key pieces is power forward David Punch, who has not yet announced a decision on next season.
Along with another top JUCO standout in Trent Lincoln enrolling, Borzello believes TCU can build "one of the nation's most underrated frontcourts."
And that could turn out to produce one of TCU's best men's basketball teams in years.
