Our final season recap installment.
Last, but especially not least, we have the bigs’ season recap. This group includes the TCU Horned Frogs’ power forwards and centers. Malick Diallo, David Punch, and Ernest Udeh Jr. land in this grouping. Although the Horned Frogs’ bigs didn’t post the most gaudy stats, they were some of the most impactful players.
Udeh Jr. was the lone returnee from TCU’s 2023 NCAA Tournament squad. Diallo and Punch were a pair of freshmen whose playing times increased substantially as the season wore on. All three bigs appeared in at least 29 contests and roamed the floor for 300-plus minutes. Udeh Jr. played 799 minutes (fourth-most on the team), Punch 653, and Diallo 315 after not seizing a rotation-level role until the second half of conference play. Without further ado, we’ll hand out grades for each TCU big and end our recap series with a cumulative grade.
Position Review: Bigs
Malick Diallo
Diallo is a difficult player to grade. The three-star big man came to Fort Worth via Wasatch Academy in Utah. The 6-foot-9 big man wasn’t expected to contribute right away. His 2024 signee counterpart, Ashton Simmons, a similarly ranked recruit, redshirted this season. On the other hand, Diallo appeared in TCU’s first game of the season and notched double-digit minutes by his third appearance against Michigan. The Malian center played sporadically through TCU’s non-conference slate before earning a full-time role in late January.
From January 25 onward, Diallo averaged 13.6 minutes per game in 14 appearances. In the latter half of conference play, the center averaged 3.3 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 0.8 blocks per contest. The increase in counting stats is impressive considering Diallo’s season-long averages of 2.2 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 0.6 blocks per game. Diallo’s development through his first collegiate season was noticeable. He became more comfortable as a roll-man and a help defender.
However, besides rim-running, rim-protection, and rebounding, Diallo didn’t provide much. The 19-year-old is about as unpolished as it gets offensively. He converted merely 25-of-51 field goals despite not straying too far from the paint. Diallo’s offense is a work in progress. Nonetheless, that was expected before he ever took the floor. Diallo recorded five assists to 24 turnovers and didn’t demonstrate much, if any, ability with the ball in his hands. On the bright side, he appeared in 30 games as a freshman, with many coming against veteran bigs. Diallo’s freshman season was the ultimate learning curve.
As a young big, Diallo’s defense and activity were his calling card. He wasn’t the most adept shot-blocker, yet he did manage 17 rejections. His timing will only improve as he adjusts to the speed and pace of Division I basketball. Lastly, Diallo proved to be active and fearless. He wasn’t afraid to engage in skirmishes or defend the rim against attacking wings and bigs. While Diallo didn’t necessarily impress, his potential is vast. As the lone center on the roster, he’s pegged for a starting role in 2025-26.
Grade: C
David Punch
Next up was the most impressive freshman of the bunch, Punch. The 6-foot-7 forward began the season as a reserve, coming off the bench in five of TCU’s first seven games. He became a full-time starter in TCU’s win over Xavier and never relinquished his role. Punch finished the season playing in all 32 games. Punch averaged 6.5 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 0.9 blocks per game.
While Punch’s stats weren’t overly impressive, he graded as one of the Horned Frogs’ most impactful players. Punch tied Micah Robinson for second on the squad in player efficiency rating. He ranked sixth in box plus/minus and fourth in win shares. The 18-year-old graded especially well on defense. Punch placed third on the Frogs in defensive rating and defensive box plus/minus. The Texas-native averaged 1.4 stocks per game, third best on the team. Punch’s versatility made him one of TCU’s better defenders. His ability to jump vertically and contest finishes at the rim was one of a kind. Despite contesting his fair share of shot attempts, he only averaged 2.2 fouls per game. Punch’s perimeter defense also stood out. He shouldn’t be tasked with defending guards on a weekly basis, yet he’s comfortable in space and doesn’t look out of place on the perimeter.
Punch’s defense popped from the get-go, but his offense took some time to settle in. At the beginning of the season, Punch primarily operated in the dunker spot or in the high-post. Aside from setting picks or cutting from the short corner, his offense was limited. However, as the season wore on, Jamie Dixon allowed Punch to experiment with on-ball actions and spot-up shooting. Punch still profiles as a straight-line driver, yet his close-range shot arsenal allows for different finishes, even though he doesn’t offer much off-the-dribble wiggle. Punch worked in floaters, turnaround jumpers, and ambidextrous finishes.
After not attempting many three-pointers through the Frogs’ non-conference slate, Punch launched at least one triple in 15 of 20 Big 12 games. The athletic big shot 27.6 percent from downtown. He connected on 8-of-29 three-pointers. Although he didn’t shoot it often, his shot appeared confident, and his shooting stroke looked mechanically sound. Expect Punch to up his three-point volume in year two. A Punch-Robinson duo at the forward spots could be one of the better young duos in the conference.
Grade: B
Ernest Udeh Jr.
We end our recap series with TCU’s most impactful player, Udeh Jr. The big man returned for his junior season after the Horned Frogs’ first-round exit in the NCAA Tournament in 2024. Udeh’s role and usage increased from his first season in Fort Worth to his second. His statistics improved from 4.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 0.3 assists, 1.0 steals, and 0.9 blocks to 6.6 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.3 blocks per game. Udeh also increased his field goal and free throw percentages. He shot 63.4 percent from the floor and 59.8 percent from the line a season ago. Udeh was astonishingly the only Frog to shoot above 50 percent from the floor.
Although Udeh’s offensive wasn’t drastically different from his sophomore season, he played well in an expanded role. The Kansas transfer never offered much offensively. He lacked any sort of ball-handling skill and couldn’t shoot beyond 10 feet. Nevertheless, he knew his role and excelled in it. The uber-athletic Udeh posed as an elite pick-and-roll threat. Udeh’s insane catch radius allowed for guards to toss up lobs, somewhere near his vicinity, to which he’d snatch out of the air and throw down. Udeh’s hands, dexterity, and athleticism were his best traits. Perhaps if Udeh suited up next to a pass-first guard, he would have averaged north of 10 points per game.
Udeh’s high energy and phenomenal athleticism made him a plus defender. The 6-foot-11 big man could stick with guards in the open court and bang with the bigs in the post. Even at 260 pounds, his nimble feet allowed him to seamlessly switch onto guards. Udeh’s 1.4 steals per game were a testament to his active hands and sharp anticipation. Despite his fantastic physical gifts, he wasn’t the best rim protector. Udeh led the Frogs in blocks per game, at 1.3, but it sure felt like he should have averaged upwards of two per game. The 21-year-old center isn’t the most instinctual defender.
All in all, another season of Udeh would have been a joy to watch. Unfortunately, the big man entered the transfer portal and decided to take his talents back to his home state of Florida, to the University of Miami. If Udeh ever developed his post-game or grew comfortable with his jumper, he’d be one of the better players in college basketball—that goes to show just how elite of an athlete he is. Udeh led the team in almost every advanced statistical category, and it wasn’t necessarily close. He ranked first in box plus/minus, win shares (both offensively and defensively), player efficiency rating, and true shooting percentage.
Grade: B+
Primarily because of Udeh (and Punch), TCU’s bigs were its best grouping. The Udeh-Punch frontcourt combination was a major catalyst in fielding the Big 12’s sixth-best defense. Moreover, Diallo was no slouch when entering the contest in relief. Replacing Udeh will be incredibly difficult. Diallo has some big shoes to fill. Fortunately, a full offseason for Diallo will allow the young big to develop his physical profile. The trio of bigs was exceptional on the defensive end; the only thing holding back their grade from an A is a lack of offensive contributions.
Cumulative Grade: B