MONSTER ENERGY BIG 12 MEN'S BASKETBALL MEDIA DAYS

October 21, 2026

Jamie Dixon

Xavier Edmonds

Brock Harding

Micah Robinson

TCU Horned Frogs

Media Day Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: We are joined by TCU men.

Coach, what do you feel like you can build from with this core returning group?

JAMIE DIXON: Well, we also had Tanner Toolson. I wanted to bring all four of our guys here, but they would not let me bring four. That would have broken a rule. We tonight want to break rules as we add players in November and October.

Yeah, great leadership. What can I say about these guys? I mean, I think we have a great group. Retention has always been the thing. Part of our program when I was at Pitt, we always brought back more, and TCU we did it last year.

I think we had the most returning guys as well. So I think it's the type of kid, type of character. They're loyal. They're great kids. They represent our university great. I just think that's going to be the strength of our team, is the leadership of these guys.

We're not where I thought we were going to be in October, but we're going to get there because of their leadership. It's really up there. Hopefully they're doing most of the talking up here because these guys are really representative of our school, our university, as well as you can have kids representing in today's game.

THE MODERATOR: You talk about not being where you want to be, but you eventually will get there. Typically when do you feel like you know what you actually have as a team?

JAMIE DIXON: It changes. I mean, I was just on the radio show. He says a tale of two seasons. I think it was really almost the tale of four seasons for us last year with the injury, starting five man and five minutes in and then reinvent yourself, hit a tough stretch early in conference play, and then finish strong, and then you're beating Ohio State, then you're up on Duke at halftime, and winning the second half, I should say.

It's just a constant challenge. It's part of this league, because the league's so good, you're not going to have a stretch of -- you're going to hit some roadblocks. You prepare for that. You know there's going to be some ups and downs.

In this league and the leagues I've been in, the Big East, ACC, it's not an easy road. You have to be strong enough. Then you have to handle the success. Once you beat somebody, have a good win, they're going to tell you how great you are, and then you have to be prepared for that.

THE MODERATOR: Xavier, for you personally, why did you feel like TCU was a place you wanted to remain and try and build for something even bigger?

XAVIER EDMONDS to be honest, it actually started with Brock's announcement that he was returning. When you have a guy like Brock who, like Coach said, representing everything you want in a player, a school, just how hard he plays, how unselfish he is, it's hard to find that anywhere else in the country.

I feel like Brock is among the best at what he does. It just started with that, knowing he's going to make me better.

Micah also, finding out he was coming back, and Tanner. That was really the driving force that led to me wanting to come back, just knowing that we have a real chance if us four for sure can stay and retain; just to add to the pieces around us.

We have a great group of guys that the coaches were able to put together. I feel like we actually have a real shot at making a deep run in the tournament. We have high expectations for ourselves. We go out there and practice like it and we prepare like it, so...

THE MODERATOR: Brock, where has that team grown the most in the off-season?

BROCK HARDING: Just our connectedness. I feel like it's easy when you have four guys coming back. It can be hard to bring the new guys along, make them feel like one big team really early.

This team was really good at doing that early in the summer, hanging with each other off the court, building on the court. I feel like connectedness is kind of what gets you through the season, what keeps you through all the highs and lows. There is going to be good wins, bad losses, but I feel like if you are connected and together, you can overcome all that stuff and end up making deep runs.

I feel like the most together teams are kind of who make the biggest runs late in the season.

THE MODERATOR: Micah, you led you team in scoring in the NCAA tournament. What did that experience do for you to drive the bigger and grande goal that you have this year?

MICAH ROBINSON: Yeah, I think it kind of instilled confidence in me. I feel like throughout the season last year I found myself I guess -- I wouldn't say second-guessing myself, but I would say thinking about the game too much.

Throughout those games in the tournament, I really feel like my mindset was just play first, think second. I really feel like that showed me whenever I play like that, the work that I put in kind of will take care of itself.

So I feel like just having that mindset this year I feel like will allow me to thrive.

THE MODERATOR: Coach, you talked about having four separate seasons last year. You're doing all of this while college basketball is seemingly changing every day seemingly. And the bigger, grander picture is becoming more challenging to navigate. How are you trying to adapt to this new age of college basketball and recruiting and NIL?

JAMIE DIXON: I mean, these guys right next to me. When you recruit the right kids, bring in the caliber of people we have. This team, we have a great group of guys. They do everything right. They handle adversity the right way. That's why I say I know we're going to get there, where we want to be. We're not quite there yet.

But the game is good. Everybody talks about it, everybody talks about the money; that's part of it. These guys represent everything that's good about college athletics and young people, too. I think the basketball is really good. That's the thing I think to talk about, is how good the game is.

Somebody pointed out the offensive efficiency in college basketball has set a record the last couple of years. It's good? Why? Because the kids are older, more experience, getting the best kids from the mid-majors, transferring up. That's part of it.

The best international players are here now. We have the best players in the world, best 22-year-olds, best 23-year-olds. Hopefully we'll get that under control a bit.

We have the best players. And they're not going pro because they can't, and also the money is there. So the game's really good. You got kids like this, or men like this, because they represent our school so well and our university. That's why.

That's what makes it good. These players are a great example of that.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Coach, you've shown an ability to be really consistent. Made the tournament the last five years. How do you see your ability to use that throughout the season?

JAMIE DIXON: We have four really good players coming back I think. High-character guys. I think that's the important thing to do, is get high-character guys. Some may say there's maybe not a ceiling, a lower ceiling, but I know they won't let us down. I know they'll respond to adversity. They'll do the right things when everybody else might be doing the wrong thing or others may be doing the wrong thing. That's what I think is important.

I think if you stay with that...

We don't have the biggest budget. Obviously there's NIL now. All those choices, resources, probably before NIL. We just got to get the right kids. I think that's the best way to do it. The right things are going to happen within your program. That's what we've continued to do.

This group is going to lead us in the right direction I think with Tanner and these three guys right here.

Q. The commissioner yesterday called the Big 12 the second best basketball league in the world behind the NBA. What is it like to play when you know every game is going to be such a tough matchup?

BROCK HARDING: I think it's just a privilege. I feel like there's no off nights in the Big 12, no matter where you're playing at, whether it's at home, some of the tough road environments. I think that's what you want when you're a college athlete, the toughest competition, because that gets you ready for the post-season.

I feel like the Big 12 is one of those conferences that builds you for when March comes around, you got those tough games late in the season.

Q. Gavin Sykes, transfer for you guys. I think he had 35 in a secret scrimmage. What has impressed you about him?

MICAH ROBINSON: Yeah, with him it's funny, I always joke with one of our assistants, he's one of those players where genuinely feels if you give him an ounce of space, you feel like it's going to go in.

He's really impressed me so far, not only his work ethic, but his coach ability. He's really shown he's going to come in and do whatever Coach tells him just to be better for the team. Definitely looking forward to see how he progresses throughout the year.

THE MODERATOR: Gentlemen, we appreciate your time. Thank you so much.