March 5, 2010
Norman, Okla. - Texas A&M hopes to build momentum for the Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship when it faces Oklahoma at 11 a.m. on Saturday in Norman. The game will be televised nationally on ESPN.
Game 30
#23/24 Texas A&M Aggies
(21-8, 10-5 Big 12 Conference)
vs.
Oklahoma Sooners
(13-16, 4-11 Big 12 Conference)
Saturday, March 6, 2010
11 a.m. (CT)
Lloyd Noble Arena (12,000 cap.)
Norman, Okla.
TELEVISION: ESPN
Terry Gannon, play-by-play
Stephen Bardo, commentary
Dish Network Channel 140
Direct TV Channel 206
ESPN360.com
RADIO: Texas A&M Sports Network
http://www.aggieathletics.com/multimedia/aggies-on-the-radio.html
Dave South, play-by-play
Al Pulliam, commentary
Sirius Satellite Radio: 122
Texas A&M Basketball Digital Media
Texas A&M Weekly Press Conference Audio (Monday): /ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=27300&ATCLID=205220524
Texas A&M Media Almanac (complete bios, history and records): http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/352a4862
Mark Turgeon's Virtual Guide to Texas A&M Basketball: http://coachturgeon.com/
Aggie Basketball Fast Break blog: http://blogs.aggieathletics.com/fastbreak/
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Texas A&M Aggies
http://www.aggieathletics.com/sports/m-baskbl/tam-m-baskbl-body.html
Record: 21-8 (10-5 Big 12)
Ranking: #23 (AP), #24 (ESPN/USA Today)
RPI: #11
Last Game: Beat Oklahoma State (76-61) on Wednesday
Head Coach: Mark Turgeon's (Kansas `87)
               Record: 223-148 (12th year)
               at Texas A&M: 70-29 (3rd year)
               vs. Oklahoma: 2-3
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Projected Texas A&M Starters
No.  Player             Pos.   Ht.  Wt.   Cl.   PPG   RPG   APG
5    Dash Harris        G    6-1  175   So    5.0   3.4  3.4      Â
15   Donald Sloan        G     6-3  205   Sr   18.1  3.7   2.2        Â
22   Khris Middleton     G    6-7  215   Fr    6.1  3.7    --
10   David Loubeau       F     6-8  230   So    9.2   4.9    --
0    Bryan Davis         F    6-9  250   Sr   9.9  7.9    --
Off the Bench
2    Derrek Lewis       G     6-5   195   Jr   1.6   0.5    --
11   B.J. Holmes         G     5-11  175   Jr    9.2   2.4    --
21   Ray Turner         F     6-8   220   Fr    2.7   2.5    --
23   Naji Hibbert        G     6-6  200   Fr    2.0   1.7    --
45   Nathan Walkup       F     6-7  210   Jr    5.5  3.2    --
Oklahoma Sooners
http://www.soonersports.com/sports/m-baskbl/okla-m-baskbl-body.html
Record: 13-16 (4-11 Big 12 Conference)
Ranking: unranked
RPI: 101
Last Game: Lost at #25 Texas (87-76) on Monday
Head Coach: Jeff Capel (Duke '97)
               Record:  151-90 (8th year)
               at  Oklahoma: 82-49 (4th year)
               vs. Texas A&M: 3-4
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Projected Oklahoma Starters
No.  Player              Pos.  Ht.   Wt.   Cl.   PPG  RPG   APG
11  Tommy Mason-Griffin  G    5-11  203   Fr   13.8  2.9  4.9
34  Cade Davis           G    6-5   199   Jr   10.3  3.7  --     Â
5   Tony Crocker         G    6-6   209   Sr   11.8  6.3  --
45  Beau Gerber          F    6-8   230   Sr    0.6  0.3  --
1    Ryan Wright          F    6-9   241   Sr    4.2  4.4  --
Big 12 Conference: http://www.big12sports.com/SportSelect.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=10410&KEY=&SPID=13134&SPSID=106110
NCAA: http://www.ncaa.com/statistics/index.html
Series Notes
*Oklahoma leads the series, 28-5, but A&M has won four of the last seven games.
*The Aggies posted a 65-62 victory on Jan. 19 in College Station.
*The No. 2 Sooners came from behind for a 77-71 win last year in Norman.
*OU has a 14-1 record in games played in Norman. A&M's lone win in Norman came in 2007 (56-49).
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Game Notes
*Saturday's game at Oklahoma is Mark Turgeon's 100th as A&M's head coach. Turgeon is 70-29 in his third year, tying the school record for wins over three seasons. Billy Gillispie was 70-26 in 2004-07.
