"This isn't just another place for me. This is who I am. I grew up here." Had an absolute blast writing this story about Trent Smiley, a former #KUfball TE & current senior project manager with JE Dunn Construction, working on the completion of the very stadium that he once played in for the program he gave everything to. Pretty cool. r1s1sports.com/more-than-jus…

TCU is throwing for ~300 yards per game on average and McDonald calls it "a huge challenge" facing a very smart QB and talented receivers along with tight end, Kari Ashley, who has 510 yards and 4 TDs to date this season... #KUfball

#KUfball DC D.K. McDonald said TCU has one of the best combinations of TE/WR in the entire Big 12... Will be a big test for the KU secondary, which has been banged up but also has seen younger guys and guys down the depth chart make strides in recent weeks.

#KUfball OC Andy Kotelnicki said the idea of going for more 4th downs on Saturday was the result of the mentality of playing to win the game.... Added that the difference between the two is clearly a paradigm shift.

Kotelnicki said TCU has a really tough defense... "a really good team with personnel, you can see they're well coached, they know what they're doing, they disguise things well enough, they have complements to things they're doing & they've caused a lot of offenses problems." #KUfball

Kotelnicki said he has no idea what the highest number of 4th-down tries he's attempted in a game is in his career and he added that it didn't feel abnormal or extraordinary to him at all. It was just calling the game as it unfolded and calling the next play. #KUfball

Leipold said he really liked the way Dylan Edwards ran with physicality on Saturday... The best he's seen from him in that regard with #KUfball As for the 30 carries he had Saturday vs. Baylor, he said they're just trying to find ways to win games and added, "We'll keep trying to find ways to put the ball in his hands."

Leipold continues to praise now-former Baylor coach Dave Arranda, saying he's "one of the true real people in this profession, a genuinely great human being." Leipold said they exchanged text messages this morning and he wishes him the best and believes he'll have plenty of opportunities moving forward. #KUfball

Regarding the development/rise of WR/KR Bryson Hayes, Leipold said they noticed his jump toward the end of spring and it's something they see a lot with guys in his position, from Year 1 to Year 2... #KUfball

Leipold said he's been thrilled with the play of all 3 of #KUfball's top wideouts (McMillan, Cox & Kubecka) because they believe each of them can be the guy to have a big game any time out... He added that they're hoping to get Kubecka back from injury sooner than later....

Leipold said the coaches have challenged the linebackers, especially at the Will position, and noted that "it was good to see Bam (Crouch) take a big step." Said Bam's gaining confidence week to week after returning from the early-season injury... #KUfball

Leipold on mid-season RB addition Chase Belcher, who is now listed with Khi Cummings-Coleman as the No. 2 back on the updated #KUfball depth chart... "Ran hard. It isn't like he's had troubles picking up what we're trying to do, so we'll see where it goes."

#KUfball coach Lance Leipold said the program has had a philosophical change of heart about how aggressive to be on 4th down this year compared to previous seasons. They went for it on 4th down 8 times on Saturday and have converted 13 of 26 such attempts so far this season... #KUfball

#KUfball coach Lance Leipold said the energy surrounding the program was great on Sunday after the win, but the approach remained the same — learn what you can from the last game, address it & move forward to the next one....

HALFTIME at AFH... No. 17 #KUbball leads No. 2 Duke 45-43 after an up-and-down and wildly entertaining first half. Don't really think KU played anywhere near their best, yet here they are leading a damn good Duke team at the break.

Luke Barnett checks in for the final 7.8 seconds of this half after #KUbball gained possession... Shooter!

Trent Perry's given #KUbball some really good minutes here this half. And that bucket put KU ahead.

Tie ballgame. Timeout Duke. Keanu Dawes drains a rhythm 3 from the top of the key to tie this one up at 40-all. 2:22 to play in the 1st half. #KUbball trailed 30-19 and is on a 21-10 run.

Jayhawks showing some serious fight... It hasn't always been pretty, but they're in it. Duke leads 38-32 with 3:53 to play in the first half. Taylen Kinney's 3-pointer a moment ago cut the Blue Devils' lead to 3. #KUbball

#KUbball now just 4-for-9 from the free throw line so far today... Duke leads 30-19, mid-1H