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TCU Basketball: How has Jamie Dixon turned things around?

By Doug Winkey

Jan 3, 2017; Fort Worth, TX, USA; TCU Horned Frogs guard Desmond Bane (1) reacts on the bench against the Oklahoma Sooners during the second half at Ed and Rae Schollmaier Arena. TCU won 60-57. Mandatory Credit: Ray Carlin-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 3, 2017; Fort Worth, TX, USA; TCU Horned Frogs guard Desmond Bane (1) reacts on the bench against the Oklahoma Sooners during the second half at Ed and Rae Schollmaier Arena. TCU won 60-57. Mandatory Credit: Ray Carlin-USA TODAY Sports /
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TCU basketball has seen immediate improvements under new coach Jamie Dixon.

TCU basketball entered this year having won just eight games in four Big 12 seasons under Trent Johnson. Jamie Dixon took over his alma mater this summer and has injected new life into the previously shaky program. Dixon’s Horned Frogs are 14-4 overall and 3-3 in the Big 12 right now with wins at Texas and over Iowa State. There is still a lot of the season left, but how has Dixon improved the team in such a short period of time?

Related Story: Jamie Dixon snags third recruit for 2017

The first boost has been guard play. This year, Jaylen Fisher and sophomore Alex Robinson took over the starting backcourt spots from Chauncey Collins and Malique Trent. The youngsters combine for nearly eight assists per game compared to fewer than five last year’s starters averaged. Those small differences have helped the team improve in points scored and total team efficiency; TCU has improved from 228th in adjusted efficiency to 49th.

Those guards have helped junior forward Vladimir Brodziansky find more room underneath. The Lithuanian native’s scoring has jumped from 9.7 points to 13.2 this year. His efficiency has also gone up from 52 percent to 62 percent. The statistic that is probably most indicative of Dixon’s coaching ability is Brodziansky’s rim protection — he is swatting 2.4 shots per game compared to 1.0 in 2015-2016.

The incremental changes witnessed this year are clear indicators of Dixon handling of this roster. The team is shooting far better overall; 35 percent from deep and 69 percent from the charity stripe. Another year of development and the 30th best-recruiting class, per 247, can only improve TCU’s Big 12 prospects.

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TCU has definitely seen improvements even with largely the same core roster as last year. They were very competitive in a close loss at Kansas and have no bad losses on their resume; their worst loss is at SMU by 15 in early December. There are a lot of Big 12 games left and that schedule will test this young squad’s consistency, but things are definitely looking up for the Horned Frogs faithful.

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