TCU's Tournament Opener Looked Different From 4,500 Miles Away

Watching TCU from 4,500 miles away offered a different perspective on the Horned Frogs' NCAA Tournament opener, and a few things stood out immediately.

Ohio State Buckeyes center Christoph Tilly (13) and Ohio State Buckeyes guard Bruce Thornton (2) defend the shot of TCU Horned Frogs guard Liutauras Lelevicius (3) Thursday, March 19, 2026, during the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament first round game at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina. | Alex Martin/Greenville News / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

This article is part of our "Across the Pond" series, featuring UK-based writer David Desa, who is covering TCU athletics from England. Watching games from 4,500 miles away, Desa brings a unique perspective on the Horned Frogs, blending analysis, storytelling, and a different lens on college sports culture.

For TCU fans watching from their couches in England, the opening First-round game came at a relatively accessible hour at 5:15 pm local time.

The 4,500-mile distance between Greenville, South Carolina, and the screen of fans in the U.K. did nothing to dull the March Madness tension.

The Horned Frogs were at this stage after missing out last year, and standing in their way were the No. 8 Buckeyes, who also missed out last year.

In a game that started as a rout, it ended up being a heart stopper for TCU fans near and wide.

That at least sold what March Madness was all about.

The game tipped off at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena, and by halftime, the Horned Frogs looked every bit the favorite just as their 19-year-old forward David Punch had boldly predicted days earlier.

They built a 15-point lead at halftime thanks to Micah Robinson’s hot hand from beyond the arc. He finished with 18 points, including four 3s and a physical edge that Ohio State simply couldn’t match in the opening 20 minutes.

The second-half March Madness grind

On any regular-season day, this may have been an easy run for TCU, but there is no regular day in March Madness. The Horned Frogs watched their 15-point lead almost evaporate.

The Buckeyes outscored them 40-27 in the second half, erasing the deficit and briefly taking the lead as TCU missed 18 of its first 22 shots.

They looked uncharacteristically flat, which was in contrast to what Punch said when he told reporters that he believed TCU would beat Ohio State “nine times out of 10.”

But he did treat the game seriously, as he scored 13 of his 16 points in the second half, grabbed 13 rebounds overall, and disrupted Ohio with his 6-foot-7 frame, blocking three shots, including a momentum-shifting rejection of a dunk attempt by Ohio State’s 7-foot center Christoph Tilly.

He then finished at the other end to give TCU the lead. But his biggest play of the game was when he found teammate Xavier Edmonds on an entry pass for a layup that beat the shot clock with just 4.3 seconds to play and handed TCU a second-round appearance since their last in 2023.

Atmosphere and surprises from an overseas lens

For the fans watching from England, the rollercoaster game was exciting, but the first noticeable thing was the neutral-site atmosphere in Greenville.

The arena wasn’t particularly packed with TCU or Ohio State fans in overwhelming numbers, yet there were swelling noises at the right moments, especially during the Buckeyes’ second-half near-comeback.

It was a classic 8-9 seed matchup and March Madness in a nutshell, a stage where underdogs versus favorites always drew attention. For the viewer half a world away, the experience shows why the tournament is captivating.

A first-time viewer wondering if it is worth the hassle to watch college basketball, the element of surprise wasn’t lost.

Duke Blue Devils center Patrick Ngongba (21) blocks the shot of TCU Horned Frogs forward Xavier Edmonds (24), March 21, 2026, during the second half of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament second round East Region game at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina. | Ken Ruinard / USA Today Network South Carolina / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

TCU’s March Madness journey unfortunately came to a close at the hands of the No. 1-seeded Duke in the round of 32.

No shame in that, they bowed out to a favorite and a team that has lost only two games all season.

TCU showed character in their March Madness run; they weathered a cold spell without panicking in the opening game, which shows that they have a clear identity to win games.

They are a group worth staying up late to watch and one to look out for next season.