December 20, 1999
Game # 8 Texas A&M Aggies (3-4, 0-0 Big 12) vs. Dayton Flyers (8-1, 0-0 Atlantic 10) Tuesday, Dec. 21 7:07 p.m. (Central) UD Arena (13,455 cap.) Dayton, Ohio
RADIO: Texas A&M Basketball Network
TV: WHIO (CBS Channel 7 in Dayton only)
The Texas A&M Aggies (3-4) continue their month-long road trip on Tuesday when they play the Dayton Flyers (8-1) at 7:07 p.m. (Central) at the UD Arena (13,455 cap.) in Dayton, Ohio. The Aggies have won three of their last five games, with both losses coming in overtime. A&M is coming off a tough 76-69 overtime loss to Lamar on Saturday in Beaumont. Dayton is coming off its first loss of the season, a 75-60 loss at Cleveland State on Saturday. A&M and Dayton are playing for the first time. The Aggies are 0-3 in true road games this season while the Flyers are 4-0 at home.
Scouting Report
The Flyers opened the season with eight straight victories, their best start in more than 40 years. Dayton won the Lobo Classic in New Mexico to start the season, including a 70-57 upset of New Mexico. The Flyers also upset Kentucky, 68-66, on Nov. 29 in Cincinnati. The Flyers were poised to enter the top 25 polls prior to Saturday's loss to Cleveland State as they were ranked No. 27 in both the AP and USA Today polls last week. Dayton is led by junior guard Tony Stanley (6-4), who is averaging 15.6 points and 6.4 rebounds per game and is making 45.1 percent from three-point range. Senior center Mark Ashman (6-10) is adding 11.4 points and 5.9 boards per game. As a team, the Flyers are shooting 44.9 percent from the field while allowing just 39.7 percent. Dayton is also a strong perimeter shooting team, making 37.1 percent from three-point range.
Injury Report
JASON BOEKER, Senior Forward: Left knee cap tendonitis (probable)
JAMAAL GILCHRIST, Freshman Guard: Sprained right ankle (probable)
LARRY JACKSON, Freshman Center: Left thigh inflamation (will not play)
ANDY LEATHERMAN, Sophomore Guard: Right knee tendonitis (will not play)
TOMAS RESS, Freshman Forward: Sprainedright thumb (probable)
ANDY SLOCUM, Freshman Center: Sprained right ankle (probable)
A&M-Dayton Series
First Meeting
A&M vs. Atlantic 10 Opponents: 4-10
Dayton vs. Big 12 Opponents: 3-8
The Coaches
Melvin Watkins (North Carolina Charlotte `77) is in his second year as head coach at Texas A&M. Watkins's first A&M team finished 12-15 last year with a 5-11 mark in Big 12 play, tying for 10th place. In three years as a college head coach, Watkins has built a 57-39 record. Prior to coming to A&M, Watkins compiled a two-year record of 42-20 at his alma mater, UNC Charlotte, leading the 49ers to consecutive 20-win seasons and NCAA Tournament berths. Prior to that, Watkins served as an assistant at UNCC from 1978-96. As a player, Watkins led UNCC to the NCAA Final Four in 1977 as the starting point guard. Behind Watkins, UNCC also advanced to the NIT finals in 1976. Watkins was a fourth-round draft pick of the NBA's Buffalo Braves in 1977.
Oliver Purnell (Old Dominion `75) is in his sixth season at Dayton, where he is 75-78. In his 12th year as a head coach, Purnell is 176-153. He came to Dayton after serving three years as head coach at Old Dominion (1991-94) and three years as head coach at Radford (1988-91). His teams have posted four 20+ win seasons.
Watkins Comments
"Dayton is the best team we've played this season. They have beaten some quality opponents and we know they will be especially tough at home. They are an exceptionally good defensive team, they rebound well and they have a number of good shooters. They don't have a lot of weaknesses. We are still not being as consistent as I would like. We need to continue to improve our defensive play and to rebound better. It's important for us to play well and gain some confidence as we go into the Christmas break and start preparing for conference play."
