BIRMINGHAM, Ala.— After TCU fell to Texas 58-47 in the Elite Eight on Monday, some TCU players were doing cartwheels in the middle of the locker room. Their teammates were cheering them on, and the room was filled with an unexpected, deafening joy.
“We don’t have room for a roundoff!” someone shouted.
The emotions seemed to come from what they experienced throughout a magical season rather than what happened on Monday night. Despite having 11 transfers on the roster, the Horned Frogs grew into a squad anchored by friendship. They used that to their advantage, winning the Big 12 and reaching the Elite Eight for the first time.