January 05, 2001
Game #13
Texas A&M Aggies
(6-6, 0-0)
vs.
Kansas State Wildcats
(6-5, 0-0)
Saturday, Jan. 6, 2001
3 p.m. (CST)
Reed Arena (12,500 cap.)
College Station, Texas
RADIO: Texas A&M Radio Network
Dave South, Play-by-Play
Al Pulliam, Commentary
Airtime: 2:45 p.m. (CST)
www.AggieAthletics.com
TELEVISION: No Live TV
Postgame Satellite Feed:
6:30-6:45 p.m. (CST)
Galaxy 4R, Transponder 22
TICKETS: Available
Courtside $15
Mezzanine $12
Balcony $10
Gallery $6
Texas A&M Ticket Office: 888-99AGGIE
Ticketmaster: 979-268-0414
2000-01 Schedule/Results
Record: 6-6 Overall, 0-0 Big 12
Current Streak W 3
Longest Win Streak 3
Longest Loss Streak 3
All-Time Record 1,072-1,022
11/18 at Geo. Washington L, 94-74
11/20 NORTH TEXAS W, 77-74
11/26 BIRMINGHAM-SO. L, 74-54
11/29 MORRIS BROWN W, 79-46
12/2 at Va. Comm. L, 107-106 (2 ot)
12/5 LAMAR W, 83-60
12/9 *vs. #12 North Carolina L, 82-60
12/22 at Long Beach St. L, 83-76
12/27 %St. Louis L, 72-60
12/29 %/Manhattan W, 72-64
12/30 %Detroit Mercy W, 81-72 (ot)
1/4 CENTENARY W, 77-67
1/6 KANSAS ST. 3 p.m.
1/9 at Oklahoma 7 p.m.
1/13 at Colorado 6 p.m.
1/17 TEXAS [ESPN+] 8 p.m.
1/20 at Kansas [ESPN+] 3 p.m.
1/24 at Okla. St. 7 p.m.
1/28 IOWA ST. [ESPN+] 3 p.m.
1/30 at Texas [ESPN+] 8 p.m.
2/3 OKLAHOMA [ESPN+] 12:45 p.m.
2/6 BAYLOR [Fox] 7:30 p.m.
2/10 at Texas Tech [ESPN+] 12:45 p.m.
2/14 TEXAS-PAN AMERICAN 7 p.m.
2/17 MISSOURI [ESPN+] 12:45 p.m.
2/21 OKLA. ST. [Fox] 8:30 p.m.
2/24 TEXAS TECH [Fox] 5 p.m.
2/28 at Nebraska 7:05 p.m.
3/3 at Baylor 7 p.m.
3/8-11 #Big 12 Tournament TBA
*Compaq Center (Houston, Texas)
%Rainbow Classic (Honolulu, Hawaii)
#Kemper Arena (Kansas City, Mo.)
Listed game times are Central
com
Riding a three-game winning streak, the Texas A&M Aggies (6-6, 0-0)
open Big 12 Conference play against the Kansas State Wildcats (6-5,
0-0) on Saturday at 3 p.m. (CST) at Reed Arena (12,500 cap.). The
Aggies are coming off a 77-67 win at home against Centenary on
Thursday and won two straight to finish fifth at the Rainbow Classic
in Honolulu last week. The Wildcats have won four of their last five
games, and are coming off a 69-68 win at home against Texas-Pan
American on Tuesday. A&M is 4-1 at home this season while the Kansas
State is 0-4 in road games. Kansas State downed the Aggies last year
in Manhattan, Kan., 81-76, but A&M won two years ago in Reed Arena,
77-69.
About the Wildcats
The Wildcats are in their first season under coach Jim Wooldridge, who
came to KSU after two years as an assistant with the NBA's Chicago
Bulls. Wooldridge coached at Southwest Texas State for three seasons
from 1991-94 and beat Texas A&M, 73-71, at G. Rollie White Coliseum in
1991-92. The Wildcats return two starters and eight lettermen from
last year's team that finished 9-19 overall and placed last in the Big
12 at 2-14. Kansas State is led by junior guard Phinas (Tony) Atchison
(6-1), who is averaging 13.6 points per game. Junior forward Travis
Reynolds (6-7) adds 10.7 points and a team-best 7.9 rebounds per game
while sophomore forward Matt Siebrandt (6-8) is averaging 11.2 points
per contest. The Wildcats upset No. 19-ranked Iowa, 86-78, on Dec. 23
in Manhattan, Kan. te Series A&M-KSU Series The Wildcats lead the
series, 7-2, with a 3-2 lead since the Big 12 was formed, with each
team winning its home games and the Wildcats winning at the Big 12
Tournament in 1999. Kansas State is 0-2 in College Station, 0-1 at
Reed Arena.