Lamar Recap
BEAUMONT, Texas (AP) - Lamar, led by four players in double figures, claimed a 76-69 victory in overtime at home Saturday over Texas A&M, overcoming an unlikely Aggie comeback. A&M scored 26 unanswered points in the second half, part of a 29-3 run in the final 9:05 that erased a 25-point Lamar lead. Landon Rowe was the leading scorer for Lamar (3-4) with 19 points. Bobby Manheimer chipped in with 17, and Kenyon Spears had 16, along with 10 rebounds. Marlone Jackson added 11 points for Lamar. Texas A&M (3-4) lost despite a strong performance from Bernard King, who had 31 points, including 7 of 15 from beyond the three-point line. King scored 15 points in the 26-0 run. Jamaal Gilchrist added 11 while Aaron Jack tied his career-high with 11 rebounds. Gilchrist's three-pointer with nine seconds left in regulation tied the score, 64-64, and forced overtime. Lamar led at halftime, 26-24. The Aggies outrebounded Lamar, 42-37. King set a school record with his 15 three-point attempts, while his seven three-point field goals made were one shy of the school mark. King's 31 points was just off the school's freshman record of 33 set by Vernon Smith in 1977-78.
The King
Freshman guard Bernard King is living up to his early billing as he leads the team in scoring (16.0), assists (4.0), free throw percentage (.818) and three-point field goals (2.4), ranks second in steals (2.0) and ranks third in rebounds (4.4). The 1999 Louisiana Mr. Basketball, King has scored in double figures in six of seven games. Against Lamar on Saturday, he scored a career-high 31 points (26 in the second half), becoming only the second freshman in school history to score 30 points in a game. Vernon Smith had a pair of 30-point games as a freshman in 1977-78 and went on to become A&M's career scoring and rebounding leader. King made 7-of-15 three-pointers against Lamar, setting a school record for three-point attempts and falling one shy of the record for three pointers made in a game.
Gilchrist Shines
Freshman guard Jamaal Gilchrist scored 21 points against North Carolina A&T on Nov. 27, tying the school record for most points by a freshman in his first game. Winston Crite, who went on to one of the greatest careers in school history, also scored 21 in his freshman debut against Texas Lutheran in 1983-84. Gilchrist has started seven straight games and is averaging 11.3 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 3.0 steals per game and is also making 75.8 percent (25-33) from the free throw line. Gilchrist ranks second in the Big 12, and is tied for 24th nationally, in steals. Among the nation's freshmen, he ranks second in steals.
No Razors Needed
In every game this season the Aggies have started at least three true freshmen and in two games, the Aggies started four true freshmen. A&M's lineup against North Texas and Stephen F. Austin marked the only time in school history that the Aggies have started an all-freshman back court and a freshman center. The Aggies started four true freshmen (off guard Bernard King, point guard Jamaal Gilchrist, small forward Larry Scott and center Andy Slocum), along with senior power forward Aaron Jack. The only other time in school history that the Aggies have started four freshmen in a game was in 1991-92, a team that went on to finish 6-22 but came within a game of winning the conference championship two seasons later. That lineup included sophomore point guard David Edwards, a Division I transfer from Georgetown.
Youngest Aggies Ever
With seven freshmen on the roster, not to mention just three returning scholarship players from last season, the 1999-2000 Aggies are the youngest team in school history. The 1978-79 and 1991-92 teams each had six freshmen. The youngest player on the team is guard Bernard King, who turned 18 on July 24. On the other end of the spectrum, the Aggies' four seniors will all be 23 by the start of the season and Paul Jacobs turns 24 on Feb. 15.
Dynamic Duo
Jamaal Gilchrist and Bernard King have started every game at the guard positions, marking only the third time in history A&M has started an all-freshman back court. In 1994-95, Kyle Kessel and Waseem Ali formed the starting backcourt as freshmen on a 14-16 team, while in 1976-77, Dave Goff and Steve Sylestine started as an all-freshman back court for a 14-14 squad. Sylestine is now head coach at San Antonio Jay, where he coached A&M junior forward Carlton Brown.
Lefties Reign
Four of the five starters against North Texas and Stephen F. Austin were left-handed - Aaron Jack, Andy Slocum, Bernard King and Jamaal Gilchrist. Every other player is a right-hander.
Early Signing Class
Coach Melvin Watkins continued his transformation of Texas A&M basketball with his second straight top 25 recruiting class in early November. The class was ranked as the 18th best in the country by Basketball Times and the 22nd best by ESPN. All three signees were ranked among the top 100 high school prospects in the country by at least one service, including consensus top 40 prospect Nick Anderson. Two players, Anderson and Trayvean Scott, are from Louisiana, continuing the Louisiana pipeline started by Watkins last year with the signing of Andy Slocum and Bernard King. Watkins also signed top 100 center Nolan Butterfras of Houston. A&M's 1999 early signees:
NICK ANDERSON, 6-7, 212, F
Baton Rouge, La. (Southern Lab)
Ranked as the 18th best prospect in the country by The Sporting News...one of the highest rated national recruits in A&M history...as a junior, averaged 23 points, 12 rebounds and five blocked shots per game and earned first-team all-state honors...ranked among the top 40 national recruits by almost every recruiting service...rated as the top guard/forward in the South by Regional Basketball Report...was also recruited by Tennessee, LSU, Houston, Kansas, Tulane, Louisville, Alabama, West Virginia, Florida State and Arizona.
