February 21, 2003
Game notes for Saturday's Big 12 showdown with Texas Tech in Lubbock...
Game #23:
Texas A&M AGGIES (13-9, 5-6)
vs.
Texas Tech RED RAIDERS (14-8, 4-7)
Saturday, Feb. 22, 2003
12:47 p.m. (Central)
United Spirit Arena (15,050 cap.)
Lubbock, Texas
RADIO: Texas A&M Sports Network
Dave South, play-by-play
Colin Killian, commentary
Airtime: 12:30 p.m. (Central)
ONLINE: www.AggieAthletics.com
TELEVISION: ESPN Regional (regional)
Bill Doleman, play-by-play
Doug Gottlieb, commentary
With postseason tournament hopes still strong, the Texas A&M Aggies (13-9, 5-6 in Big 12) play the Texas Tech Red Raiders (14-8, 4-7 in Big 12) on Saturday at 12:47 p.m. (Central) at the United Spirit Arena (15,050 cap.) in Lubbock. The game will be televised by ESPN Regional. The Aggies are coming off a 66-54 win against Iowa State at home on Wednesday, while the Red Raiders have been idle since a 77-65 loss to No. 3-ranked Texas on Monday in Austin. The Aggies are 2-5 in true road games this season (1-4 in Big 12 play), while Tech is 9-2 at home (3-2 in Big 12 action). The Red Raiders have lost two straight and three of their last four games. Tech leads the series, 56-50, with a 31-14 edge in Lubbock, but A&M leads, 2-1, in games played at the United Spirit Arena. A&M beat the Red Raiders, 64-59, on Feb. 1 in College Station. Tech won all three meetings last season, including a 74-53 win in Lubbock.
About Texas Tech
The Red Raiders return four starters and nine lettermen from last year's team that finished 23-9 overall, tied for third in the Big 12 at 10-6 and advanced to the NCAA Tournament. Tech is in its second year under head coach Bob Knight. Tech started the year with a 10-1 mark in non-conference play, but has gone 4-7 in Big 12 play. The Red Raiders are led by junior guard Andre Emmett (6-5), who is averaging 21.5 points to lead the Big 12 in scoring. Emmett adds 5.8 rebounds per game. Senior forward Kasib Powell (6-7) averages 15.5 points and 4.5 assists per game, while senior guard Will Chavis (5-10) adds 8.2 points. As a team, Tech leads the Big 12 in turnover margin (+6.8) and assists-to-turnovers ratio (1.5) and ranks second in field goal percentage (.479), assists (17.2) and steals (9.3). Tech's non-conference schedule was highlighted by a 99-89 overtime win at Minnesota. In Big 12 play, Tech has beaten Baylor (80-64), Colorado (66-56) and Nebraska (75-49) at home and Iowa State (88-73) on the road. The Red Raiders losses have been to Kansas State (68-44), Oklahoma (69-64), A&M (64-59), Missouri (82-73) and Texas (77-65) on the road and Oklahoma State (79-70) and Oklahoma (63-58) at home.
A&M-Tech Series
Texas Tech leads the series, 56-50, with a 31-14 mark in games played in Lubbock. However, A&M has a 2-1 edge in games played at the United Spirit Arena, winning the first two games played there in 2000 and 2001 before falling last season, 74-53. A&M posted a 64-59 win against Tech on Feb. 1 in College Station, ending a three-game Tech winning streak in the series. Tech leads the series, 9-5, since Big 12 play began in 1997, but the series is tied, 5-5, in the last 10 meetings. A&M coach Melvin Watkins is 5-5 against Tech while Tech coach Bob Knight is 6-2 against A&M, including a 3-1 mark as head coach at Indiana and a 3-1 mark in two years at Tech.
THE COACHES:
- TEXAS A&M: MELVIN WATKINS (UNC Charlotte '77)
- 52-86, 5th year at A&M
- 94-106, 7th year overall
- 5-5 vs. Texas Tech
- 1-3 vs. Bob Knight
TEXAS TECH: BOB KNIGHT (Ohio State '62)
- 37-17, 2nd year at Tech
- 801-306, 38th year overall
- 6-2 vs. Texas A&M
- 3-1 vs. Melvin Watkins
Sidebars
Legendary former A&M coach Shelby Metcalf led the Aggies to a 54-49 win against Bob Knight's No. 10-ranked Indiana Hoosiers in the 1978 Great Alaska Shootout...Texas Tech basketball trainer Jon Murray is a 1997 graduate of Texas A&M, where he worked three years as a student trainer with the football team...A&M basketball trainer Mike "radar" Ricke is working his 602nd consecutive game, a streak spanning 20 seasons.
