January 24, 2003
Game notes for Saturday's Big 12 game with Kansas State at Reed Arena...
Game #15
Texas A&M AGGIES (9-5, 1-2)
vs.
Kansas State WILDCATS (11-6, 2-2)
Saturday, Jan. 25, 2003
3 p.m. (Central)
Reed Arena (12,500 cap.)
College Station, Texas
RADIO: Texas A&M Sports Network
Dave South, play-by-play
Al Pulliam, commentary
Airtime: 2:45 p.m. (Central)
ONLINE: www.AggieAthletics.com
TELEVISION: None
The Texas A&M Aggies (9-5, 1-2 in Big 12) play host to the Kansas State Wildcats (11-6, 2-2 in Big 12) on Saturday at 3 p.m. (Central) at Reed Arena (12,500 cap.) in College Station. Tickets are $15 (courtside), $12 (mezzanine), $10 (balcony and $6 (gallery) and can be purchased at the door. The Aggies have been idle since an 89-61 loss to No. 4-ranked Texas last Saturday in Austin, while Kansas State ended a two-game losing skid with a 77-53 win against Nebraska at home on Wednesday. The Aggies have not lost two straight games all season. A win would make A&M 10-5 for the first time since the 1993-94 season, which also was the last year A&M advanced to postseason play (NIT). The Aggies have never been 2-2 in Big 12 play and have not been 2-2 in conference action since 1994-95 in the Southwest Conference. A&M is 5-2 at home this season while Kansas State is 1-3 in true road games (0-2 in Big 12 play) and is 2-5 in all games away from home. The Wildcats lead the series against A&M, 9-2, and has won four straight. A&M leads, 2-1, in games played in College Station, with a 1-1 mark at Reed Arena.
About the 'Cats
Kansas State returns three starters and seven lettermen from last year's team that finished 13-16 overall and tied for seventh in the Big 12 at 6-10. The Wildcats are in their third year under coach Jim Wooldridge, a former Chicago Bulls assistant coach who served as head coach at Southwest Texas State from 1991-94. Kansas State is led by junior forward Gilson DeJesus (6-6), who is averaging 12.9 points and ranks second in the Big 12 in three-point percentage (55-110, .500). Senior forward Pervis Pasco (6-9) averages 11.4 points and a team-best 8.4 rebounds, while junior guard Tim Ellis (6-4) adds 11.0 points and junior guard Frank Richards (6-2) contributes 10.0 points and a team-leading 5.1 assists. The Wildcats lead the Big 12 in three-point percentage (.409) and rank third in overall shooting percentage (.485). Kansas State ranks third in the league in scoring defense (62.1) and field goal percentage defense (.379). The Wildcats have posted impressive wins over Michigan (82-71) and Texas Tech (68-44).
A&M vs. KSU Series
Kansas State leads the series, 9-2, and has won four straight since a 79-74 A&M win at Reed Arena in 1998-99. A&M leads in games played in College Station, 2-1, and the series is tied, 1-1, in games played at Reed Arena. Two years ago, the Wildcats posted a 53-48 win at Reed, ending a two-game winning streak by the Aggies in games played in College Station. In Big 12 games, KSU leads the series, 5-2. A&M won the first Big 12 matchup between the schools by a score of 76-67 at G. Rollie White Coliseum in 1997. The last two games in College Station each were decided by just five points.
TEXAS A&M vs. KANSAS STATE (KSU leads, 9-2) Year Result Site 2001-02 KSU 69, A&M 38 Manhattan 2000-01 KSU 53, A&M 48 C. Station 1999-00 KSU 81, A&M 76 Manhattan 1998-99 KSU 87, A&M 76 Kansas City A&M 79, KSU 74 C. Station 1997-98 KSU 95, A&M 80 Manhattan 1996-97 A&M 76, KSU 67 C. Station 1993-94 KSU 63, A&M 54 Manhattan 1990-91 KSU 81, A&M 49 Kansas City 1967-68 KSU 82, A&M 77 Lawrence 1960-61 KSU 69, A&M 64 Manhattan
The Coaches
- TEXAS A&M: MELVIN WATKINS (UNC Charlotte '77)
- 48-82, 5th year at A&M
- 90-102, 7th year overall
- 1-4 vs. Kansas State
- 0-2 vs. Jim Wooldridge
KANSAS STATE: JIM WOOLDRIDGE (Louisiana Tech '77)
- 35-40, 3rd year at KSU
- 264-187, 16th year overall
- 3-0 vs. Texas A&M
- 2-0 vs. Melvin Watkins
A&M-KSU Connections
Kansas State coach Jim Wooldridge's first year as head coach at Southwest Texas was in 1991-92, when new A&M football coach Dennis Franchione was in his final year at SWT...as a player at Louisiana Tech in the mid-1970s, Wooldridge was teammates with Victor King, father of A&M standout Bernard King.