A&M VS. KANSAS STATE
(KSU leads, 7-2)
Year Winner Site
1999-00 KSU, 81-76 Manhattan, Kan.
1998-99 KSU, 87-76 Kansas City (Big 12 Trn.)
A&M, 79-74 College Station
1997-98 KSU, 95-80 Manhattan, Kan.
1996-97 A&M, 76-67 College Station
1993-94 KSU, 63-54 Manhattan, Kan.
1990-91 KSU, 81-49 Kansas City, Mo.
1967-68 KSU, 82-77 Lawrence, Kan.
1960-61 KSU, 69-64 Manhattan, Kan.
d
Watkins Quoteboard
"We are looking forward to starting conference play. We think we've
played our best basketball of the year in the last three games and we
hope that gives us some momentum. Kansas State is similar to us in
that they have balanced scoring. You can't focus on just one player,
it's got to be a team effort. They seem to be playing their best
basketball right now, too. It should be a very challenging and
exciting game. In the last two weeks, we've rebounded consistently
well, both offensively and defensively, but I've been even more
pleased with the way we've defended our opponents. We are defending
much better than we did in the early part of the season."
Tentative Starters
TEXAS A&M AGGIES (6-6, 0-0)
No. Player Pos. Ht. Cl. PPG RPG
24 Carlton Brown F 6-6 Sr. 15.3 7.5
5 Nick Anderson F 6-6 Fr. 9.1 6.8
2 Keith Bean F 6-8 So. 8.1 5.4
32 Bernard King G 6-5 So. 18.1 4.8a
22 Andy Leatherman G 6-3 Jr. 6.4 2.3a
TEXAS A&M INJURIES: AARON JACK, senior forward: hyperextended right
knee (probable); TOMAS RESS, soph. forward: undetermined illness (will
not play); ANDY SLOCUM, soph. center: right shoulder surgery (will not
play).
KANSAS STATE WILDCATS (6-5, 0-0)
No. Player Pos. Ht. Cl. PPG RPG
3 Quentin Buchanan F 6-7 So. 6.2 3.0
34 Matt Seibrandt F 6-8 So. 11.2 4.3
44 Kelvin Howell C 6-9 Sr. 8.6 7.2
32 Richie Terry G 6-3 So. 4.4 4.3
11 Larry Reid G 6-0 Jr. 6.0 2.1a
Head Coaches
TEXAS A&M:
Melvin Watkins
(UNC Charlotte ee77)
*26-40, 3rd year at A&M
*68-60, 5th year overall
*0-0 vs. Jim Wooldridge
*1-2 vs. Kansas State
KANSAS STATE:
Jim Wooldridge
(Louisiana Tech ee77)
*6-5 in 1st year at Kansas State
*235-152 in 14th year overall
*0-0 vs. Melvin Watkins
*1-0 vs. Texas A&M
Wooldridge-King Connection
First-year Kansas State coach Jim Wooldridge played college basketball
at Louisiana Tech in the late 1970s, where he was a teammate of Victor
King, father of A&M sophomore Bernard King. Wooldridge graduated from
Tech in 1977, while Victor King was a four-year starter at center from
1975-79 and was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers.
Tale of the Tape
Statistic A&M KSU
W-L Record 6-6 6-5
ESPN/USA Today UR UR
AP Poll UR UR
Sagarin Rating 179 144
RPI 177 121
Scoring 74.9 66.2
Opp. Scoring 74.6 68.2
Scoring Margin +0.3 -2.0
FG Pct. .447 .416
Opp. FG Pct. .437 .417
3-Pt. Pct. .310 .297
Opp. 3-Pt. Pct. .349 .364
3-Pt. FG 5.2 3.0
Opp. 3-Pt. FG 7.6 7.9
FT Pct. .685 .668
Opp. FT Pct. .657 .594
Off. Reb. 14.4 13.8
Total Rebounds 41.3 39.5
Reb. Margin +8.8 +5.5
Assists 13.4 12.8
Turnovers 17.6 15.6
Blocks 1.5 3.1
Steals 5.4 5.0
Centenary Recap
COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) u Bernard King scored 20 points and had
seven assists Thursday as Texas A&M defeated Centenary 77-67. The
Aggies (6-6) survived a lull in which they made only three field goals
in the final 11:18 of the first half for a 41-33 halftime lead. A&M
stretched its lead to 13 points in the second half and held off a late
Centenary rally. Ronnie McCollum, the nation's second leading scorer,
had 32 points for Centenary (3-10). Keith Bean had 16 points and 10
rebounds for Texas A&M in his first double-double. Carlton Brown added
11 points while Jamaal Gilchrist finished with 10 points, including
all six of his free throws.
