Top 20 games of 2017 for TCU Athletics

2017 has been a fantastic season for TCU athletics, across the board. From new heights for the basketball program, to the consistent excellence of baseball, to another 10-win season for football, not to mention teams like men’s tennis, women’s soccer, and rifle all having incredible seasons, TCU is one of the strongest universities in the country when it comes to athletics.

There are hundreds of games we could talk about across the 21 teams that wear TCU on the jersey, due to the success of the programs this year, but these are the top 20 games for the year 2017.

20. TCU football vs. Texas Tech - TCU 27, Tech 3

Frog fans got a glimpse of the future in this game, as freshman Shawn Robinson started in place of an injured Kenny Hill. Robinson ran for a team-leading 84 yards, and threw a touchdown to Jalen Reagor, as TCU thumped Tech 27-3.

TCU’s defense kept the Red Raiders out of the endzone, and their effort was capped by a 93-yard pick six by Jeff Gladney.

19. TCU men’s basketball vs. SMU - TCU 94, SMU 83

Not only did this snap a 5-game losing streak to SMU, but it is the biggest non-conference win for TCU this season (SMU is No. 28 in Ken Pom at the time of this post). Kenrich Williams scored 27 points to lead the Frogs, as they moved, at that point, to 9-0 on the season.

18. TCU baseball vs. Texas - TCU 4, Texas 3 (10 innings)

Two cool things about this win: first, it clinched TCU’s third sweep of Texas in the last four seasons, and second it was head coach Jim Schlossnagle’s 600th win at TCU.

Mitchell Traver struck out seven over 5.2 innings pitched, and Luken Baker hit the game-winning double in the 10th inning, scoring Ryan Merrill. TCU also drew five walks in the 7th inning, as they rallied from behind 3-0.

17. TCU women’s tennis vs. Texas Tech - TCU 4, Tech 1

TCU women’s tennis struggled at times this year, but they showed up on April 15th, 2017. TCU won three of the four singles matches that finished, led by Caroline Wagner and Aleksandra Zenovka, and were leading in the other two by the time the match was decided.

The Frogs also took the first two doubles matches for the final point, and led in the third doubles match before it was unnecessary to finish it.

16. TCU football vs. Texas - TCU 24, Texas 7

It was TCU’s fourth consecutive win over the Longhorns on the football field, matching TCU’s all-time longest winning streak against the Horns. The run defense for the Frogs allowed just nine yards on the ground, while the defensive line recorded six sacks.

Darius Anderson also had an ankle-breaking touchdown run that sealed the deal for the Frogs, and Kyle Hicks, once a Texas commit, helped make sure his class went 4-0 against the Longhorns.

15. TCU baseball vs. LSU - Shriners College Classic - TCU 9, LSU 6

The Frogs jumped out to a 7-1 start during their 2017 campaign, but the real first test came when TCU headed to Houston for the Shriner's College Classic. TCU roughed up LSU ace Alex Lange on their way to a win over then-ranked No. 4 LSU.

The win came in the midst of a 7-game winning streak for TCU, TCU’s second-longest winning streak of the season.

14. TCU Rifle - NCAA Tournament - places 2nd in the country

TCU rifle finished second in both major shooting competitions (small bore and air rifle) during the NCAA Rifle tournament back in March, their second-consecutive second-place finish nationally.

TCU’s rifle squad has been a dominant force over the past eight seasons, winning multiple national championships, and finishing as a top-6 team virtually every year.

13. TCU baseball vs. Louisville - College World Series - TCU 4, Louisville 3

TCU made it through the loser’s bracket in the CWS because of this win, using a phenomenal 4.1 inning outing from Sean Wymer to get them past the Cardinals.

Wymer struck out five hitters and gave up just two hits in an incredible performance.

12. TCU men’s basketball vs. Iowa - NIT Round 2 - TCU 94, Iowa 92

Alex Robinson and Kenrich Williams both recorded double-doubles as TCU knocked of the 1-seed Hawkeyes in Iowa. The win advanced TCU to the quarterfinals of the NIT, and it was the closest game TCU would play all tournament.

11. TCU baseball vs. Texas A&M - College World Series - TCU 4, Texas A&M 1

Sitting just outside the top 10 we have TCU eliminating the Aggies from the College World Series. Big Game Howie went seven innings, striking out 12 Aggies in the process, and giving up just one run.

The win meant TCU ended Texas A&M’s season for the third consecutive season.

10. TCU women’s soccer vs. West Virginia - Big 12 Tournament - TCU 1, WVU 1 (TCU wins in shootout)

TCU advanced to the Big 12 Championship for the second consecutive season with a win over No. 7 West Virginia, thanks to a goal from Allison Ganter in the 52nd minute, and the game-winning shootout goal from Ryan Williams.

Goalkeeper Katie Lund gave a stellar performance, stopping all five of 2-seed WVU’s corner kicks, and making a diving save during the shootout to set up Williams’ game-winner. The win sealed TCU’s berth in the Big 12 Championship game, and gave them a quality win that boosted them into the NCAA Tournament.

