February 07, 2003
Game notes for Saturday's nationally-televised Big 12 battle with No. 3 Texas at Reed Arena...
Game #19:
Texas A&M AGGIES (11-7, 3-4)
vs.
# 3 Texas LONGHORNS (14-4, 5-2)
Saturday, Feb. 8, 2003
7:05 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: 6:45 p.m. (Central)
ONLINE: www.AggieAthletics.com
TELEVISION: ESPN2 (National)
Rece Davis, play-by-play
Doug Gottlieb, commentary
The Texas A&M Aggies (11-7, 3-4 in Big 12) will challenge the No. 3-ranked Texas Longhorns (14-4, 5-2 in Big 12) on Saturday at 7 p.m. (central) at Reed Arena (12,500 cap.) in College Station. The game will be televised nationally by ESPN2. The Aggies are coming off a disappointing 77-69 loss to Baylor on Tuesday in Waco, while the Longhorns are coming off a 93-80 loss to Colorado on Tuesday in Boulder. A&M has not lost consecutive games all season. The Aggies are 7-2 at home this season (2-1 in Big 12 play), while Texas is 1-3 in true road games (1-2 in Big 12). The teams have met 201 previous times, the longest series for both teams. Texas leads the series, 122-79, and has won two straight since an 80-74 A&M win last season in Austin. A&M owns a 49-48 edge in games played in College Station, but Texas has won eight straight since an 85-84 A&M win in 1994. Texas is 4-0 at Reed Arena, including a 66-52 win last season. The Longhorns defeated the Aggies, 89-61, on Jan. 18 in Austin, the Aggies' worst loss of the season.
About Texas
The Longhorns return five starters and nine lettermen from last year's team that finished 22-12 overall and tied for third in the Big 12 at 10-6. Texas is in its fifth season under coach Rick Barnes. The Longhorns are led by sophomore guard T.J. Ford (5-10), who leads the team in scoring (14.8) and ranks second in the Big 12 in assists (7.1) and steals (2.3). Junior guard Brandon Mouton (6-4) adds 13.0 points while junior center James Thomas (6-8) averages 10.9 points and leads the Big 12 in rebounding with an average of 11.4 per game. Junior forward Brian Boddicker (6-8) averages 8.8 points and leads the Big 12 in three-point percentage (.500). As a team, the Longhorns are the top offensive rebounding team in the conference with 16.7 per game and rank second in the league in scoring offense (79.3), free throw percentage (.722) and rebounding margin (+7.3). The Longhorns opened the season 13-2 and were on an eight-game winning streak when the fell at No. 12-ranked Kansas on Jan. 27. Since then, Texas has lost two of its last three games. The Longhorns' non-conference losses were to Notre Dame (98-92) and top-ranked Arizona (73-70).
A&M-UT Series
Texas leads the series, 122-79, but A&M leads in games played in College Station, 49-48. However, Ut has won eight straight in College Station since an 85-84 A&M win in 1994 and is 4-0 at Reed Arena. The team split last season, with A&M posting an 80-74 win in Austin and Texas coming back for a 66-52 win in College Station. The win was the Aggies first against the Longhorns since 1994, ending a 16-game losing skid. The Longhorns beat the Aggies, 89-61, on jan. 18 in Austin. A&M coach Melvin Watkins is 1-8 against Texas while Longhorns coach Rick Barnes is 9-1 against the Aggies.
- TEXAS A&M: MELVIN WATKINS (UNC Charlotte '77)
- 50-84, 5th year at A&M
- 92-104, 7th year overall
- 1-8 vs. Texas
- 1-8 vs. Rick Barnes
TEXAS: RICK BARNES (Lenoir-Rhyne '77)
- 104-47, 5th year at Texas
- 306-181, 16th year overall
- 9-1 vs. Texas A&M
- 8-1 vs. Melvin Watkins
Sidebars
Texas senior Deginald Erskin played in the first game at Reed Arena in 1998 as a freshman at North Texas (A&M won, 80-59), scoring five points with six rebounds... Texas' T.J. Ford and A&M's Marcus Watkins were teammates on the 2002 Houston Hoops AAU team...Texas asssistant coach Frank Haith was an assistant at A&M under Tony Barone from 1992-95 and was associate head coach in 1996-97.