TRAYVEAN SCOTT, 6-1, 195, G
Baton Rouge, La. (Southern Lab)
Ranked among the top 45 high school prospects and top seven point guards in the South by Regional Basketball Report...has been ranked among the top 100 players nationally by Bob Gibbons' All-Star Sports...averaged 16.7 points and 7.0 assists per game last year and earned honorable mention all-state honors...also recruited by LSU, Minn., Tulane, Vanderbilt and Houston.
NOLAN BUTTERFRAS, 6-10, 235, C
Houston, Texas (Cypress Creek)
Ranked among the nation's top 13 high school centers by Athlon...rated as the 97th best prospect in the country by FastBreak Recruiting in a poll of top experts...described by Gibbons as "rugged" and a "very solid, strong low post prospect."
Did You Know?
Bernard King's 31 points against Lamar on Saturday made him only the second freshman in A&M history to score 30 points in a game. Vernon Smith, who went on to become A&M's all-time scoring a rebounding leader, did it twice in 1977-78, scoring 33 against Southwestern Louisiana and adding 31 against Houston.
Last Year's Class
The Aggies eight-man 1998-99 recruiting class, one of the largest in the country, was ranked as the 14th best class in the nation and the second best in the Big 12 by Bob Gibbons' All-Star Sports Report, who called the haul a "recruiting bonanza." The top-rated player in the class, Louisiana Mr. Basketball Bernard King, was rated by Gibbons as the 33rd best prospect in the country. Another Louisiana product, Andy Slocum, was rated No. 94 by Gibbons. Meanwhile, Brick Oettinger of The Sporting News ranked Jamaal Gilchrist as one of the top 30 high school point guards in the nation last year while Gibbons called him a "playmaker supreme." Overall, the class includes six true freshman, one junior college transfer and one university transfer, Keith Bean of North Carolina State, who was rated as the 33rd best prep player by Gibbons in 1997-98.
Coming Back
The Aggies have shown a propensity for falling behind, then mounting major comebacks this season. A&M rallied from a 25-point deficit with nine minutes left against Lamar to take a one-point lead, but went on to fall in overtime, 76-69. The Aggies rallied from a 17-point first-half deficit (23-6) to beat Virginia Commonwealth, 75-59. On Nov. 29 against North Texas, the Aggies trailed by 18 points with 12 minutes to play and rallied to within two points in the final minute before falling, 91-88. However, against Tulane, that trend reversed itself as A&M led by as many as 11 in the first half and 10 in the second half before losing in overtime, 64-60.
Making the Freebies
Just two seasons ago, Texas A&M set a dubious school record by making just 57.9 percent from the free throw line, ranking last in the Big 12. Last year, the Aggies improved to 68.9 percent, ranking third in the Big 12. Through seven games this season, the Aggies are making a solid 70.3 percent from the line. Solid free throw shooting is a trademark of Melvin Watkins-coached teams as his two squads at UNC Charlotte each led Conference USA in free throw percentage. In the last two minutes of close games (games within 10 points), the Aggies have made 13-of-19 free throws (.684). A&M has also successfully completed 7-of-11 three-point plays (.636). However, the team has struggled in one-and-one situations, making the first free throw just 5-of-12 (.417).
Defense Improves
In the first two games this season, both losses, the Aggies allowed both North Carolina A&T (.507) and North Texas (.500) to shoot better than 50 percent from the field. But in the last five games, including three wins and two overtime losses, the Aggies have held their opponents to a combined 37.0 percent. Rice (.321) and Virginia Commonwealth (.328) each made less than 33 percent from the field against the Aggies. A&M has held three straight opponents to less than 40 percent from the field.
Better Boards
The Aggies have also improved their rebounding since the start of the year. After being out-rebounded by 16 boards (43-27) in the opener against North Carolina A&T, the Aggies have out-rebounded five of their last six opponents. Against A&T, A&M managed just five offensive boards but in the last six games has averaged 14.8.
Mr. Basketballs
Two Aggies were named Mr. Basketball in their respective states as prep seniors. Senior Jerald Brown was named Texas Mr. Basketball at Aldine High School in 1996 and freshman Bernard King was named Louisiana Mr. Basketball last spring at Gibsland-Coleman High School.
