February 18, 2003
Game notes for Wednesday's contest with Iowa State at Reed Arena...
Game #22:
Texas A&M AGGIES (12-9, 4-6)
vs.
Iowa State CYCLONES (12-9, 2-8)
Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2003
7 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: None
With postseason possibilities still looming, the Texas A&M Aggies (12-9, 4-6 in Big 12) will play host to the Iowa State Cyclones (12-9, 2-8 in Big 12) on Wednesday at 7 p.m. (Central) at Reed Arena (12,500 cap.) in College Station. The Aggies are coming off a 98-83 loss at Colorado on Saturday in Boulder, while the Cyclones are coming off a 70-51 loss at No. 9-ranked Kansas on Monday in Lawrence, their third straight loss. The Aggies are 8-3 at home this season (3-2 in Big 12 play), while Iowa State is 2-5 in true road games (0-5 in Big 12 action). Iowa State leads the series, 5-1, with a perfect 3-0 mark in College Station, including a 2-0 record at Reed Arena. A&M beat the Cyclones for the first time last season with a 52-50 victory in Ames. Iowa State won two years ago in College Station, 72-53. A win would be A&M's ninth at home this season. The Aggies are 3-1 against Big 12 North Division teams this season.
About Iowa State
The Cyclones return three starters and 10 lettermen from last year's team that finished 12-19 overall and placed 11th in the Big 12 with a 4-12 mark. Iowa State is in its fifth year under head coach Larry Eustachy. The Cyclones are led by junior guard Jake Sullivan (6-1), an All-Big 12 pick last season who is averaging 18.3 points per game, fourth best in the league. Sullivan ranks second in the conference in free throw percentage (.884) and is fourth in three-point percentage (.458). Junior forward Jackson Vroman (6-10) adds 11.8 points and a team-best 8.4 rebounds, while freshman guard Adam Haluska (6-5) averages 10.2 points. Center Jared Homan (6-9) contributes 7.1 points, 6.6 rebounds and ranks third in the Big 12 in blocked shots with an average of 2.1 per game, and junior guard Tim Barnes (6-0) averages 9.4 points and a team-best 5.2 assists, fifth most in the league. As a team, Iowa State leads the Big 12 in three-point field goal percentage (.397) and is second in blocked shots (6.1). The Cyclones started the season with a 12-1 record, but have lost eight of their last 10 games, all in Big 12 play. Six of their eight conference losses have been to top 25-ranked teams. ISU's Big 12 victories have been at home against Nebraska (71-61) and Baylor (74-70).
A&M-Iowa State Series
Iowa State leads the series, 5-1, with a 3-0 mark in College Station and a 2-0 record at Reed Arena. A&M won its first game in the series last year in Ames by a score of 52-50. The teams had never met prior to the start of Big 12 play in 1997. The Cyclones wins in College Station have been by marginsof 14 points (71-57 in 1997), 11 points (64-53 in 1999) and 19 points (72-53 in 2001). The Aggies have never scored more than 59 points against ISU. A&M coach Melvin Watkins is 1-3 against Iowa State while Cyclones coach Larry Eustachy is 3-1 against the Aggies.
COACHES
- TEXAS A&M: MELVIN WATKINS (UNC Charlotte '77)
- 51-86, 5th year at A&M
- 93-106, 7th year overall
- 1-3 vs. Iowa State
- 1-3 vs. Larry Eustachy
IOWA STATE: LARRY EUSTACHY (Long Beach State '79)
- 96-54, 5th year at ISU
- 255-140, 13th year overall
- 3-1 vs. Texas A&M
- 3-1 vs. Melvin Watkins
SIDEBARS
Iowa State assistant coach Wayne Morgan is the former head coach at Long Beach State (1996-02)...Morgan coached Lone Beach State to an 83-76 win against A&M in 2000-01 in Long Beach, but his 49ers fell to the Aggies last year in College Station, 71-56...ISU assistant Bob Sundvold faced the Aggies twice as head coach at Missouri-Kansas City (1996-00)...A&M beat UMKC, 74-73, in Kansas City in 1996-97 and followed with a 102-61 win in College Station in 1997-98.