Tentative Starters
TEXAS A&M AGGIES (9-5, 1-2) No. Player P Ht. Cl. PPG RPG 2 Keith Bean C 6-8 Sr. 6.1 4.6 14 Tomas Ress F 7-0 Jr. 3.8 2.4 21 Antoine Wright F/G 6-7 Fr. 16.4 7.2 32 Bernard King G 6-5 Sr. 16.9 5.8a 24 Bradley Jackson G 5-11 Sr. 3.6 3.1a KANSAS STATE WILDCATS (11-6, 2-2) No. Player P Ht. Cl. PPG RPG 44 Pervis Pasco C 6-9 Sr. 11.4 8.4 34 Matt Siebrandt F 6-8 Sr. 9.3 5.2 32 Gilson DeJesus F 6-6 Jr. 12.9 6.1 11 Tim Ellis G 6-4 Jr. 11.0 2.9 22 Frank Richards G 6-2 Jr. 10.0 5.1a
Watkins Quoteboard
"This is a game we feel like we need to win and should win at home. We're going to think about all of them that way. I think Kansas State is a good team good, even better than some people think. But playing at our place, we need to be able to get this one. They sit over in that other division and we only get one shot at them. This is our shot. They beat us last year and we've got them coming here now. Those are some of the things we'll talk to the kids about. We've got a group that is a lot different than what we've had. These kids will respond and bounce back. We know we've got to win ball games. You don't want to get yourself too deep in a hole in this conference because they'll pound on you and keep you down. We're 1-2 and if we win Saturday we're 2-2. So this is an interesting time for us. We've just got to take care of our business."
Last Year in Manhattan
MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP, Feb. 12, 2002) - Kansas State held Texas A&M to a Bramlage Coliseum low 13 points in the first half and rolled to a 69-38 win. The Aggies 13 points in the first half and its 38 points in the game ties conference lows. Baylor held Texas to 13 points in the second half and 38 points in 2000. Nick Williams had 13 points and six assists and Phineas Atchison added another 13 points as Kansas State took a 37-13 halftime lead and never looked back. The Wildcats held the Aggies to 25 percent shooting and just two field goals in the final 11 minutes of the half. The Aggies attempted a comeback to start the second half. Bernard King and Bradley Jackson hit back-to-back 3-pointers to cut the halftime lead to seven with 14:55 to go. But the Wildcats held the Aggies scoreless for the next eight minutes and scored 17 straight unanswered points. Gilson DeJesus had 11 for Kansas State while Jackson led Texas A&M with 9 points.
Last Time in College Station
COLLEGE STATION (AP, Jan. 6, 2001) - Kansas State took advantage of 29 percent shooting by Texas A&M to notch just its second road win of the season, 53-48. Quentin Buchanan scored 19 points for the Wildcats, while Travis Reynolds added 12 off the bench and center Kelvin Howell grabbed 15 rebounds. Despite out-shooting the Aggies by nearly 20 percentage points and getting 10 more rebounds, Kansas State's win was in jeopardy until the buzzer. A&M trailed by just four at the half, thanks to a last-second shot by A&M freshman Nolan Butterfras. The Aggies captured some momentum late in the second half when Bernard King hit two straight shots. With 17 points, King was A&M's only scorer in double figures and only starter to score more than five points.
