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Basketball:
TCU more than happy with ‘ugly win’ over Florida in SEC/ Big 12 Challenge | The Star-Telegram
The Frogs needed a signature out of conference win, and they got one, but not the way you’d expect.
“It’ll help us a lot down the stretch, just being able to win ugly. I think that’s the thing we struggled to do in the past. We’ve done it a few times now, been able to win a couple close games, which is huge for us and our program.”
TCU, which is known more for its offense under coach Jamie Dixon, has won its last two games by scoring 65 and 55 points against Texas and Florida, respectively. Saturday marked the first time in the Dixon era that the Frogs won when scoring fewer than 60 points.
But a win is a win and defense is something that Dixon has been preaching of late.
Moore’s monster game saves turnover-prone TCU in close game against Kansas | The Star-Telegram
Pebley’s squad needed this one, and they rode their star center to the victory.
“We did feel like we could come out with some penetration and we felt there were some seams we could come out and attack, but a lot of our free throws came from the paint and Jordan,” TCU head coach Raegan Pebley said. “Eight for 9, that’s great growth and she has been working really hard to get there.”
Kansas (12-7, 1-6 Big 12) without its leading scorer, Jessica Washington, had help from senior guard Kylee Kopatich, who dropped 19 points and eight rebounds. Christalah Lyons added 15 points and six assists.
Turnovers were everywhere on the court Sunday as TCU forced 22, but the Frogs gave up a season-high 26.
“I know our team was really focused defensively, but offensively we clearly didn’t do as great of a job hence all the turnovers,” Pebley said. “That’s uncharacteristic of us but I know it is characteristic of Kansas’ defense.”
Football:
TCU’s Ben Banogu has picked up the linebacker position in ‘snap of a finger’ | The Star-Telegram
Banogu is dominant wherever he plays, and he’s going to make an NFL team very happy.
Oakland Raiders linebackers coach David Lippincott has been impressed with how quickly Banogu has adapted. Banogu looked confused during the first meeting with Lippincott, who might as well have been speaking gibberish.
“He looked at me like I was crazy a couple times,” Lippincott said, smiling. “But then we showed clips of what we do and he could see other guys doing it, even going back to when our staff was in Cincinnati. Once he saw it, he picked it up just like that -- in a snap of a finger.”
The change is a welcomed challenge for Banogu, who earned first-team all-Big 12 honors last season.
“I feel like I kind of got a knock on some of that stuff going into the season,” Banogu said. “This week more for me is to just prove that I can do just about anything. That I can fly around and make plays wherever they put me in. [Thursday] showed a little bit of that.”
Nebraska, TCU make final two for OLB Dylan Jordan, who will announce Monday | Omaha.com
This would be a huge get for the Frogs, who are fighting the Huskers to secure Dylan’s services. It will likely come down to how he sees his fit in either system.
Nebraska sees Jordan as a strongside outside linebacker — opposite of Tannor, who plays closer to the line of scrimmage — who can both rush the passer and cover tight ends in space. Jordan said all the film he watched over the weekend was of Shaquem Griffin, the former Central Florida star who was part of an undefeated team under coach Scott Frost. Jordan liked the comparison and didn’t think he’d have to gain much weight to play right away.
“It’s that player who can cover in space in the ‘2’ hole,” Jordan said. “At the same time, it’s that player who can come off the edge, be a ‘big bang’ type guy.”
His role in NU’s defense — a snug fit in Jordan’s mind — is different than it would be at TCU, which runs a 4-2-5 defense. There, Jordan said, he’d be more of a nickel who played in the box but also off the ball. He wouldn’t rush the passer as much.
TE Brett Seither lists Georgia among finalists as decision nears | 247 Sports
The Frogs have a lot of competition for the highly rated TE, but they have remained in the hunt. Seither will announce on February 6th.
A late surge in interest elevated Seither’s national recognition and gave him plenty to consider leading up to National Signing Day.
“It’s definitely been something I’ll always remember,” he told 247Sports’ Jeremy Clark. “Definitely some big surprises with Georgia and Alabama and Penn State, and other big schools. It’s just something I could have never imagined a couple years back.”