TENTATIVE STARTERS
TEXAS A&M AGGIES (12-9, 4-6) No. Player P Ht. Cl. PPG RPG 2 Keith Bean C 6-8 Sr. 6.2 4.9 14 Tomas Ress F 7-0 Jr. 5.1 3.4 21 Antoine Wright F/G 6-7 Fr. 16.4 7.2 32 Bernard King G 6-5 Sr. 17.8 6.2a 24 Bradley Jackson G 5-11 Sr. 4.1 3.1a IOWA STATE CYCLONES (12-9, 2-8) No. Player P Ht. Cl. PPG RPG 51 Jared Homan C 6-9 So. 7.1 6.6 4 Jackson Vroman F 6-10 Jr. 11.8 8.4 2 Adam Haluska G 6-5 Fr. 10.2 3.7 0 Jake Sullivan G 6-1 Jr. 18.3 3.5 12 Tim Barnes G 6-0 Jr. 9.4 5.2a
WATKINS QUOTEBOARD
"Because we beat them in Ames last year, we have to make sure our kids don't think this is one of those games where you just lace it up and go out there and play. To me, Iowa State is a better team than last year and we know they are going to be hungry coming in here. We can't let our guard down thinking we beat them up there and now we have them at home. I think that would set us up for failure. We have to try to stay away from that. I think the match ups are good. They have big kids on the inside who concern me. They rebound the ball well and they can block some shots. We can't give (Jake) Sullivan any good looks. But I think we matchup well with them. I was not necessarily disappointed with our effort at Colorado. I thought offensively we had did some good things. There were some plays we should have made and we didn't get it done, but overall I thought our kids made the effort. Colorado is just a good basketball team and you have to give them credit for making shots."
Colorado Game Recap
BOULDER, Colo. -- Michel Morandais scored 24 points and Stephane Pelle added 21 points and 12 rebounds as Colorado beat Texas A&M 98-83 Saturday. Colorado (15-8, 5-5 Big 12) had five players in double figures, including David Harrison, who had 15 points and 11 rebounds for his sixth double-double of the season. Antoine Wright and Bernard King each scored 21 points for Texas A&M (12-9, 4-6). King, who scored a season-high 29 in the Aggies' win over Missouri on Wednesday, went 5-for-6 from the free-throw line against Colorado. Colorado led 42-37 at halftime and open the second half with a 21-7 run, culminating in a 3-pointer by Blair Wilson to make it 63-44 with 12:56 to play. The Aggies pulled to within 14 points with 2:15 left after a 3-pointer by Dylan Leal. Wright scored the final six points for the Aggies. Texas led 12-4 early in the game but Colorado responded with four unanswered baskets and never trailed again. Colorado was 7-of-11 on 3-pointers and shot 61 percent from the floor. Texas A&M shot only 38 percent from the floor and hit 12 of 29 3-pointers.
Last Year in Ames
AMES, Iowa (AP/Jan. 29, 2002) -- Bernard King made a running jump shot in the lane and Nick Anderson added a free throw in the final 10 seconds to lift Texas A&M to a 52-50 victory against Iowa State. A&M won a Big 12 road game outside of Texas for the first time. King broke a 49-49 tie with his late jumper before ISU's Tyray Pearson made a free throw to cut the A&M lead to one with :04 remaining. Anderson was fouled on the inbounds pass and connected on the first of two from the charity stripe to close out the scoring. The Aggies had a nine-point lead, the largest of the game, at 43-34 after a King 3-pointer with just under six minutes to play. Iowa State rallied with an 11-2 run and tied the game, 45-45, with 2:23 to go on a pair of Jake Sullivan free throws. Sullivan scored nine of the Cyclones' 11 points on the run. A&M took the lead for the first time at the 14:58 mark of the second half on a jumper by Anderson and never trailed again. Keith Bean, nursing a sore shoulder, led the Aggies with 13 points and tied a career high with 12 rebounds. King scored 12 and Anderson had 11. Sullivan led Iowa State with 18 points while Power finished with 15.
Last Time at Reed Arena
COLLEGE STATION (AP/Jan. 28/2001)- Jake Sullivan led a balanced scoring attack with 14 points and Iowa State hit 21 of 25 free throws as the No. 17-ranked Cyclones rolled to a 72-53 victory over Texas A&M. The Cyclones controlled the game from the start, hitting their first 11 free throws against the undersized Aggies. Martin Rancik scored 13 points, Jamaal Tinsley added 11, and Tyray Pearson had 10 points for the Cyclones. Bernard King led the Aggies with 21 points. The Cyclones went inside from the start against the shorter Aggies and took advantage of A&M's fouls. Rancik sank four free throws to start the game and followed with a basket and Iowa State pulled steadily into a commanding lead. Iowa State finished the first half 16-of-18 at the free throw line. The Aggies had only three points off free throws in the first half and finished hitting 10 of 13.