Last Year in Manhattan
MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP)-- Cortez Groves scored 30 points and Tony Kitt
had 21 as Kansas State beat Texas A&M 81-76 on Feb. 23 to break an
11-game losing streak. Kansas State shot a season-high 57 percent from
the floor and never trailed in the second half to win its first game
at home since a 97-79 win over Nebraska on Jan. 8. Groves made 8-of-12
3-pointers as the Wildcats added to a four point halftime lead with a
7-0 run to start the second half. The Aggies cut the lead to two at
71-69 with 4:03 to go, but Groves hit his eighth 3-pointer of the
night to put Kansas State up by five. Larry Scott later hit a 3 as the
Aggies again cut the lead to two, but Kelvin Howell tossed in a Tony
Kitt miss to secure the win.
Streaking Into Conference
The Aggies carry a three-game winning streak into Saturday's game, the
first time since 1971-72 A&M has won three or more consecutive games
going into a conference opener. In fact, A&M has gone into conference
play riding after any win just one other time since 1985 (the Aggies
beat Georgia Southern, 67-63, prior to opening Southwest Conference
play in 1996). A&M is 0-4 in all Big 12 openers and 0-4 in Big 12 home
openers. A&M last won a conference opener in 1995, when it beat Texas
Tech, 90-80, at home.
Looking Ahead
After opening Big 12 play on Saturday against Kansas State, the Aggies
go on a two-game road trip to play No. 15 Oklahoma (11-1) and 10-3
Colorado. The tough slate continues with a home game against No. 22
Texas (10-2) on Jan. 17, then road games against No. 7 Kansas (11-1)
and 8-2 Oklahoma State. Then, its back home against No. 23 Iowa State
(12-1), on the road at No. 22 Texas (10-2), then consecutive home
games against No. 15 Oklahoma (11-1) and 11-0 Baylor.
Home Sweet Home
The Aggies are 4-1 at home this season, with the only loss being to
Birmingham Southern, 74-54, on Nov. 26. The Aggies have won five of
their last six home games starting with last season's 83-76 win
against Nebraska. The Aggies are in their third season at Reed Arena,
where they are 18-13, including wins against Oklahoma, Oklahoma State,
Alabama, Tulane, Colorado and Nebraska.
Leftist Rebels
Last year, the Aggies started four left-handed players -- Bernard
King, Jamaal Gilchrist, Aaron Jack and Andy Slocum. Every other player
on the team was a right-hander. King and Gilchrist were the only
all-leftie backcourt in A&M history. The team added another
left-hander this season with freshman Nolan Butterfras.
Improving on the Boards
Despite starting no player taller than 6-8, the Aggies have developed
into a solid rebounding team, out-rebounding its opponents by an
average margin of +8.8. The Aggies have been out-rebounded just twice
(36-33 in the opener vs. George Washington and 35-34 to North
Carolina). In the last three games, A&M has posted an average margin
of +16.3. The Aggies out-boarded Manhattan by 21 and Detroit by 22.
Prior to the game, Detroit had been out-rebounded just once all
season. The Aggies have been especially effective on the offensive
boards, ranking second in the Big 12 Conference with 14.4 offensive
rebounds per game. In five games this season, the Aggies have posted
a double-digit rebounding margin.
Bouncing Back
After falling to Birmingham Southern, 74-54, on Nov. 26 in what coach
Melvin Watkins said was the "most embarrassing" loss of his career,
Watkins called a 5:30 a.m. practice the next morning. But rather than
practice, the team spent two hours watching and dissecting the game
film before heading to classes. The Aggies responded with a 79-46
victory against Morris Brown, the largest margin of victory in
Watkins' five years as a college head coach. Since the loss to
Birmingham Southern, the Aggies are 5-4, including road losses to
Virginia Commonwealth (107-106 in double overtime) and Long Beach
State (83-76) and neutral site losses to No. 12-ranked North Carolina
(82-60) and Saint Louis (72-60).
