December 02, 2005
Gary Blair likes to talk about women?â„¢s basketball and especially about his Texas A&M squad and he believes that it is the Aggies?â„¢ time to make a statement when they host Washington on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. at Reed Arena.
?It?â„¢s time for this team to have a statement game,? Blair said. ?When you play at home you?â„¢re supposed to be the favorite. When we play teams like Washington that have a great chance to make the NCAA Tournament, we need to take advantage of it. We need to translate it all into a win.?
The Aggies are 2-2 after wrapping the Hawaiian Airlines Rainbow Wahine Classic last weekend with a 1-2 showing. A&M dropped a semifinal game to then No. 17 DePaul, 84-71, before losing at the buzzer to host Hawaii, 68-66.
Blair says his team must improve its field goal shooting after posting 39 percent effort in three games at Hawaii. He said the Aggies played good defense, but still gave up some big plays.
?We are still giving up the big play and we can?â„¢t do that anymore,? Blair said. ?It?â„¢s time for us to grow up as a basketball team.?
The Aggies?â„¢ roster is composed of 73 percent of players who are in their first or second season with the program. Fourteen of A&M?â„¢s 15 players have seen court time. Blair is hoping to redshirt post Ashlaa Horton.
?I believe in those kids, that?â„¢s why I play them,? Blair said. ?We just need to realize the sense of urgency in the non-conference play. If you finish 500 in the non-conference, you have a good chance of not going to the NCAAs unless you happen to run the table in league play.?
Blair has made a significant upgrade to the Aggies?â„¢ non-conference schedule from a year ago. A&M was 8-0 in non-conference games at Reed Arena last season as it ultimately posted an arena-best 11-5 record. The Aggies will welcome higher caliber opponents to the arena this season like Washington, Dartmouth and Rice.
?I?â„¢m not going to play a cup cake schedule like last year,? Blair said. ?It?â„¢s up to the coaches and players to respond and win with this challenging schedule. This type of schedule is going to help us get ready for the Big 12.?
Washington (5-1) enters the game after facing defending national champion No. 5-ranked Baylor on Friday night in Waco. Baylor won the game, 81-74. The Huskies are receiving votes in the media and coaches polls.
?Washington is an older team that is really playing well together,? Blair said. ?They don?â„¢t have any freshman starters. They are at a point with their program where they are playing on the road to prove they are an NCAA team.?
The Huskies are paced by guard Cameo Hicks?â„¢ 17.8 points and 7.0 rebounds.
Meanwhile, the Aggies received an all-tournament team performance from freshman forward Danielle Gant in Hawaii last week. She averaged 14.0 points and 5.7 rebounds while shooting at a 57 percent clip.
Two promotions are being held for the game.
Fans can bring a new or gently used toy to be collected by Aggie Athletes Involved for the Toys for Tots campaign. Each toy is worth a free admission to the game.
Those fans who are attending the NCAA Women?â„¢s College Cup on Sunday can present their ticket stub at the Reed Arena ticket office for a free admission to the basketball game.
?If we are going to be able to continue to bring in good teams from power conferences, our fans are going to have fill the seats,? Blair said. ?Washington wants to get into the top 25 and by playing Baylor close or beating them and doing the same to us, they can get there. I don?â„¢t want that to happen, not on our turf, not on my watch. I want us to protect our home court.?