Who's Hot?
- Antoine Wright has had six double-doubles, has scored in double figures in 19 of 21 games and has been named the Big 12 Rookie of the Week four times.
- Bernard King is the only player in the country to average at least 17.0 (17.8) points, 6.0 assists (6.0) and 4.4 rebounds (4.4). He has scored in double figures in 16 straight games and averaged 25.5 the last two games.
- Keith Bean has averaged 10.3 points and 7.7 rebounds in the last three games.
- Bradley Jackson has averaged 9.5 points and made 5-of-6 three-pointers in the last two games. In the first 19 games, he was 0-of-7 on three-pointers.
Quick Notes
- Seven different Aggies have made at least three three-point field goals in a game this season.
- Bernard King, a candidate for Big 12 Player of the Year honors, has become the A&M and Big 12 career leader in overall points and for league games only. King is second in career assists in Big 12 play.
- An early candidate for National Freshman of the Year, forward Antoine Wright has been named Big 12 Rookie of the Week for the fourth 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 challenge the Big 12 freshman records in scoring, rebounding and three-pointers.
- The Aggies rank third in the Big 12, and 20th nationally, with 16.9 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 14 games this season (with an 11-3 record).
- The Aggies are 11-2 when shooting at least 43.2 percent from the field.
- The Aggies average 15.0 turnovers per game, most in the Big 12, but have averaged just 12.8 in the last four games.
- A&M has had more assists than turnovers in 13 of 21 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 10-0 when their opponents score fewer than 72 points.
- The Aggies are 9-1 when their opponents make less than .430 from the field.
- The Aggies are 10-2 when they take fewer than 20 three-point field goal attempts, but are just 2-7 when they take more than 20.
Scoring King
Senior guard Bernard King, a midseason first-team All-Big 12 pick (AP) and a candidate for Big 12 Player of the Year, is the all-time scoring leader in Big 12 and A&M history with 1,886 points (17.5 ppg). He also owns the school and conference records for points in league play with 1,039 (17.9 ppg). In Big 12 play, King is third in the league in scoring (19.6), third in assists (5.9), 11th in steals (1.6), eighth in free throw percentage (.795) and is seventh in assists-to-turnovers ratio (1.84). He ranks 26th nationally in assists (6.0) and is the only player in the country to average at least 17.0 points, 6.0 assists and 4.4 rebounds. 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 also has compiled 520 assists, third most in A&M and Big 12 history, and 478 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. He would be only the fifth guard from a Big 12 school to reach 2,000 points. King also is on course to be the only player from any Big 12 school to lead his team in both scoring and assists for four years. King's 298 assists in league play are second behind Oklahoma State's Doug Gottlieb (354 in 1998-00). King has shot and made more free throws than any player in school or Big 12 annals and leads the Big 12 attempts and makes this year. King was rated as the 21st best NBA prospect in the Class of 2003 by NBADraft.net going into the season. He scored a season-high 29 points in the win against No. 21-ranked Missouri, adding seven assists and four steals. King has scored in double figures in 93 games, second in A&M history to the late Vernon Smith's (1977-81) record of 96. King's 37 20-point games is a school record.
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 19 games, King is averaging 16.9 points and Wright is adding 16.7. "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 prior to the season, 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 57-of-134 (.425) from three-point range. Wright has posted eight 20-point efforts, including a career-high 25 against Miami and Texas. Wright has been named Big 12 Rookie of the Week for the fourth time, tying Iowa State's Marcus Fizer (1997) for the league freshman record. Wright is one of just four freshmen in the nation this season to average at least 16.0 points and 7.0 rebounds per game, but has arguably had the biggest impact of any freshman in the country as the Aggies were 9-22 last year and are 12-9 this season. Wright is threatening Big 12 freshman records for scoring (16.9 by A&M's Bernard King in 1999-00), rebounding (7.8 by Missouri's Arthur Johnson in 2000-01) and three-pointers (79 by King in 1999-00).
Helping Hand
The Aggies rank third in the Big 12, and 20th nationally, with an average of 16.9 assists per game. A&M is 11-3 when it has at least 13 assists, but is 1-6 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 1.13. Senior Bernard King ranks third in the league in assists at 6.0 while Leandro Garcia-Morales (3.0) 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 1.94, while King ranks ninth at 1.85.
