After two wins, TCU, Johnson getting respect around Big 12

TCU’s two-game winning streak in the Big 12 may not be that much in the big picture, but it has the respect of coaches in the conference.

“Obviously, TCU is playing much better,” Kansas coach Bill Self said. “They were terrific last night.”

By “last night,” Self meant Wednesday night when TCU defeated Kansas State 69-55 behind 53.5 percent shooting.

Four days earlier the Horned Frogs defeated then-No. 21 Oklahoma State behind 18-of-23 shooting at the foul line.

Now, as the Horned Frogs head to Lawrence on Saturday for a game against Self and the No. 8 Jayhawks (21-5, 10-3), Self is bracing his team with reminders of a narrow 64-61 escape in Fort Worth on Jan. 28.

Kansas gave up a season-high 26 offensive rebounds that night to TCU.

“Obviously, what happened with Oklahoma State, with that happened with Kansas State and what happened with us down there are three good reminders that this team is very capable of playing with anybody,” Self said.

TCU (16-10, 3-10) still has only five victories in three years in the Big 12 under Trent Johnson.

But his effort to turn around the Horned Frogs is drawing appreciation from other coaches.

“I think he’s done a nice job to rejuvenate it,” Kansas State coach Bruce Weber said. “It’s not easy to go through what he went through last year. I know — I’ve talked to him. It’s a strain on the coach. It’s a strain on families.

“But he’s kept them competing and playing hard. You come here, and you’ve got to play. Even at home, we had to play. They’ve competed with people.”

Oklahoma State coach Travis Ford insisted the credit belonged to TCU for its win over his team last week.

“They’re still a new team to this league, and they’ve gone through some tough games and tough losses,” he said. “I respect the job that Trent’s doing. I like Trent a lot. I think his team is very gutsy. I saw that in all the league games I watched.”

For Johnson, there’s no mystery to the turnaround.

“I mean, we’re getting the same shots we’ve been taking all year long,” he said. “We’re running the same stuff. The ball is going in the hole.

“If I knew earlier why it wasn’t going in the hole, why we weren’t shooting the ball with confidence, I would have it corrected. But right now, we’re shooting the ball with confidence.”

Confidence is not always easy to come by in the Big 12, perhaps. Johnson joked after the win against Kansas State that he is ready to play anyone outside the conference.

“This league is a grind. It’s a grind,” he said.

But his team now has something to show for it — a two-game winning streak, and the notice of other coaches.

This story was originally published February 20, 2015 at 3:37 PM with the headline "After two wins, TCU, Johnson getting respect around Big 12."