King Rises Again
Sophomore guard Bernard King, the 2000 Big 12 Freshman of the Year and
a preseason All-Big 12 selection, leads the team in scoring with an
18.1 average, ranking third in the Big 12. King has overcome a severe
early-season shooting slump u through the first four games, King had
made just 2-of-20 three-pointers (.100) and was averaging just 12.5
points per game. But in the eight games since, King has connected on
27-of-63 (.429) three pointers, averaging 20.9 points in that stretch.
Against Lamar, King scored a season-high 30 points in just 27 minutes
(his fourth career 30+ game) and tied the school record with eight
three-pointers (11 att.). His six treys in the second half tied the
Big 12 record. King also leads the team in assists (4.8), seventh in
the Big 12. Since the Aggies' wake-up call against Birmingham Southern
on Nov. 26 (a 74-54 loss), King has averaged 20.1 points, 4.6 assists
and 3.0 three-point field goals.
Mr. Bean
Sophomore Keith Bean, a transfer from North Carolina State who sat out
last season, has averaged 10.6 points and 9.3 rebounds in the last
three games, including 16 points and a career-high 10 rebounds against
Centenary, his first career double-double. Bean has scored in double
figures in five games, including an 11-point, five-rebound effort
against No. 12-ranked North Carolina. Bean has started in 11 of 12
games, averaging 8.1 points and 5.4 rebounds while making 53.6 percent
from the field. Bean scored a career-high 17 points against Virginia
Commonwealth. Bean weighed in at 280 pounds last spring, but shed
almost 40 pounds in the off-season.
Leatherman Warms Up
Junior guard Andy Leatherman, a former walk-on who was put on
scholarship this season, has started the last five games at point
guard. For the season, Leatherman is averaging 6.4 points, 2.8
rebounds and 2.3 assists per game. He ranks third on the team in
assists and steals (10) and second in three-point field goals (15) and
free throw percentage (.769). He scored a career-high 16 points
against Birmingham Southern, then followed with a team-high 15 points
against Morris Brown. He scored 11 points with six rebounds in the win
against Manhattan. His 15 three-pointers this year almost doubles his
season total in 23 games last year (8-43, .186).
St. Nick Gets Jolly
Freshman Nick Anderson, one of the most heralded Texas A&M basketball
recruits in many years, has lived up to his billing in recent games.
Anderson put together back-to-back double doubles in the Aggies two
wins in Hawaii, scoring 22 points with 15 rebounds against Manhattan
and scoring 10 points with 12 boards against Detroit, despite playing
on a sprained ankle. For the season, Anderson ranks third on the team
in scoring (9.1) and second in rebounding (6.8). He also leads the
team in blocked shots (8). Overall, he has posted three double-doubles
and has scored in double figures six times. A 2000 Parade High School
All-American, Anderson has started in all 12 games. Against Virginia
Commonwealth, Anderson posted his first career double-double with 11
points and 10 rebounds. He followed with 14 points and six boards
against Lamar. Anderson was the preseason choice for Big 12 Freshman
of the Year by the league's coaches and media.
Brown Emerges
Forward Carlton Brown is off to a spectacular senior season, leading
the team in rebounding (7.5) and free throw percentage (.807) and
ranking second in scoring (15.3) and field goal percentage (.568). As
a junior college transfer last season, Brown averaged just 6.9 points
and 3.3 rebounds per game. Against Detroit Mercy, Brown tied his
career-high with 24 points and added 13 rebounds. He has posted four
double-double in the last eight games. Earlier this season at Virginia
Commonwealth, Brown scored 20 points with a career-high 18 rebounds,
tying for the 13th most boards in school history (and the most by an
Aggie in six years). He has started in all 12 games, scoring in double
figures 10 times. In the last eight games, Brown has averaged 16.9
points and 10.3 rebounds and made 4-of-6 from three-point range
(.667).
Jack Comes Back
After receiving an additional year of eligibility from the NCAA last
spring, senior forward Aaron Jack, an honorable mention All-Big 12
pick last season, saw his extra year jeopardized when he sustained a
concussion in practice on Oct. 18. Jack suffered three concussions as
a freshman at Penn State in 1995-96, then transferred to A&M. Jack
returned to practice on a limited basis in early November, then
returned full time the day before the opener at George Washington. He
played in the first nine games, but suffered a hyperextended knee in
the opening round of the Rainbow Classic. He missed the Manhattan game
and has averaged just 10.0 minutes, 1.0 points and 0.5 rebounds in
the last three games. Jack is averaging 5.2 points and 5.2 rebounds
while making a team-best 57.1 percent from the field. During one
five-game stretch early this season, he grabbed at least eight
rebounds in every game, including a game-high nine against North
Carolina, averaging 8.4 rebounds in that span. Jack has played in 87
games as a collegian, including four as a freshman at Penn State in
1995-96. With 464 career rebounds at A&M (477 in his college career),
Jack needs 36 more to become the 17th player in A&M history to reach
500, and only the second since 1987. Jack suffered a severe ankle
sprain against North Carolina and missed more than a week of practice,
but fortunately the team was on a 13-day break for finals and his did
not miss any games.
