Jan. 23, 2009
AUSTIN - Texas A&M looks to break a two-game losing skid on Saturday when it plays No. 14-ranked Texas at the Erwin Center. The game will be televised by ESPNU.
GAME #20
Texas A&M Aggies (15-4, 1-3 Big 12)
vs.
Texas Longhorns (13-4, 2-1 Big 12)
Saturday, January 24, 2009
7:05 p.m. (CST)
Austin, Texas
Erwin Center (16,755 cap.)
Television
ESPNU
Play-by-Play: Clay Matvick
Analyst: Dickey Simpkins
Dish Network: Channel 148
Direct TV: Channel 614
Radio
Texas A&M Sports Network
Play-by-Play: Dave South
Analyst: Al Pulliam
Sirius Satellite Radio: 91
Network Affiliates
Atlanta KPYN-AM 900
Athens KLVQ-AM 1410
Austin KJCE-AM 1370
Brenham KWHI-AM 1280
Carthage KGAS-AM 1590
College Station WTAW-AM 1620
College Station KZNE-AM 1150
Comanche KCOM-AM 1550
Dallas KFXR-AM 1190
El Campo KULP-AM 1390
Gonzales KCTI-AM 1450
Houston KBME-AM 790
Marshall KMHT-AM 1450
New Braunfels KGNB-AM 1420
San Antonio KSJL-AM 810
San Saba KBAL-AM 1410
Sulphur Springs KSST-AM 1230
Victoria KVNN-AM 1340
TEXAS A&M AGGIES
Record: 15-4 (1-3 Big 12)
Ranking/RPI (CBS): Receiving votes (AP) / 46
Last Game: Lost at Kansas (73-53) on Monday
Current Streak: Lost two straight
Head Coach: Mark Turgeon (Kansas `87)
Record: 193-134 (11th year)
at Texas A&M: 40-15 (2nd year)
vs. Texas: 1-1
PROJECTED TEXAS A&M STARTERS
No. Player P Ht. Wt. Cl-Ex PPG RPG APG
15 Donald Sloan G 6-3 205 Jr-2L 11.3 3.7 3.2
3 Derrick Roland G 6-4 185 Jr-2L 5.5 2.2 --
23 Josh Carter F 6-7 200 Sr-3L 13.1 4.2--
0 Bryan Davis F 6-9 240 Jr-2L 10.46.1 --
41 Chinemelu Elonu C 6-10 235 Jr-2L 10.2 7.5 --
TEXAS LONGHORNS
Record: 13-4 (2-1 Big 12)
Ranking/RPI (CBS): 14/15 (AP/Coaches)/24
Last Game: Won at Texas Tech (71-49) last Saturday
Current Streak: Won one
Head Coach: Rick Barnes (Lenoir-Rhyne `77)
Record: 462-231 (22nd year)
at Texas: 260-97 (12th year)
vs. Texas A&M: 18-5 (16-5 at Texas)
PROJECTED TEXAS STARTERS
No. Player P Ht. Wt.Cl-Ex PPG RPG APG
3 A.J. Abrams G 5-11 161 Sr-3L 17.4 2.2 --
24 Justin Mason G 6-2 194 Jr-2L 7.2 4.1 4.9
5 Damion James G/F 6-7 222 Jr-2L 14.9 8.3 --
1 Gary Johnson F 6-6 233 So-1L 11.1 7.2 --
32 Connor Atchley F/C 6-10 228 Sr-3L 6.0 3.6 --
Additional Information:
Big 12 Conference: http://big12sports.com/
NCAA: http://www.ncaa.com/
Audio links
Wednesday's weekly Texas A&M basketball press conference at Reed Arena:
COACH Mark Turgeon
http://cstvpodcast.cstv.com.edgesuite.net/texasam/090121_turgeon.mp3
JUNIOR FORWARD Chinemelu Elonu
http://cstvpodcast.cstv.com.edgesuite.net/texasam/090121_elonu2.mp3
Series Notes
• Texas leads the series, 130-83, with a 75-26 advantage in games played in Austin and a 24-8 mark at the Erwin Center. The Longhorns have won six straight meetings in Austin.
• The teams have split the regular-season series in each of the last four years, with the home team winning each game.
• Each team cruised to blowout wins at home last season. The Aggies posted an 80-63 win in College Station, but the Longhorns won the rematch in Austin, 77-50.
Key Game Notes
• The Aggies are continuing perhaps the toughest opening schedule in Big 12 history on Saturday when they play No. 14-ranked Texas in Austin.
• The Aggies were picked to finish fifth in the preseason Big 12 coaches poll. Their first five games in league play are against the other five teams picked to finish in the top half of the Big 12, with three of the games on the road.
• No other team in Big 12 history has had to play every team in the top-half of the preseason coaches poll in its first five games.
DAUNTING START
Preseason 2008-09
Date Opponent Poll Record
J10 at Oklahoma State (L 72-61) 6th 12-5
J14 #21 Baylor (W, 84-73) T3rd 15-3
J17 #5 Oklahoma (L, 69-63) 1st 18-1
J19 at Kansas (L, 73-53) T3rd 14-4
J24 at #11 Texas 2nd 13-4
• The Aggies are 1-3 to open Big 12 play for the second straight year and for the fourth time in the last five seasons. The Aggies finished at least 8-8 in the league and advanced to postseason play in each of those years.