Fresh Impact
Through seven games, the Aggies' top four scorers are all newcomers, including three true freshmen. The last time a freshman led the team in scoring was forward Damon Johnson in 1991-92, when he set the A&M freshman record with a 15.6 average. The only other freshman in school history to lead the team in scoring was guard Todd Holloway with a 12.0 average in 1983-84. Freshman Bernard King leads the team with a 16.0 average, on pace to challenge Johnson's record. King is the top freshman scorer in the Big 12, while back court mate Jamaal Gilchrist averaged 11.3 points. King has scored in double figures in six games. Forward Larry Scott carries an 11.1 average. Gilchrist ranks second in the league in steals (3.0) and is adding 3.9 assists.
J. B. Returns
After missing the first three games with a broken bone near his right eye, senior forward Jerald Brown returned to action against Virginia Commonwealth and responded with seven points and five rebounds. More importantly, he provided heady leadership to his young teammates. Brown has played in 84 career games, starting in 70, to rank among the most experienced players in the Big 12.
Dead-Eye Jack
Through seven games, senior forward/center Aaron Jack had averaged 8.4 points and 6.7 rebounds. Jack also has connected on .647 percent from the field to lead the team in field goal accuracy. Last season, Jack made 56.5 percent from the field and led the team in three-point plays with nine. Against Stephen F. Austin, Jack posted his first career double-double with 11 points and a career-high 11 rebounds. He matched his career-best rebounding total with 11 against Lamar.
C. Brown Impresses
Junior forward Carlton Brown posted his first career double-double against Virginia Commonwealth, scoring 12 points with a career-high 14 rebounds. Brown has scored in double figures in three games, including a career-high 24 points against North Texas. Brown played at about 80 percent against Tulane after coming down with a stomach virus. He scored just seven points against the Green Wave but hauled in a team-high eight rebounds.
Impressive Recruiter
When freshman forward Larry Scott made his official recruiting visit to the Texas A&M campus last April, he expected to meet the usual people - academic advisors, professors, coaches, etc. Instead, he met the former leader of the free world, President George Bush. The A&M coaches took Scott to lunch at a restaurant near campus and in walked the former President and his wife, Barbara. "It was totally by coincidence because he walked in and everyone was like 'What?'" Scott said. "The president just walked in. I just thought, 'Wow." Then, Bush came over to meet Scott. "He came over, shook my hand, patted me on the back and told me I should be an Aggie," Scott said,adding that Bush was not the reason he signed with A&M, but it sure didn't hurt. The George Bush Presidential Library and Museum is located on the Texas A&M campus and the Bushes are frequent visitors.
The King and Fizer
Iowa State standout Marcus Fizer is from Arcadia, La., which is located just eight miles from Bernard King's home in Gibsland. "When I was home from spring break in March, Bernard totally amazed me at how complete a player he has become," Fizer told Mike Jones of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. "I've told him he's going to have to get a lot stronger physically, but I've seen him grow from someone who was just happy to be out there playing into someone who can totally dominate a game.
From Far and Wide
Texas A&M's roster includes 14 players from eight states or countries, equaling the most states represented on a roster in a school history. The 1990-91, 1991-92 and 1994-95 teams also included players from eight states or countries.
Ress Assured
Freshman forward Tomas Ress, a native of Italy, speaks four languages - Italian, German, English and Spanish. He learned English and Spanish last year while attending high school in Florida. As a native of the tiny village of Pochi in the Italian province of Bolanzo, located near the border of Austria, Ress is fluent in German and Italian.
Sizing 'Em Up
The 1999-2000 Aggies may be the largest in school history in terms of both height and weight. Five players are at least 6-9 and eight are at least 6-8. In addition, three players weight in excess of 250 pounds and five tip the scales at more than 240 pounds. Freshmen Andy Slocum and Tomas Ress each wear a size 18 shoe. The only other player in recent history to wear a size 18 was Brad Stricker (1995-97). Freshman Larry Jackson (265) and sophomore Keith Bean (273) are the two heaviest players in school history. Shedrick Anderson (1990-92) also weighed in at 265. Of the veterans, Paul Jacobs put on the most muscle in the off-season, gaining 13 pounds to tip the scales at 225. Aaron Jack weighs in at 243, eight pounds above his playing weight last season.
Looking Ahead
After playing Dayton on Tuesday in Dayton, Ohio, the Aggies take a short break for the holidays. The schedule resumes on Dec. 29-30 at the Cable Car Classic in Santa Clara, Calif. The Aggies meet Santa Clara in the first round on Dec. 29 and will play either La Salle or Butler on Dec. 30.