Big 12 Basketball: Preseason power rankings for 2021-22 season

Last year was arguably the worst season in Jamie Dixon’s five-year tenure with TCU basketball as they turned in a 12-14 record overall and went 5-11 in Big 12 basketball action, finishing eighth in the standings. With five returners and nine newcomers, they’ll look to bounce back with a new look.

The biggest question mark going forward is in the frontcourt with the departure of Kevin Samuel, TCU basketball’s career blocks leader, to Florida Gulf Coast. Mike Miles Jr. and Chuck O’Bannon Jr. are the two most experienced returners in the rotation.

Miles posted 13.6 ppg, 3.5 rpg, and 3.1 apg on 36 percent shooting from 3-point land behind 25 appearances (21 starts). O’Bannon finished with 6.8 ppg and 3.8 rpg in 18.0 minutes per contest and has a bigger role on the horizon.

Emanuel Miller (Texas A&M), Shahada Wells (UT-Arlington), Damion Baugh (Memphis), and Xavier Cork (Western Carolina) are a few new faces to keep an eye on impact-wise.

Miller grew into quite a player in the Texas A&M rotation in two seasons. He averaged 16.2 ppg, 8.2 rpg, and 1.4 apg and led SEC basketball in field goal percentage (57.1%) in 2020-21. He’ll look to add his scoring prowess and efficiency in the Horned Frogs lineup.

Wells was an All-Sun Belt second-team selection last year with 16.8 ppg, 3.8 apg, 3.4 rpg, and 2.2 spg and will look to lead the TCU basketball backcourt in 2021-22.

Cork will look to fill the void left by Samuel’s departure. He put up 12.7 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 1.8 apg, and 1.4 bpg and led the Southern Conference in shooting percentage (64.1 %) in 2020-21.

Baugh posted 3.8 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 2.3 apg, and 1.1 spg across 57 appearances (29 starts) in the Memphis rotation. He’ll look to add some guard depth with room for a role in the Horned Frogs backcourt.

If Dixon can put things together quickly, TCU basketball could surprise some teams when Big 12 play arrives, but for now, expectations aren’t too high.