BOUNCING BACK
Big 12 Record
Year Start Finish Postseason (W-L)
2004-05 1-3 8-8 NIT (2-1)
2005-06 1-3 10-6 NCAA (1-1)
2006-07 4-0 13-3 NCAA (2-1)
2007-08 1-3 8-8 NCAA (1-1)
2008-09 1-3 ??? ???
• Texas has been idle since a 71-49 win at Texas Tech on Jan. 17. The Longhorns are 2-2 in their last four games.
• A&M has lost two straight for the first time this season.
• The Aggies are 2-2 in true road games this season and 4-3 in all games away from College Station.
• The Longhorns have won 18 straight home games, the fifth longest streak in the country. Texas is 8-0 at home this season.
• Mark Turgeon 40-15 record is the second-best coaching start in Big 12 history through 55 games. Kansas' Bill Self was 44-11 in 2003-05.
Sidebar
• The top five scorers from each team are products of Texas high schools. All five of the Aggies' usual starters are from Texas while four of the five normal starters for the Longhorns are in-state products.
About Texas
• The Longhorns are in their 11th season under Head Coach Rick Barnes, who has led them to 10 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances.
• Texas finished 31-7 last season and tied for first in the Big 12 with a 13-3 mark. The Longhorns advanced to the "Elite Eight" in the NCAA Tournament.
• The Longhorns' four losses have been to No. 8-ranked Notre Dame (81-80) and No. 19 Michigan State (67-63) at neutral sites and on the road at Arkansas (67-61) and No. 5 Oklahoma (78-63).
• Texas has beaten two ranked teams this season, downing No. 9 UCLA (68-64) in Austin and downing No. 12 Villanova (67-58) in New York City.
• Senior guard A.J. Abrams (5-11) leads the Longhorns in scoring with a 17.4 average and has made 39 percent from three-point range. Junior forward Damion James (6-7) averages 14.9 points and a team-best 8.3 rebounds.
• Texas leads the Big 12 in blocked shots (6.1), ranks second in scoring defense (61.2) and is third in rebounding margin (+5.2).
Lone Star Showdown
• At stake in Saturday's game at Texas is a half-point in the State Farm Lone Star Showdown, an annual all-sports competition between the schools.
• The Showdown is in its fifth season. Texas easily won the first two trophies in 2004-05 and 2005-06. The Aggies closed the gap to within two points in 2006-07 before capturing the trophy last season, 10.5-8.5.
• Texas had a 3.5 to 1.5 lead this year going into Friday night's women's swimming match in College Station.
Last Year in Austin
AUSTIN, Texas (AP, Feb. 18, 2008) - No. 7-ranked Texas avenged a blowout loss last month at Texas A&M with a 77-50 win at the Erwin Center that kept the streaking Longhorns tied for first in the Big 12. Texas' last loss was a humbling 17-point defeat in College Station on Jan. 30. D.J. Augustin was at his absolute best with 27 points and nine assists. He nearly outscored the Aggies by himself in the first half with 17 points as Texas took a 39-18 lead into halftime. Texas opened the game with a 16-4 run behind Augustin and James and a front line that sent an early message. Texas blocked 12 shots -- and its stifling defense that held the Aggies to 19 percent shooting in the first half and their lowest scoring output of the season. Damion James finished with 15 points and nine rebounds for Texas. Carter scored 11 points to lead A&M, which trailed by 20 points almost the entire second half. Texas hit nine 3-pointers while the Aggies were 1-of-14 from long range.
Last Year in College Station
COLLEGE STATION (AP, Jan. 30, 2008) -- Josh Carter scored 19 points and No. 23 Texas A&M cruised to an easy 80-63 win over No. 10 Texas. Carter, who had 10 rebounds, has scored at least 10 points in 15 straight games. He helped A&M break a three-game winning streak for Texas and continue a four-year tradition of the home team winning in this series. The Longhorns played the Aggies even in the second half but it wasn't enough to overcome a poor first half where Texas made just 9-of-30 shots and at times seemed off-balance and confused. A&M shot 64 percent in the first half to make the Longhorns' lackluster offensive start even more difficult to overcome. Texas never led, trailed by as many as 22 points in the first half and shot 34 percent. The Aggies led 46-28 at halftime. Joseph Jones and Dominique Kirk scored 14 points each. Dexter Pittman and Augustin lead the Longhorns with 14 points apiece. The Longhorns made just two of their first 13 shots and had five turnovers in the first 10 minutes to help the Aggies build a 29-7 lead. Carter made three 3-pointers in that span to lead A&M.