Tentative Starters
TEXAS A&M AGGIES (11-7, 3-4) No. Player P Ht. Cl. PPG RPG 2 Keith Bean C 6-8 Sr. 5.6 4.4 14 Tomas Ress F 7-0 Jr. 4.9 3.1 21 Antoine Wright F/G 6-7 Fr. 16.2 7.6 32 Bernard King G 6-5 Sr. 17.3 6.0a 24 Bradley Jackson G 5-11 Sr. 3.6 3.0a
Watkins Quoteboard
"Obviously, Texas is one of the best teams in the country. Although they had a setback at Colorado, they are still playing as well as anyone in college basketball. They beat us pretty good in Austin and we know we have to do a better job on T.J. Ford and try to slow down their transition game. We were disappointed in our loss on the road to Baylor and our guys are anxious to get back on the court and get back to their winning ways. We've bounced back all season and I think this team is capable of doing that again. "
Last Month in Austin
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- T.J. Ford scored a career-high 25 points to send No. 4-ranked Texas to an 89-61 win over Texas A&M. Jason Klotz added 15 points and James Thomas had 16 rebounds for the Longhorns . Bernard King led the Aggies with 16 points. The first 12 minutes saw a combined 11-of-33 shooting, 17 turnovers and 13 fouls. Ford sparked a 14-2 run that made it 31-14 with seven straight points on two long jumpers and a 3-point play. Texas led 43-28 at halftime. King scored seven straight points to open the second half as A&M cut the lead to 44-35 before Ford hit another jumper and Thomas' basket put Texas back up by 13. King picked up his fourth foul with 14:32 left and went to the bench and seemed to take the Aggies' scoring punch with him. Ford hit another jumper and finished a fastbreak with a layup before Royal Ivey made it 59-39 with 12:01 to play. A&M was paced by King's 16 points and 5 rebounds.
Last Year at Reed Arena
COLLEGE STATION (AP/Feb. 6, 2002)- Brandon Mouton scored 23 points to lead Texas to a 66-52 victory over Texas A&M. Mouton led the Longhorns on a 19-7 run to close the game. The Longhorns took the lead at 46-40 on two Mouton free throws and Texas hit all 12 of its free throws the rest of the game to eliminate the chance for an A&M comeback. Mouton had 16 points in the second half. Texas shot 87 percent from the free-throw line. T.J. Ford had 14 points for the Longhorns. Bernard King and Nick Anderson scored 13 points each for A&M. Both teams were cold to start the game. Texas was 2-of-9 in the first five minutes while A&M missed its first five shots from the floor. Andy Leatherman scored six unanswered points for the Aggies in the final minute of the first half to hand A&M a 30-25 halftime lead. Anderson scored 11 points in the first half, but could manage only two points in the second as Mouton and Ford took over for Texas' offense.
Who's Hot?
- Antoine Wright has had six double-doubles and has scored in double figures in 17 straight games.
- Bernard King ranks third in the Big 12 in scoring in league play (19.3) while also ranking third in assists (6.0), sixth in assists-to-turnovers ratio (1.8) and eighth in free throw percentage (.788). King has scored in double figures in 16 of his 17 games, including 13 straight.
- Jesse King has averaged 9-7 points and made 13-of-21 (.619) from the field in the last three games.
- Tomas Ress scored a season-high 11 points, all in the first half, against Baylor.
Quick Notes
- Bernard King, a candidate for Big 12 Player of the Year honors, needs six points to become the Big 12's career scoring leader. He already has become A&M's career leader and is the Big 12 leader in career points in league games. King is tied for second in career assists in Big 12 play.
- An early candidate for National Freshman of the Year, forward Antoine Wright on Monday was named Big 12 Rookie of the Week for the third time. 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 in several categories.
- The Aggies rank third in the Big 12, and 16th nationally, with 17.2 assists per game.
- After leading at halftime just four times last season (with a 2-2 record when they did), the Aggies have led at halftime in 13 games this season (with an 11-2 record).
- The Aggies are 10-2 when shooting at least 43.2 percent from the field.
- A&M is 9-2 when it controls the opening tip.
- The Aggies average 15.4 turnovers per game, most in the Big 12.
- A&M has had more assists than turnovers in 10 of 18 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 are 9-0 when their opponents score fewer than 70 points.
- A&M is allowing its opponents to make just 41.6 percent from the field, which would be the school's best since the 1963-64 season if the season ended today.
- The Aggies are 10-3 when making at least 43.0 percent from the field.
- The Aggies are 9-1 when their opponents make less than .430.
Scoring King
Senior guard Bernard King, a strong candidate for Big 12 Player of the Year, already has become A&M's career scoring leader as well as the Big 12 career leader for conference games only, King needs just six points to become the Big 12's overall leader, passing Iowa State's Marcus Fizer (1,830 points in 1997-00). In Big 12 play, King is third in the league in scoring (19.3) and assists (6.0), ranks eighth in free throw percentage (.788) and is sixth in assists-to-turnovers ratio (1.8). He ranks 23th nationally in assists (6.0) and is one of just three players in the country to average at least 17.0 points, 6.0 assists and 4.0 rebounds. King has scored 1,825 points (17.4 average), eclipsing the old school record held by the late Vernon Smith (1,778 in 1977-81). King also has compiled 502 assists, third most in A&M history, and 466 rebounds. He 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 978 points in Big 12 play is a conference record while his 280 assists in league play are second behind Oklahoma State's Doug Gottlieb (354 in 1998-00). King also has broken or is approaching other A&M and Big 12 milestones (see page 9). 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 third double-double of the season (ninth of his career) with 18 points and 11 assists against Kansas State.