TALE OF THE TAPE (2002-03 STAT COMPARISON) A&M KSU Record 9-5 11-6 Conference 1-2 2-2 Sagarin Rtg. 106 70 RPI 85 94 W-L Streak L1 W1 FG Pct. .445 .485 Opp. FG Pct. .420 .379 3-Pt. FG Pct. .377 .409 Opp. 3-Pt. Pct. .308 .333 3-Pt. FG Avg. 7.4 6.7 3-Pt. Att. Avg. 19.5 16.4 FT Pct. .669 .616 Opp. FT Pct. .635 .679 Rebound Avg. 37.4 38.2 Off. Reb. Avg. 10.5 11.5 Reb. Margin -2.8 +7.0 Turnovers Avg. 15.6 13.9 Opp. Turnovers 16.3 12.8 Assists Avg. 17.5 16.1 Blocks Avg. 1.9 3.6 Steals Avg. 6.1 4.7 Scoring Avg. 74.8 72.4 Opp. Scoring 71.2 62.1 Scoring Margin +3.7 +10.3
Quick Notes
- Bernard King needs 28 points to become A&M's career scoring leader and needs 80 to break the Big 12 mark. King is playing in is 102nd career game on Saturday.
- An early candidate for National Freshman of the Year, forward Antoine Wright twice has been named Big 12 Rookie of the Week. Wright leads the team in rebounding, steals, blocks, three-point field goals, three-point percentage and minutes played and is second in scoring. He's on pace to break Big 12 and A&M freshman records for each category.
- The Aggies rank third in the Big 12 with 17.5 assists per game, but have averaged just 8.5 in the last two games while making a combined 30.5 percent from the field.
- After leading at halftime just four times last season (with a 2-2 record when they did), the Aggies have led at halftime in 10 games this season (with an 9-1 record).
- The Aggies are 8-2 when shooting at least 43.2 percent from the field.
- A&M is 9-1 when it controls the opening tip.
- The Aggies average 15.6 turnovers per game, most in the Big 12.
- A&M has had more assists than turnovers in nine of 14 games, something the Aggies accomplished just 12 times in 31 games last season.
- While A&M returns five starters and 10 lettermen from last season, three of the team's top five scorers are newcomers.
- The Aggies rank second in the Big 12 in three-point percentage defense at 30.8 percent.
- A&M is allowing its opponents to make just 42.0 percent from the field, which would be the school's best since the 1963-64 season if the season ended today.
- After out-rebounding four of its first five opponents this season, A&M has been beaten on the boards in eight of its last 10 games, including four straight.
Who's Hot?
- Antoine Wright has had four double-doubles and has scored in double figures in 13 straight games.
- Bernard King has averaged 20.3 points in the last three games while making 75.9 percent from the free throw line (22-29). King has scored in double figures in 12 of 13 games, including nine straight.
Dynamic Duo
The scoring combination of senior Bernard King and freshman Antoine Wright is shaping up to be one of the most prolific in school history. Through 14 games, King is averaging 16.9 points and Wright is adding 16.4. "King and Wright are great players," Tennessee coach Buzz Peterson said after the Aggies' 83-66 victory. The only other time in school history that two players have each averaged more than 16.0 points for a season was in 1975-76, when Sonny Parker (20.7) and Barry Davis (16.2) turned the trick. That team won the Southwest Conference title.
A&M'S BEST 1-2 PUNCHES (Two players averaging min. 15.0 ppg) Rk. (Combined PPG), Player (PPG), Year 1. (38.1), Joe Wilbert (22.9), Tony McGinnis (15.2), 1993-94 2. (36.9), Sonny Parker (20.7), Barry Davis (16.2), 1975-76 3. (33.3), Antoine Wright (16.4), Bernard King (16.9), 2002-03 4. (33.1) Billy Bob Barnett (17.4), Ronnie Peret (15.7), 1968-69
Scoring King?
