NEW YORK – There is a moral to the story of TCU’s fabled basketball season.
Aesop, drumroll, please . . .
Things can change more quickly than the Texas weather.
A snap of the fingers.
High expectations and a preseason ranking were swallowed up by injuries, inexperience and player transfers. A midseason slide followed by a late-season surge buoyed renewed NCAA Tournament hopes.
That ebullience turned to temporary despondency when those NCAA Tournament plans were suddenly thwarted.
And then, Tuesday night, the Horned Frogs’ plans to win a second NIT Tournament in three years were dashed in a 58-44 semifinals loss to an inspired Texas at the fabled Madison Square Garden in what amounted to the Big 12 consolation championship game, which could have been played at any of a number of Whataburger parking lots along Interstate 35.
“Temple, Texas, on Tuesday” has a nice ring to it.
But there is also a broader context to things changing quickly.
Two years ago, the Horned Frogs left here wondering if the sky wasn’t the limit after a surprise run to the NIT title in coach Jamie Dixon’s first season.
Now, in 2019, TCU leaves the City of Dreams not exactly knowing what the program will look like when they wake up tomorrow.
The last two seniors who helped lead the program’s return to relevancy, Alex Robinson and JD Miller, will move on to the next phase of their lives.
The coach might also be doing the same.
Dixon is expected to speak with representatives of UCLA as early as Friday to talk about taking over the Bruins’ exalted program, which has won more NCAA tournament championships than anyone. Even in its depleted state, caused by turmoil in the ranks and politics in Sacramento, turning down such a blueblood would seem near impossible if an offer were forthcoming.
Unclear are the terms of the buyout of Dixon’s contract, which runs through 2024, should he indeed be UCLA’s top choice.
Dixon’s hobbledehoy deflection when asked about it after the game only further heightened the sense that the speculation is more mutual flirtation.
“I really don’t talk about other jobs,” Dixon said afterward. “I have a great job. I’m very lucky where I’m at. That’s all I can say. I’m very thankful for this opportunity I’ve been given at TCU. It doesn’t feel good right now as far as this loss.”
When asked later if he had a feeling one way or the other if he believed he would talk to UCLA, he reiterated, “I just don’t talk about other jobs. It’s the way I’ve always done it. I just don’t do it. No point. There are always so many rumors.
“I’m just trying to get over this loss right now.”
TCU didn’t play well on Tuesday, but that was probably more a testament to how good Texas was.
The Longhorns (19-16) acknowledged they were spurred on by two previous losses to TCU this season and it clearly looked like it. Texas had more energy and used it decisively on the defensive end, rebuffing the Frogs’ guards attempts to drive the lane and keeping TCU’s shooters from getting into any rhythm.
TCU cut a 14-point halftime lead to five, but never got within that arm’s length.
Kerwin Roach, who didn’t play against TCU in the regular-season finale, was particularly good, scoring a game-high 22 points.
Many were looking forward to a potential axe grinder’s championship game between the Frogs and Lipscomb, which had handed TCU its only loss in the non-conference. That defeat wasn’t the reason TCU didn’t get in the NCAA Tournament, but it was a blemish on the résumé.
Instead, it will be the the Longhorns playing opposite Lipscomb on Thursday.
The loss marked the end of Miller’s and Robinson’s TCU careers.
“I’m just proud of our guys,” Robinson said. “We fought hard all season. I thought we fought hard this game. It’s just one of those things, unfortunately — we fought hard.”
The seniors’ legacies are intact as part of two senior classes that rebuilt TCU basketball.
“I remember before [Dixon] got here, we were a really separated bunch, and he made sure we came together and we played together,” Robinson said.
What’s next is now the question.
Life is full of just one of those things, which can cause it to change so quickly.
It’s not every day, a coach is asked to be successor to the Wizard of Westwood.
That’s up there with Peter.