Tentative Starters
TEXAS A&M AGGIES (13-9, 5-6) No. Player P Ht. Cl. PPG RPG 2 Keith Bean C 6-8 Sr. 6.5 5.1 14 Tomas Ress F 7-0 Jr. 5.3 3.5 21 Antoine Wright F/G 6-7 Fr. 16.1 7.0 32 Bernard King G 6-5 Sr. 17.7 5.9a 24 Bradley Jackson G 5-11 Sr. 4.5 3.0a Off the Bench No. Player P Ht. Cl. PPG RPG 22 Kevin Turner G 6-2 Jr. 7.9 1.7 10 Leandro G.-Morales G 6-1 Jr. 5.2 2.9a 3 Jesse King F 6-7 Jr. 4.9 2.9 50 Andy Slocum C 7-0 Jr. 3.6 5.3 23 Marcus Watkins G 6-4 Fr. 2.8 1.0 12 Dylan Leal G 6-5 Jr. 1.3 0.3 44 Nolan Butterfras C 6-10 Jr. 1.1 0.9 20 Brian Brookhart F 6-10 Sr. 0.7 1.3
Watkins Quoteboard
"It's always been a tough environment for us when we go to Lubbock and play. We were able to get the win against Tech at our place and we hope that gives us some confidence in our matchups. I feel good about the way we are playing right now, particularly at home. If we go on the road with the same type of energy we play with at home, it would go a long way in our efforts to get a win. One reason for most of our recent success has been the play and leadership of Bernard King. He has really stepped up his game on offense and defense. We have to do a good job on Kasib Powell and Andre Emmett and our execution in the half court will be critical."
On Feb. 1 at Reed
COLLEGE STATION (AP/Feb. 1) -- Bernard King scored 18 points to help the Aggies hold off Texas Tech 64-59 and prevent Bob Knight from becoming the fourth Division I men's coach to reach 800 career victories. Antoine Wright slammed home a dunk with 2:41 that gave the Aggies a 60-53 lead. After hitting only four of their first 20 shots and falling behind 25-9, the Red Raiders fought back in the second half and almost gave Knight his big victory. But A&M's Tomas Ress sealed it with a pair of free throws with 13 seconds left. The first sellout crowd in the five-year history of Reed Arena, 12,611, turned out to see A&M keep Knight from his milestone. Texas Tech cut the Aggies' lead to 33-26 at the half. Andre Emmett hit two jumpers, a layup and a 3-point basket for Tech's first nine points of the second half, tying the score at 35 with his 3-pointer. Emmett then got a steal and passed to Nathan Doudney, whose basket gave the Red Raiders their first lead with 16:59 left. Wright and King brought the Aggies back, however, and they took the lead for good on a 3-point basket by King with 12:57 left to play. Emmett led the Red Raiders with 17 points, and Doudney added 14.
Last Year in Lubbock
LUBBOCK (AP/Feb. 23, 2002)- Will Chavis scored 18 points --12 on 3-pointers --and Kasib Powell added 15 as Texas Tech beat Texas A&M, 74-53. Tech had one of its best defensive efforts of the season, holding A&M to just 14 first half points. Tech took the lead early in the game and held the Aggies scoreless for 10 minutes while scoring 17 points. The Aggies then held Tech scoreless for about six minutes near the end of the first half but were unable to mount an offensive comeback. Andy Ellis scored 14 and Andre Emmett added 13, giving Tech four starters in double figures. Bernard King scored 20 points and Keith Bean added 14 for the Aggies. The first game between the two teams was much closer, with Tech winning 72-70 in College Station in early January. The win in Lubbock gave Tech its first sweep against the Aggies since the 1996-1997 season. Tech led 35-14 at halftime.
Who's Hot?
- Antoine Wright has had six double-doubles, has scored in double figures in 19 of 22 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 (17.7) points, 5.5 assists (5.9) and 4.3 rebounds (4.3). He has scored in double figures in 17 straight games and averaged 22.7 the last 3 games.