Senior guard Bernard King, a preseason candidate for Big 12 Player of the Year, is on track to become the career scoring leader in Big 12 and Texas A&M history. King now has 1,751 points (17.4 average), ranking second in Big 12 annals and second on the A&M chart (see page 9 of this packet). King needs 28 points to pass Vernon Smith (1977-81) as A&M's leader and needs 80 to pass Iowa State's Marcus Fizer (1997-00) as the Big 12 leader. King also has compiled 475 assists and 440 rebounds and is attempting to become only the eighth Division I player to reach 2,000 points, 500 assists and 500 rebounds in a career. King's 475 assists rank fifth all-time in the Big 12 and fourth at A&M. Last season, he was the only player in the country to average at least 17.2 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game. King is rated as the 21st best NBA prospect in the Class of 2003 by NBADraft.net. Against Tennessee, he scored 19 points with a career-high 11 assists. He scored a season-high 27 points against Oklahoma State and added 26 in the win against LSU. He had his second double-double of the season (eighth of his career) with 17 points and 10 assists against Centenary. King ranks fourth in the Big 12 in assists this season with 5.8 per game and leads the team in scoring with a 16.9 average. In Big 12 play, King ranks second in the league in scoring with a 20.3 average. The Texas game was King's 101st at A&M and was his 94th career start.
Diaper Dandy
Freshman forward Antoine Wright, the consensus pick as the preseason Big 12 Freshman of the Year and an early candidate for National Freshman of the Year honors, is also a member of Dick Vitale's prestigious "Diaper Dandies," a list of the nation's top 16 freshmen as selected by the ESPN analyst. Wright last year was rated as the top shooting guard and the No. 4 overall prospect in the country by ESPN.com. Wright, rated as the 10th best NBA prospect in the Class of 2006 by NBA Draft.net, also was a member of the USA Junior World Championship Team last summer. He is averaging 16.4 points and a team-best 7.2 rebounds per game and has made an impressive 37-of-86 (.430) from three-point range. Wright has posted five 20-point efforts, scoring a career-high 25 against Miami, adding 22 in wins against LSU and Centenary, and finishing with 21 against Oakland and Prairie View A&M. Wright has twice been named Big 12 Rookie of the Week. He is the only player in the Big 12 to rank in the top 15 in the league in six different statistical categories. Wright is one of just three freshmen in the nation this season to average at least 16.0 points and 7.0 rebounds per game, but he has arguably had the biggest impact of any freshman in the country as the other two play for teams that won at least 20 games last year, while the Aggies were 9-22.
Helping Hand
The Aggies rank third in the Big 12 with an average of 17.5 assists per game. The Aggies led the Big 12 and ranked sixth nationally before averaging just 8.5 assists (and making just 30.5 percent from the field) in the last two games. The A&M record is 18.1 set in 1993-94, when David Edwards ranked second nationally with a school-record 8.8 average. A&M is tied for fifth in the league in assists-to-turnovers ratio at 1.12. Senior Bernard King ranks fourth in the league in assists at 5.8 while Leandro Garcia-Morales ranks 12th at 3.5. A&M and Kansas are the only teams in the conference with two players in the top 12. Senior Bradley Jackson adds 3.2 assists per contest and ranks third in the Big 12 in assists-to-turnovers ratio at 2.44, while King ranks 11th at 1.88.
On the Line
The Aggies were making a cozy 72.0 percent from the line through the first five games, a marked improvement over last season's 65.2 percent. The last time A&M made better than 70.0 percent from the line for a season was in 1988-89, when the Aggies connected on 70.9 percent. The last time A&M made better than 72.0 percent was in 1975-76 (72.8). However, in the next five games, the Aggies made just 58.9 percent (76-129). But the Aggies have bounced back to make 72.6 percent (77-106) in their last four games. For the season, A&M has made 66.9 percent, sixth in the Big 12. Senior Bradley Jackson, who has made 6-of-6 from the line in "crunch time" this season (see below), ranks fourth in the Big 12 in free throw percentage at 88.2 percent, which is on pace to challenge Mike Floyd's school record of 86.5 percent set in 1974-75.
Close Ones
A&M has been involved in seven games this season which were decided by 10 points or fewer. A&M is 5-2 in those games. The Aggies are 4-1 in games decided by five points or fewer, leading the Big 12 in "close game" winning percentage (.800). Last season, A&M played 15 games that were decided by 10 or fewer points and were 6-9 in those games, including a 4-5 mark in games decided by five points or fewer.
