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TCU News: It’s Game Day Eve

Tomorrow is a huge day for Frog fans, as TCU Football takes on Georgia in Memphis and basketball faces Kansas in Fort Worth.

Links Be Informed Blood

Football:

TCU linebacker says Georgia will run right at Frogs, like Arkansas | The Star-Telegram

If they do what they’ve done all season, the Dawgs will attack TCU at the point of attack, much like what the Razorbacks did in September. Ty Summers is excited to not have to do as much chasing Friday morning.

“We don’t have to go chase anybody,” he told reporters with a laugh Wednesday in a press conference. “It’s great. Straight-forward football. Hard-nosed football. Looking forward to it.”

Everything’s bigger in Texas — even 2016’s college football failures | Gridiron Now

It was not a great year for the state of Texas as a whole, as every major program fell short of the lofty expectations. TCU for one, is set up for a bounce back year in 2017 though.

TCU has done a good job of taking “lesser” recruits — TCU never is going to out-recruit Texas or Texas A&M — and molding them into winners, but the program took a big step back this season. Good news for the Horned Frogs is that they could return as many as 17 starters next season.

College Hotline: Picks for the bowl season | The Mercury News

We found a believer!

Georgia (plus-1.5) vs. TCU (Liberty Bowl, Dec. 30): Gary Patterson with time to prepare and a vulnerable opponent with a less-than-a-field-goal situation? Yes, please. Pick: TCU.

Kenny Hill says ankle OK, gets credit for toughness from Cumbie | The Star-Telegram

There have been nothing but positive words about Kenny Hill coming out of the mouths of his coaches since arriving in Memphis.

“As a coach you really appreciate a player who’s willing to put his own pain aside and go out there for the guys,” Cumbie said. “I think that speaks to the toughness he has and what football means to him and what kind of teammate he is.”

TCU cornerback plan continues for Julius Lewis, Jeff Gladney | The Star-Telegram

Lewis fought hard to get back from an off-season injury earlier this year to get back on the field in 2016, sharing starts with Gladney once he returned to action. It appears both will see time Friday, as Julius works back towards 100%.

“Coming off the injury last year, started a little bit slower until he got some confidence in some things and has really started to play better,” Glasgow said. “And he gets more confidence the longer we go through things and has made some plays for us.”

Healthy Howard hoping to hurt Georgia | Commercial Appeal

Linebacker Travin Howard missed the first two weeks of fall camp for what, at the time, was an undisclosed illness. Now we know what it was - appendicitis.

"It was during two-a-days," he said. "I had a pain in my stomach but it kept coming and going ... so I wasn't really worried about it. But then it started getting worse so I went to the trainers. It took me about five weeks (to get back up to full speed). The thing I was most worried about was my mother having to make the drive down from Longview.

"It was hard, but things like that happen. That's football. Injuries happen; I've been there before. You just have to come back."

Basketball:

Confident TCU eager to extend fast start in Big 12 play | The Star-Telegram

Starting with Kansas is putting your feet right to the fire, but for a confident Frogs group, they wouldn’t want it any other way. Brandon Parrish, who’s claim that they would be an NCAA tournament team doesn’t seem quite as crazy now, certainly believes in his team.

“Our confidence is through the roof right now,” Parrish said. “We’re 12 games into the season and we’ve all bought into the system and bought into what we want to do and how we want to play for each other and with each other. As long as we continue to do that, we’ll be successful.”

Surprising TCU is KU’s first Big 12 test | The Wichita Eagle

The Jayhawks have been keeping an eye on the much-improved team they’ll face Friday night.

Devonté Graham and the Kansas Jayhawks are aware of TCU’s resurgence under first-year coach Jamie Dixon.

“I’ve got the ESPN app. They all come to my phone when they play. I try to watch when I can,” Graham said Wednesday. “I know TCU has been playing great.”

TCU freshman forward Noi to redshirt this season | The Star-Telegram

Noi, a talented player out of Australia, was held out of the Frogs’ first twelve games awaiting NCAA clearance. But Jamie Dixon has made the call to sit him all season and go with the guys that have gotten him this far.

TCU coaches have chosen to stick with the 14 players who have helped the team post an 11-1 record heading into Friday’s game against No. 3 Kansas (11-1) in Schollmaier Arena (8 p.m., ESPN2).

“Kouat’s not going to play. He’s definitely going to redshirt this year,” Dixon said Wednesday. “That’s been decided. We’ve got the guys and we’re healthy.”

TCU women’s Big 12 opener is stern test against unbeaten WVU | The Star-Telegram

While most are focused on the men’s matchup against the Jayhawks, it may be the women who have the tougher test to open conference play.

The Horned Frogs (8-3) come in riding a three-game win streak, but they’ll face one of the nation’s hottest teams in West Virginia and the only Big 12 team to make it through nonconference play with a spotless record. The Mountaineers (12-0) won their last three games by an average of 52 points and have won all but three games by at least 22 points.