Danny Sprinkle has done the near impossible: Bring Utah State back to the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive year.
After taking over a program that lost every single point from 2023, Sprinkle has the Aggies as an eight-seed playing TCU in the first round. They will travel to Indianapolis.
If Utah State advances, it will likely play No. 1 seed Purdue in the second round.
This tournament bid is Sprinkles’ third in a row. He spent the last two years getting Montana State in the postseason. Both times, he was bounced in the first round by tournament darlings (first Texas Tech and then Kansas State).
This year, he led Utah State to a regular season Mountain West title. It is USU’s third tournament appearance in the last four years.
About the opponent
Jamie Dixon has TCU back in the tournament for the third straight season. And this might be his most veteran group yet.
Playing in the eight-nine game is a familiar spot. Two years ago, the Horned Frogs beat eight-seeded Seton Hall easily and nearly knocked off top ranked Arizona in an overtime classic.
This year’s TCU team has two notable additions. Jameer Nelson Jr., the son of the longtime NBA veteran, transferred in from George Washington and Delaware. He averages around 11 points per game and has the highest usage rate on the team.
Dixon also recruited Avery Anderson, the former Oklahoma State guard who is playing in his fifth year.
Outside of those transfers, TCU has a core group who returned. Emanuel Miller is a fifth-year senior. Micah Peavy is in his fourth year. JaKobe Coles is too.
TCU is the third-most experienced team in the country.
The Horned Frogs played at one of the faster paces in the Big 12 and shot nearly 36% from three.
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