Kansas Recap
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) -- Sherron Collins and Cole Aldrich each had 16 points and Kansas downed Texas A&M 73-53 Monday night, stretching its home winning streak to 35 in a row. The Jayhawks (14-4, 3-0 Big 12) haven't lost in Allen Fieldhouse since Texas A&M beat them 69-66 on Feb. 3, 2007. The Aggies (15-4, 1-3) are still the only Big 12 South team to win in Lawrence since the conference was formed in 1996. Tayshawn Taylor and Mario Little each hit their first four shots as the Jayhawks roared to a big early lead, which reached 16-4 when Collins drove in for a layup at the 14:49 mark. Little, coming off the bench, scored seven straight points and helped put the Jayhawks on top 40-23 at halftime. Little wound up with 15 points and Marcus Morris had 10. Bryan Davis and B.J. Holmes each had eight points for the Aggies, whose 20 turnovers were almost twice their season average.
Inside Dish
• Senior Josh Carter owns the school record for career three-point field goals with 259, which ranks seventh in Big 12 history. The old A&M mark was 232 by Bernard King (1999-03). Carter is the most accurate three-point shooter in school history, making 41.8 percent. He led the nation in 2006-07 by making 50.0 percent.
• Carter leads the Big 12 in free throw percentage (.884, 59-67), 18th-best nationally. The school record for a season is .865 by Mike Floyd in 1974-75. A&M is 59-12 when Carter scores in double figures and 30-19 when he doesn't hit at least 10.
• Carter has had three 20-point games this season, and scored 19 in the win against LSU. He is averaging a team-best 13.1 points. A two-time honorable mention All-Big 12 pick, he was a second-team preseason selection.
• Carter has started in 89 straight games -- every game since the start of his sophomore season. He has played in 120 career games and is on track to break the school record of 132 by Dominique Kirk (2004-08).
• Junior Bryan Davis scored 17 points in the win against Baylor, making 9-of 12 from the free throw line. He ranks second on the team in rebounds (6.1) and blocks (24). Davis was named to the all-tournament team at the South Padre Island Invitational. A&M is 21-3 when Davis scores in double figures in his career.
• Junior Donald Sloan has started in 55 straight games since the start of his sophomore year (2007-08). He has scored at least 8 points in all but one game this year. Sloan leads the team in assists (3.2). A&M is 34-5 when Sloan hands out at least 3 assists.
• Junior Chinemelu Elonu has posted double-doubles in three of the last five games, averaging 12.8 points and 10.0 rebounds in that stretch. He has had a team-high six double-doubles this season and has averaged 12.5 points, 9.2 rebounds and 2.2 blocks over the last 11 games. Elonu's season field goal percentage of .655 ranks 13th nationally (min. 100 FGA). A&M is 20-2 when Elonu scores at least 6 points and is 22-2 when he has at least 5 rebounds in his career.
• Sophomore B.J. Holmes has averaged 10.6 points in the last 16 games while making 41 percent (31-76) from three-point range. Holmes hit a rainbow three-pointer with two seconds left to send the Alabama game into overtime. He scored a career-high 19 points at Oklahoma State. A&M is 10-3 in his career when he scores at least 8 points and is 21-5 when he makes at least one three-pointer. He's made a three-pointer in 17 straight games.
• Junior Derrick Roland has averaged 8.0 points and made 66.7 percent (6-of-9) from three-point range in the last two games. He scored 10 points in the win against Baylor, making both his three-point tries, and added a season-high 4 assists. Roland is regarded as one of the country's top defenders and held Arizona's Chase Budinger to just 3 points on 1-of-6 shooting in the second half of A&M's come-from-behind victory. A&M is 16-5 when he scores at least 6 points in his career.
• Sophomore Nate Walkup has become the Aggies' new "Mr. Clutch" for making big shots in tight games. His trey against Arizona with 20 seconds left proved to be the game-winner. He hit a three-pointer with 14 seconds left at Alabama, which set up B.J. Holmes trey at the end of regulation that sent the game into overtime. Walkup also hit key baskets late in close games against Stephen F. Austin, SMU and Rice.
• Freshman Dash Harris has had 20 assists with just seven turnovers in the last seven games.
• The Aggies made just 64.5 percent from the free throw line through the first five games but made 74.9 percent over the next 12 games. The Aggies ranked last in the Big 12 last year at .633 but are third this season at 71.2 percent. A&M set Big 12 and A&M records for free throw percentage by making 20-of-20 against Florida A&M.
• The Aggies are 47-of-53 (.887) from the free throw line in the last two minutes of "close games," which are defined as games within 10 points.
• A&M has posted an average scoring margin of +6.5 points per game. The Aggie are out-scoring their opponents by an average of 6.6 points per game from the free throw line.
• The Aggies rallied from 14-point deficits to beat Arizona and Alabama. A&M was five points down with 15 seconds left in regulation against Alabama, but came back to win in overtime.
• A&M had just 4 turnovers (16 assists) against Arizona, a school record for fewest in a game. A&M is averaging just 12.6 turnovers per game, fourth fewest in the Big 12. A&M is 12-0 when it has 15 or fewer turnovers this season, but is 3-4 when it has more than 15 miscues.
• A&M's 78 home wins in the last four years are the second most in the nation in that period behind Memphis (84).
• A&M is 67-22 (.752) in the last three seasons, ranking it among the winningest teams in the country in that span.
• A&M has scored at least 22 points in the paint in all 18 games, averaging 31.3 points in the paint per game.