FORT WORTH — How did you want Jamie Dixon to feel?
Saturday’s thumping in the Texas Tech game left his team dangling a little farther down the NCAA tournament rope, trying to hang on.
The Horned Frogs’ grip became less secure, less sure, less guaranteed. In fact, not guaranteed at all.
Another disheartening week, which started with a triple-overtime loss at last-place West Virginia, has them in this position.
But what else is there to do but hang on?
“We’ve lost two in a row. We got beat at home by a pretty good margin. We put ourselves in a hole,” Dixon said following the 81-66 loss to the Red Raiders. “I don’t know how disappointed you want me to be, angry you want me to be. But we’re obviously not happy with how we played. So we got to do something.”
Then he specified it himself — the exact something TCU has to do.
Win on Monday night against Kansas State. Play better. Be better.
Put a hand higher on the rope.
“In our minds, we’re playing for an NCAA tournament,” Dixon said. “We’ve got an opportunity. We’ve got to go play against Kansas State, and we’ve got to go win and find a way. I still believe in our team. I still believe in the guys we have. We can play better. That’s what we’re going to do going forward. That’s what I told the guys. We’re going to play better this next game.”
It might only take one. The Frogs remain in the projections around a 10-seed. They were once an 8. Last year, they made it as a 6.
They do have history on their side.
Monday night, they’ll actually get a chance to recognize that history. Alex Robinson and JD Miller will play their final home games at TCU. They’ve both been part of an NIT championship team and an NCAA team. Robinson called going to the Dance last year one of his favorite memories as a college player and relishes the chance to relive it.
No. 1 in assists all-time at TCU and now tied 22nd on the scoring list, Robinson gets a chance to do something about another trip himself Monday night. Same for Miller, now alone in second in games played at TCU with 132. He’s four away from tying Brandon Parrish’s record 136. Do the math — the regular season has two games left, and everybody plays at least one in the Big 12 tournament.
For Robinson, winning Monday won’t be enough. The Frogs will pull themselves higher on the rope, but they’re too close to the end of it for the senior from Fort Worth.
“We’ve got to win two, so we’re extremely focused,” Robinson said. “We’re ready, and we’re all going to mentally prepare ourselves for Monday.”
Before tip, festivities will honor Robinson and Miller. An appreciative crowd will say thank you. The Frogs will try to do their part.
Hang on.
“Obviously our backs are against the wall,” Dixon said. “We’ve got to find a way to win this game on Monday. I do believe we have the guys. I do believe we can get our best performance of the year going forward.”