Bombs Away
A&M ranks fifth in the Big 12 in three-point field goal percentage at 37.7 percent after ranking last in the league last season at 32.5 percent. The Aggies rank third in the Big 12 with an average of 7.4 three-pointers made per game, well ahead of last year's school record of 5.8. Antoine Wright (2.6), Bernard King (1.2) and Kevin Turner (1.9) are each averaging at least one trey per game. Two other players -- juniors Tomas Ress and Leandro Garcia-Morales -- have also shown the ability to shoot the trey. Ress made 3-of-4 against Nebraska and Garcia-Morales made 3-of-3 against Mississippi Valley State. A&M has been consistent, making at least 35.0 percent in nine of 14 games. The Aggies made a season-best 11-of-19 (.579), tying for the sixth most in school history, in the win against LSU, and added 12-of-27 (.444), tying for the second most in school annals, against Tennessee.
Home Cookin'
The Aggies are 5-2 at home this season, their best start since Melvin Watkins' first A&M team started the 1998-99 season at 5-2 in the Aggies' first season at Reed Arena. Statistically (see page 27), the Aggies have posted an average scoring margin of +12.6 at home (81.7 to 70.1) while connecting on 49.6 percent from the field (allowing 41.7 percent) and 39.3 percent from three-point range (allowing 30.7 percent). The Aggies have had more assists than turnovers in every home game, posting an whopping average of 22.6 assists to only 13.4 turnovers per game. Meanwhile, the Aggies have forced an average of 18.6 turnovers per contest.
Impact Class
Three of the Aggies' top five scorers are newcomers (Antoine Wright, Kevin Turner and Leandro Garcia-Morales), despite the fact that A&M returned all five starters and 10 lettermen from last year. Another newcomer, freshman Marcus Watkins, ranks 10th on the team in scoring. Newcomers have accounted for 46.3 percent of the Aggies' points and 70.9 percent of the team's three-pointers.
Board Stiff
After out-rebounding five of its first six opponents, A&M has been out-boarded in eight of its last 10 games (four straight) with a average margin of -5.2 in that stretch. The Aggies have out-rebounded just six of 14 opponents overall, and have posted an average rebounding margin of -2.8, last in the Big 12. The Aggies out-rebounded their opponents in 20 of 31 games last season. Antoine Wright is ranked 11th in the Big 12 in rebounding (7.2), but no other A&M player ranks in the top 20.
Turnover Woes
The Aggies are averaging 15.6 turnovers per game, the most in the Big 12, but rank seventh in turnover margin at +0.71. The Aggies had just eight turnovers against Tennessee, their fewest since they had just five against Princeton on Dec. 27, 1996 in El Paso, and have averaged just 14.4 turnovers in the nine games since.
Efficient Offense
The Aggies handed out 24 assists with just eight turnovers against Tennessee, a 3-to-1 assists to turnovers ratio. That's the best ratio in Melvin Watkins' five years at A&M and the best by an A&M team since it had a school-record 34 assists with just 11 turnovers in a 102-61 win against Missouri-Kansas City in the second game of the 1997-98 season, a span of 145 games. A&M has had more assists than turnovers in nine of 14 games, something they accomplished just 12 times in 31 games last year. The Aggies had 28 assists (13 turnovers) against Louisiana-Monroe, their most assists since they had 28 against Missouri in 1998-99. In the last 10 games, A&M has averaged 17.5 assists with 14.4 turnovers.
Defensively
A&M is allowing its opponents to make just 42.0 percent from the field, which if the season ended today would be its best since it allowed 40.1 percent in 1963-64. In addition, the Aggies are limiting their opponents to just 30.8 percent from three-point range, which is on pace to challenge the school record of 31.5 set in 1996-97 and ranks second best in the Big 12. The Aggies are forcing an average of 16.3 turnovers per game, sixth most in the Big 12.
Watkins' Grads
Since becoming Texas A&M's head basketball coach in 1998, Melvin Watkins has posted an enviable graduation rate, with 11 of his 13 players have completed their eligibility at A&M receiving their degrees (84.6 percent). The two non-graduates are playing professional basketball overseas. Among current players, Brian Brookhart graduated in August and is now in graduate school, while Keith Bean is on track for a May graduation and Bradley Jackson, Tomas Ress and Andy Slocum are expected to graduate in August.