College Hoops Today: TCU On the Rise

This week, Detroit Mercy has been banned from 2026-27 postseason play because of academic issues; sophomore Juke Harris, a second-team All-ACC player, has transferred from Wake Forest to Tennessee; and Louisville has landed a commitment from seven-footer Obinna Ekezie, considered among the top five high school juniors in the country. Other college basketball stories we’re tracking include…

Micah Robinson Ready to Break Out?

The Texas Christian Horned Frogs suffered through a down season in 2024-25, finishing just .500 and breaking a streak of three straight appearances in the NCAA tourney. Last season, however, they enjoyed their best winning percentage since 1997-98, and made it to the second round of March Madness. Much of that success can be attributed to 11 conference wins, the school’s highest total since moving to the Big 12 in 2012-13.

After the postseason, TCU looked like a top 30 team in the country and has since added a big offensive weapon in guard Gavin Sykes, who transferred from Long Beach State after being named Big West Freshman of the Year.

He’ll pair nicely with SF Micah Robinson, who returns for his junior season. Robinson took a big step forward as a sophomore, seeing more action, doing a better job of getting to the line and more than doubling his scoring output.

Most impressively, he really stepped up in the NCAA tourney, scoring 18 points with five boards in each game while draining a combined seven treys. Robinson was the leading scorer for the Horned Frogs in both tilts, buoying hopes for a major breakout this season (especially with David Punch transferring to Texas).

A 6’7” Dallas native, he’s a solid defender, so if he can continue to build out his offensive game as he showed on the big stage, he’s a name to monitor.

Bulls Loving the AAC

After mostly struggling in the AAC for over a decade, the South Florida Bulls shifted conferences and based on last season are clearing loving life in the American Athletic Conference.

South Florida dropped 19 games in its final season in the AAC, but went 25-9 last season, thanks to a robust 15-3 mark in conference play. It was one and done in the NCAA tourney, but just being there was a great step considering it was the Bulls’ first appearance in the big dance since 2011-12, and only their fourth time making it in program history.

Now, let’s not confuse South Florida as a true national championship contender (currently +40000 as per FanDuel), but this school definitely looks like a rising power, especially after giving Louisville a major scare in March Madness.

Unfortunately, the Bulls will lose SG Joseph Pinion, who is currently in the transfer portal, so will either be heading to another school, or may lose eligibility pending the 5-for-5 legislation being enacted.

Pinion was a transfer from Arkansas State after spending his first two seasons at Arkansas, and he’s taken steps forward over the last two campaigns. For the Bulls, he saw heavier minutes and upped his bucket count, although his rebounding work regressed and he had more turnovers. Pinion, who led South Florida in steals last season, had a monster game in the tourney, scoring a season-best 27 points with seven boards, six assists, five treys and four steals. The Arkansas native picked a good time to test the portal, assuming he’ll be eligible to play another season.

Pinion ranks among the best players who were not invited to the NBA Combine or the G League Elite Camp, but that doesn’t mean he can’t have a future as a pro. He’s a Danny Green type who loves to put up shots from downtown.

RotoRob Tune of the Day

Brazilian pop singer Bebel Gilberto is mostly associated with bossa nova and she enjoyed a breakthrough with her 2000 album Tanto Tempo. The lead song, “Samba da Bencao,” used Amon Tobin’s “Nova” as its backing track.