- Keith Bean has averaged 11.0 points and 8.3 rebounds in the last four games.
- Bradley Jackson has averaged 10.3 points and made 5-of-7 three-pointers in the last 3 games. In the first 19 games, he was 0-of-7 on three-pointers. Jackson is chasing the A&M season free throw percentage record of .865 set by Mike Floyd in 1974-75. Jackson is making .863.
Quick Notes
- 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 22nd nationally, with 16.7 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 12-2 when shooting at least 43.2 percent from the field.
- Seven different Aggies have made at least three three-point field goals in a game this season.
- The Aggies average 14.8 turnovers per game, most in the Big 12, but have averaged just 12.4 in the last five games.
- A&M has had more assists than turnovers in 14 of 22 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 11-0 when their opponents score fewer than 72 points.
- The Aggies are 10-1 when their opponents make less than .430 from the field.
- The Aggies are 11-2 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), a first-team all-district pick (NABC) and a candidate for Big 12 Player of the Year, is the all-time scoring leader in Big 12 and A&M history with 1,903 points (17.5 ppg). He also owns the school and conference records for points in league play with 1,056 (17.9 ppg). In Big 12 play, King is fourth in the league in scoring (19.4), third in assists (5.6), 12th in steals (1.5), eighth in free throw percentage (.787) and is eighth in assists-to-turnovers ratio (1.8). He ranks 24th nationally in assists (5.9) and is the only player in the country to average at least 17.0 points, 5.5 assists and 4.3 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 523 assists, third most in A&M and Big 12 history, and 481 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 301 assists in league play are second behind Oklahoma State's Doug Gottlieb (354 in 1998-00) and is an A&M record for conference play. 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 94 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 22 games, King is averaging 17.7 points and Wright is adding 16.1. "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, also is 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 16.1 points and a team-best 7.0 rebounds per game and has made an impressive 58-of-140 (.414) 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 13-9 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). He already has been named second-team all-district by the NABC, the first A&M freshman honored since Rudy Woods in 1978-79.
Helping Hand
The Aggies rank third in the Big 12, and 22nd nationally, with an average of 16.7 assists per game. A&M is 12-3 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 5.9 while Leandro Garcia-Morales (2.9) and senior Bradley Jackson (3.0) each have more than 60 this season. Jackson ranks eighth in the Big 12 in assists-to-turnovers ratio at 1.94, while King ranks ninth at 1.81.
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 74.7 percent (195-261) in their last 12 games. For the season, A&M has made 69.9 percent (fourth in the Big 12), and in Big 12 play it has made a league-best 75.0 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 86.3 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 third in the Big 12 in three-point field goal percentage at 37.9 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 7.6 three-pointers made per game, well ahead of last year's school record of 5.8. Antoine Wright (2.6), Bernard King (1.5) and Kevin Turner (1.5) 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 22 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 9-3 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 +8.7 at home (78.4 to 69.7) while connecting on 48.2 percent from the field (allowing 41.1 percent) and 39.8 percent from three-point range (allowing 32.6 percent). The Aggies have had more assists than turnovers in 11 of 12 home games, posting an whopping average of 20.4 assists to only 13.8 turnovers per game. Meanwhile, the Aggies have forced an average of 16.2 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 42.9 percent of the Aggies' points, 64.9 percent of the three-pointers, 43.5 percent of the steals, 35.1 percent of the assists and 34.7 percent of the rebounds.
Board Stiff
The Aggies have out-rebounded just nine of 22 opponents overall, and rank last in the Big 12 in rebounding margin (-3.0). The Aggies have been out-boarded in seven of 11 Big 12 games and rank last in the league in offensive rebounding (10.3).
Turnover Woes
The Aggies are averaging 14.8 turnovers per game, the most in the Big 12, but rank seventh in Big 12 play at 14.0. 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 14.2 turnovers in the 16 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 14 of 22 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 18 games, A&M has averaged 16.6 assists with 13.9 turnovers.
Defensively
A&M is allowing its opponents to make just 42.6 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 32.4 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 20.8 points per game, while the backcourt is averaging a whopping 53.6 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 6,286 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 8,360, 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.