Jesse's Impact
Freshman guard/forward Jesse King gained his eligibility and began
practicing with the team on Dec. 17. The 6-7, 216-pounder from
Detroit, Mich. (Pershing HS) has 3 + years of eligibility remaining.
King made his debut against Long Beach State on Dec. 22, pulling down
three rebounds. He has played in the last six games, averaging 2.4
points and 3.4 rebounds. King played at Winchendon (Mass.) School last
year, averaging 18.1 points and 13.0 rebounds per game. In high
school, he earned all-state honors and was rated among the top 10
players in Michigan after averaging 19.3 points, 11.2 rebounds and 4.2
assists per game. Midwest Hoops compared King to former Pershing
standout Steve Smith, now with the NBA's Atlanta Hawks.
About Jamaal
Sophomore point guard Jamaal Gilchrist, who started the first 35 games
of his career but has come off the bench in the last five contests, is
averaging 8.4 points and 2.8 assists while making 75.0 percent from
the free throw line. Gilchrist scored 12 points in each of the first
two games, then against Virginia Commonwealth, he scored a season-high
15 points, making 11-of-12 from the free throw line, including two
with 2.9 seconds left to send the game into overtime. Against Saint
Louis in the first round of the Rainbow Classic, he scored 14 points.
Gilchrist ranks third on the team in minutes played.
Slocum, Ress Out for Season
The Aggies will be without the services of its two tallest players for
the rest of the season because of injury and illness. Sophomore center
Andy Slocum, who started in 14 games as a freshman, will miss the
season after undergoing surgery (two screws were inserted) in his
left shoulder. Slocum injured the shoulder while lifting weights last
summer and was limited in fall practice as a result. As a freshman,
Slocum averaged 4.9 points and 3.1 rebounds per game. Sophomore
forward Tomas Ress, who was hospitalized for more than a week in late
October with a staph infection, played briefly against Morris Brown
(Nov. 29) and Virginia Commonwealth (Dec. 2), but complained of
weakness. Ress returned to the hospital in mid-December for additional
tests after again becoming ill and was diagnosed with an infection in
his pelvic bone. He will petition for a medical redshirt and is
expected to eventually return to full strength. As a freshman, Ress
started in 12 games and averaged 4.6 points, including a career-high
22 points against Missouri.
"Radar" Earns His Keep
Longtime A&M basketball trainer Mike "Radar" Ricke, in his 18th year
with the program, said prior to the season that the Aggies suffered
more preseason health problems than at anytime since he's been at A&M.
Since the season started, the trend has continued. First the Aggies
lost Andy Slocum for the year with a shoulder injury. Then, Tomas Ress
and Aaron Jack were hospitalized in late October, Ress with staph
infection and Jack with a concussion. Ress returned briefly but was
later lost for the year. Jack suffered a severe sprained ankle against
North Carolina, then hyperextended a knee against Saint Louis.
Sophomore guard Larry Scott suffered a severely sprained ankle in
practice on Nov. 28 and missed six games and played sparingly in two
others. Dylan Leal missed all three games at the Rainbow Classic with
an infection on his calf, while Brian Brookhart missed the same three
games after becoming ill.
Free Falling
When Melvin Watkins arrived as A&M's head coach in 1998, one of the
Aggies greatest weaknesses was their free throw shooting. In 1997-98,
the Aggies set a school record for the worst free throw percentage in
school history, making just 57.9 percent to finish last in the Big 12.
In 1998-99, the Aggies improved to 68.9 percent, third in the
conference, and last year made 67.0 percent to rank seventh in the
league. Through 12 games this season, the Aggies are making 68.5
percent, fifth in the Big 12. Through five games, the Aggies were
making 73.0 percent, but then made less than 60 percent in four
straight games. But in the last three games, all wins, the Aggies made
71.4 percent, including 25-of-26 in the last two minutes. Watkins' two
teams at North Carolina Charlotte each led Conference USA in free
throw percentage.