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 75.4 percent (181-240) in their last 11 games. For the season, A&M has made 70.1 percent (fourth in the Big 12), and in Big 12 play it has made a league-best 75.9 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 86.4 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 six games this season that were decided by five points or fewer and are 5-1 in those games, the most wins of any team in the Big 12 in "close games". A&M is 7-5 in games decided by 10 or fewer points, the second most games in that category (12) in the Big 12 behind Nebraska (13). 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 or fewer points.
Bombs Away
A&M ranks second in the Big 12, and 36th nationally, in three-point field goal percentage at 38.6 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 7.8 three-pointers made per game, well ahead of last year's school record of 5.8. Antoine Wright (2.7), Bernard King (1.5) and Kevin Turner (1.6) each are averaging at least one trey per game. Four other players -- juniors Tomas Ress, Jesse King and Leandro Garcia-Morales and senior Bradley Jackson -- have also shown the ability to shoot the trey. Ress made 3-of-4 against Nebraska, Jesse King made 3-of-4 against Baylor, Garcia-Morales has made at least three against three opponents (including a 4-of-9 showing against Texas) while Jackson made 3-of-3 at Colorado. Ten of A&M's 14 players have made a three-pointer this seasion. A&M has been consistent, making at least 35.0 percent in 15 of 21 games. The Aggies made 12 treys in the win against LSU and again in the loss at Colorado, tying for the second most in school annals. A&M has made 10 or more treys in five games.
Home Cookin'
The Aggies are 8-3 at home this season, their best start ever at Reed Arena and their best overall since an 8-3 home record in the 1994-95 season at G. Rollie White Coliseum. Statistically (see page 28), the Aggies have posted an average scoring margin of +8.4 at home (79.5 to 71.1) while connecting on 48.6 percent from the field (allowing 41.1 percent) and 41.4 percent from three-point range (allowing 32.3 percent). The Aggies have had more assists than turnovers in 10 of 11 home games, posting an whopping average of 21.1 assists to only 14.0 turnovers per game. Meanwhile, the Aggies have forced an average of 16.4 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 43.7 percent of the Aggies' points, 65.9 percent of the three-pointers, 44.8 percent of the steals, 34.7 percent of the assists and 35.9 percent of the rebounds.
Board Stiff
The Aggies have out-rebounded just nine of 21 opponents overall, and rank last in the Big 12 in rebounding margin (-3.5). The Aggies have been out-boarded in seven of 10 Big 12 games and rank last in the league in offensive rebounding (10.1).
Turnover Woes
The Aggies are averaging 15.0 turnovers per game, the most in the Big 12, but rank fifth in assists-to-turnovers ratio at 1.13. 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 15 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 13 of 21 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 17 games, A&M has averaged 16.8 assists with 14.1 turnovers.
Defensively
A&M is allowing its opponents to make just 42.7 percent from the field, which if the season ended today would be the sixth best in school history and the second best since 1963-64. In addition, the Aggies are limiting their opponents to just 32.2 percent from three-point range, which is on pace to challenge the school record of 31.5 set in 1996-97 and ranks third best in the Big 12. The Aggies are forcing an average of 15.2 turnovers per game, fifth best 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 20.7 points per game, while the backcourt is averaging a whopping 54.0 points. The front court has scored more than 29 points just twice this season (36 vs. Louisiana-Monroe and 34 vs. Texas) while the backcourt has scored fewer than 43 only once (37 vs. Nebraska).
Attendance Up
A&M has sold out home games against Texas Tech and Texas, the first sellouts at five-year-old Reed Arena and the first back-to-back sellouts at A&M since 1983. A record crowd of 12,633 attended the Texas game, breaking the mark of 12,611 set the previous home game against Texas Tech. For the season, A&M is averaging 6,463 per game, which is on pace to break the record of 6,141 set in 1980-81. For conference-only attendance, the Aggies are averging 8,718, well ahead of the record of 7,145 set in 1974-75.
2000-500-500 CLUB
In basketball, three statistics stand above all the rest when it comes to measuring production -- points, rebounds and assists. This season, Bernard King could become only the eighth player in NCAA history to score 2,000 career points with 500 rebounds and 500 assists, joining the likes of Duke's Johnny Dawkins and Danny Ferry, BYU's Danny Ainge and Oklahoma's Tim McCalister.