Basketball:
College hoops Power Rankings: Big 12 depth is downright scary | ESPN
I said it yesterday and it’s still true: The national media understands the task of playing in the Big 12 this season.
There’s no better example of the Big 12’s depth and talent than TCU. The Horned Frogs entered league play at 12-0 -- and promptly lost four of their first five games. Of course, those five games were no cakewalk: vs. Oklahoma, at Baylor, vs. Kansas, at Texas, at Oklahoma.
The scary part about the Big 12? That five-game stretch isn’t really an anomaly. That’s the way the league is this season. The worst team is Iowa State -- which has beaten top-50-caliber teams Baylor and Boise State by double digits. The other 1-4 team, in addition to TCU and Iowa State, is Baylor, which entered Big 12 play in the Top 25 after beating Creighton and Wisconsin. There are no easy games, especially on the road.
Still in the Top 25, TCU getting respect despite rough start to Big 12 play | FWST
Those who have watched the Horned Frogs this season, especially the past two weeks, get it. Apparently, AP voters have been watching, too, and so have the coaches who vote in the USA Today poll and placed TCU at No. 25.
TCU plays in the toughest conference in the country and has lost its four games by a combined 11 points. Two of those came in overtime last week. Two of them came down to the final possession.
The Frogs remain convinced that they are a good team, one of the best in the country, and their standing in the AP poll suggests that TCU is getting the respect it deserves despite the mounting losses.
And another fun basketball note - TCU women received 13 votes in the AP poll this week!
Football:
Here are a smattering of fun football articles from around SB Nation, most of which discuss TCU or the Big 12 in some way:
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Comparing the perfect seasons of Boise St, TCU, UCF and Utah (UnderDog Dynasty):
Similar to what we had up at FOW last week about 2017 UCF vs 2010 TCU, UDD has a fun table trying to argue that 2017 UCF is the best G5 team ever (Andy Dalton would like a word, UDD). -
2018 College Football Playoff Odds Include West Virginia (Smoking Musket):
West Virginia is going to be good, and Vegas knows it. With Wild Bill Grier returning, the ‘Neers are poised to have a veteran and talented team. - The Ralphie Report thinks TCU should start the season ranked 17th!
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Four big takeaways from the 2017 season (Football Study Hall):
Ian Boyd discusses the dime defense and the importance of defensive linemen in the Big 12, among plenty other notable trends from the football season.