9. TCU men’s tennis vs. Texas Tech - Big 12 Championship - TCU 4, Texas Tech 0

No. 4 TCU absolutely dominated Texas Tech, winning 4-0 in just over an hour and a half, thanks to big performances from Cameron Norrie, Reese Stalder, and Trevor Johnson in singles play, and a massive 6-1 win from doubles team Jerry Lopez and Stalder.

It clinched TCU’s second-consecutive Big 12 Championship, and propelled them to an Elite Eight appearance in the NCAA Tournament.

8. TCU baseball vs. Florida - College World Series - TCU 9, Florida 2

Charles King willed TCU to victory in this one out of the bullpen, with a 3+ inning, five strikeout performance that allowed TCU to maintain, and eventually extend, their lead over the Gators.

This was TCU’s third straight elimination game, and third straight win, after dropping their opening game to Florida in the College World Series. This win would set up a final game between TCU and Florida, with the winner heading to the championship matchup. Unfortunately, Florida would win the rematch 3-0.

7. TCU football vs. Oklahoma State - TCU 44, Oklahoma State 31

TCU headed into Stillwater a heavy underdog against the Pokes, and it seemed like the Frogs shouldn’t even show up to play the game. Oklahoma State fans were insanely confident, but that wouldn’t help their team.

TCU forced five turnovers, and Darius Anderson ran all over the OSU defense, as TCU pulled off the upset win in Stillwater.

6. TCU men’s tennis vs. Illinois - NCAA Sweet 16 - TCU 4, Illinois 1

Led by Cam Norrie and Alex Rybakov, TCU knocked off the Illini to advance to the Elite Eight. TCU absolutely dominated the match, and the only Frog to lose a singles match, Trevor Johnson, redeemed himself as Norrie’s doubles partner, when they beat their doubles opponent 6-4.

It was the second time TCU had beaten Illinois in the same season, and TCU’s 16th win over a ranked opponent. The Frogs would fall in the Elite Eight to No. 3 Ohio State, 4-3.

5. TCU baseball vs. Missouri State - NCAA Super Regional - TCU 8, Missouri State 1

TCU clinched its fourth straight College World Series appearance with a complete team effort. 14 hits, including home runs from Evan Skoug and Elliott Barzilli, gave TCU more than enough run support for Brian Howard. Big Game Howie went 7.2 innings, striking out 11 in the process, and giving up just two hits (including a lead-off home run for MSU’s only run of the game) en route to his 11th win of the season.

4. TCU men’s basketball vs. Kansas - Big 12 Tournament - TCU 85, Kansas 82

TCU knocked off the No. 1 team in the country for the first time in school history to advance to the Big 12 Tournament semifinals. Kenrich Williams was everywhere, with a final line of 18 points, eight rebounds, five assists, and four steals.

With 2.5 seconds left, and the game tied at 82, Desmond Bane was fouled on a three pointer, and made all three free throws to give TCU the lead. He finished with 16 points on the night.

3. TCU baseball vs. Texas A&M - Shriners College Classic - TCU 11, Texas A&M 10 (15 innings)

It was one of the most improbable comebacks of all-time, with TCU down 10-5 heading into the bottom of the 9th inning. TCU worked six consecutive walks to open the inning, before hits from Austin Ingraham and Elliott Barzilli would drive in the game-tying runs.

Sean Wymer struck out nine of the 15 batters he faced from the 10th to 14th innings, and a double in the 15th from Ryan Merrill scored Nolan Brown from second to win the game.

2. TCU football vs. Stanford - Valero Alamo Bowl - TCU 39, Stanford 37

It was another crazy comeback, as TCU found themselves down 21-3 in the first half, and behind 28-16 in the third quarter. Kenny Hill and Desmon White both scored touchdowns in three different ways, including passing touchdowns to each other, as TCU mounted another Alamo Bowl comeback for the history books.

Jalen Reagor had a 93-yard touchdown reception, and the Frogs picked off KJ Costello twice, including once at the end of the game to snuff out a final Stanford drive. Hill, with 401 total yards of offense, was the Offensive MVP, and Travin Howard, TCU’s leading tackler for the last three years, was Defensive MVP with 10 tackles on the night.

It capped an 11-win season for TCU, Gary Patterson’s 10th 11+ win season with the Horned Frogs.

1. TCU men’s basketball vs. Georgia Tech - NIT Championship - TCU 88, Georgia Tech 56

TCU basketball won the NIT for the first time in school history, finished with a 24-15 record, and sent off seniors Brandon Parrish, Karviar Shepherd, Michael Williams, and Chris Washburn as champions.

Kenrich Williams finished with 25 points and 12 rebounds, Alex Robinson had 10 points and 11 assists, as TCU brought home hardware, just a season removed from playing in a high school gym.

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Got a game you think should be recognized? Think the order should be a little different? Write about it in the comments!