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 18 games, King is averaging 17.3 points and Wright is adding 16.2. "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. No duo in school annals has each averaged 17.0 points in a single season.
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 16.2 points and a team-best 7.6 rebounds per game and has made an impressive 48-of-112 (.429) from three-point range. Wright has posted six 20-point efforts, scoring a career-high 25 against Miami, 24 against Kansas State, adding 22 in wins against LSU and Centenary, and finishing with 21 against Oakland and Prairie View A&M. On Monday, Wright was named Big 12 Rookie of the Week for the third time. 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, and 16th nationally, with an average of 17.2 assists per game. A&M is 10-2 when it has at least 13 assists, but is 1-5 when it has 12 or fewer. 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 fifth in the league in assists-to-turnovers ratio at 1.12. Senior Bernard King ranks third in the league in assists at 6.0 while Leandro Garcia-Morales (3.1) and senior Bradley Jackson (3.0) each average more than 3.0 per game. Jackson ranks eighth in the Big 12 in assists-to-turnovers ratio at 1.86, while King ranks ninth at 1.82.
On the Line
The Aggies made a cozy 72.0 percent from the line through the first five games, a marked improvement over last season's 65.2 percent. However, in the next five games, the Aggies made just 58.9 percent (76-129). But the Aggies have bounced back to make an impressive 76.5 percent (137-179) in their last eight games. For the season, A&M has made 69.7 percent (fourth in the Big 12), but in Big 12 play they've made a league-best 77.5 percent, on pace to challenge the school record of .745 set in 1968. 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. Senior Bradley Jackson, who has made 6-of-6 from the line in "crunch time" this season (see below), ranks third in the Big 12 in free throw percentage at 88.1 percent, which is on pace to break Mike Floyd's school record of 86.5 percent set in 1974-75.
Close Ones
A&M has been involved in 10 games this season that were decided by 10 points or fewer, tied for second most in the Big 12 with Colorado (Nebraska leads with 12). A&M is 6-4 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 fourth in the Big 12 in three-point field goal percentage at 37.8 percent after ranking last in the league last season at 32.5 percent. The Aggies also 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 (2.7), Bernard King (1.4) and Kevin Turner (1.7) each are averaging at least one trey per game. Three other players -- juniors Tomas Ress, Jesse King and Leandro Garcia-Morales -- have also shown the ability to shoot the trey. Ress made 3-of-4 against Nebraska, King made 3-of-4 against Baylor and Garcia-Morales made 3-of-3 against Mississippi Valley State and 3-of-4 against Kansas State. A&M has been consistent, making at least 35.0 percent in 12 of 18 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 7-2 at home this season, their best start ever at Reed Arena and their best overall since a 7-2 home start in the 1994-95 season at G. Rollie White Coliseum. Statistically (see page 28), the Aggies have posted an average scoring margin of +11.0 at home (79.4 to 68.4) while connecting on 49.2 percent from the field (allowing 40.3 percent) and 40.9 percent from three-point range (allowing 30.4 percent). The Aggies have had more assists than turnovers in eight of nine home games, posting an whopping average of 22.0 assists to only 14.0 turnovers per game. Meanwhile, the Aggies have forced an average of 16.7 turnovers at home.
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 44.8 percent of the Aggies' points, 69.2 percent of the three-pointers, 44.9 percent of the steals, 36.6 percent of the assists and 33.8 percent of the rebounds.
Board Stiff
The Aggies have out-rebounded three of their last four opponents. Prior to that stretch, A&M has been out-boarded in eight of its previous 10 games. The Aggies have out-rebounded just nine of 18 opponents overall, and have posted an average rebounding margin of -1.8, 11th in the Big 12.
Turnover Woes
The Aggies are averaging 15.4 turnovers per game, the most in the Big 12, but rank fifth in assists-to-turnovers ratio at 1.12. 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 14.5 turnovers in the 14 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 10 of 18 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 14 games, A&M has averaged 17.1 assists with 14.5 turnovers.
Defensively
A&M is allowing its opponents to make just 41.6 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 30.4 percent from three-point range, which is on pace to break 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 14.9 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.
Perimeter Game
The Aggies' frontcourt is averaging just 20.2 points per game, while the backcourt is averaging a whopping 53.5 points. The front court has scored more than 29 points just once this season (36 vs. Louisiana-Monroe) while the backcourt has scored fewer than 43 only once (37 vs. Nebraska).
Attendance Up
A&M attracted a school-record crowd of 12,611 to the Texas Tech game, the first sellout at five-year-old Reed Arena. For the season, A&M is averaging 5,778 per game, which would rank third in school history if the season ended today. Last year's average of 6,061 was the second best in school annals behind the record of 6,141 set in in 1980-81. To break that mark, A&M needs to average 8,026 in its remaining five home games. For conference-only attendance, the Aggies are averging 8,910, well ahead of the record of 7,145 set in 1974-75. To break that mark, the Aggies need to average 6,022 in its remaining five Big 12 home games.