No. 1 Duke Eliminates TCU's Men's Basketball, 81-58, in 2026 NCAA Tournament's Second Round

 

TCU's Micah Robinson

 

No. 9-seed TCU men's basketball fell 81-58 to overall No. 1 seed Duke in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament on Saturday, March 21, in Greensboro, South Carolina.

TCU ended its season with an overall record of 23-12 and a Big 12 Conference record of 11-7. 

With the loss to Duke, the Horned Frogs fell one win short of advancing to the program’s first Sweet 16 trip since 1968, when the tournament consisted of 23 teams.

On Thursday, March 19, in Greensboro, TCU had beaten No. 8-seed Ohio State, 66-64, in the tournament's first round, to earn the right to play Duke, which in the first round beat Siena 71-65.

Against Duke, TCU trailed at the half, 38-34. Foul trouble, poor shooting and improved execution by the Blue Devils doomed the Horned Frogs in the second half. 

Sophomore Micah Robinson led TCU with 18 points. He also scored 18 points against Ohio State.