*A&M has won two straight and is coming off a 76-61 win against Oklahoma State at home on Wednesday. Oklahoma has lost seven straight and has been idle since an 87-76 loss at No. 25 Texas on Monday.
*The Aggies are 4-5 (3-4 Big 12) in true road games while Oklahoma is 11-3 (4-3 Big 12) in home games.
*A&M's has won three of its last four road games.
*A&M is 16-5 in its last 21 Big 12 games, the second best in the league in that span (Kansas is 19-2).
*A&M's 10 Big 12 wins already ties for its second most in the league's 14-year history. The 2005-06 team finished 10-6. The 2006-07 Aggies finished second in the Big 12 with a 13-3 mark.
*A&M has won at least eight Big 12 games in six straight seasons. In the first eight years of the Big 12, A&M never won more than six league games (2002-03).
*With a win against Oklahoma, A&M's senior class would match last year's class as the winningest in school history. The current seniors have won 97 games. Last year's class, which consisted only of Josh Carter, won 98 games.
*A&M has played 10 nationally-ranked opponents, the most of any Big 12 team, and has played four teams ranked in the top 10 in this week's polls (Kansas, Kansas State, West Virginia and New Mexico). A&M played four nationally-ranked non-conference foes (that doesn't include New Mexico, which entered the rankings the next week). The Aggies' schedule-to-date is ranked as the third-toughest nationally by CBS Sports.
*The 10 nationally-ranked opponents are the most in A&M history. The old record was nine set in 1978-79.
*A&M is 4-6 against ranked teams this season with wins vs. No. 19 Clemson (69-60), No. 16 Minnesota (66-65), No. 20 Baylor (78-71) and No. 21 Texas (74-58). Seven of the Aggies' eight losses have been to teams that have been ranked in the top 25 for multiple weeks (Kansas, Texas, West Virginia, Washington, Baylor, New Mexico and Kansas State). The other loss was at Oklahoma State. A&M is 17-2 (8-1 Big 12) against unranked foes.
*The four wins against ranked opponents ties for the second most in school history with the 2006-07 team. The school record is five in 1978-79.
*In Big 12 play, A&M ranks last in the league in three-point percentage (.292) but is third in two-point percentage (.50.0). The Aggies have made 24-of-51 (.471) from three-point range the last three games and matched their Big 12 season high with 10 treys on Wednesday against Oklahoma State.
*A&M is 13-1 this season when scoring at least 70 points.
*A&M ranks second in the Big 12 in fewest average turnovers (12.3).
*A&M has averaged 30.9 points in the paint in the last nine games along with 14.2 offensive rebounds and 13.6 second-chance points.
*A&M is 18-2 this season when out-rebounding its opponents but is 3-6 when being beaten on the boards. The Aggies have out-rebounded eight of their last nine opponents, posting an average margin of +7.7 in that span.
*A&M is 19-2 this season when it has more free throw attempts than its opponent but is 2-6 when its opponent gets more attempts.
*In Big 12 play, A&M has held its opponents to an average of 9.9 points under their respective scoring averages. Only Kansas State (+7) and Oklahoma State (+1) have exceeded their averages against the Aggies. Texas scored a season low 58 points in College Station while top-ranked Kansas scored just 59 points, its fewest in Big 12 play.
*A&M leads the Big 12 in scoring defense (66.5) in conference play. The Aggies have allowed just 59.0 points in the last five games.
*A&M is 18-1 this season when its opponents score fewer than 70 points.
*A&M has rallied from double-digit deficits in three Big 12 wins. All but five conference games have been decided by seven points or fewer. A&M is 6-2 in games decided by four points or fewer.
*A&M has posted consecutive double-digit Big 12 victories for the first time since the 2007 season, when they tied for second in the Big 12 at 13-3 and went on to the Sweet Sixteen in the NCAA Tournament.
*Senior Bryan Davis ranks second in the Big 12 in offensive rebounding (3.6) in league play. He has averaged 10.8 points and 9.5 rebounds in A&M's 10 Big 12 wins. He's posted double figures in rebounding in five of the last eight games.
*Davis is the second A&M player to score 1,000 points with 500 rebounds, 100 blocks, 100 steals and 100 assists, joining Winston Crite (1983-87).
*Junior B.J. Holmes has averaged 9.9 points in A&M's nine Big 12 wins and has made 20-of-42 (.476) from three-point range in the last eight games.
*Senior Donald Sloan, an All-America candidate, ranks third in the Big 12 in scoring (18.8) in league play. He's averaged 12.1 second-half points in A&M's nine Big 12 wins.
*Perhaps the Big 12's most improved player, sophomore David Loubeau has averaged 12.8 points and 6.8 rebounds in the last 10 games. Â He's averaged 10.1 points and 5.5 rebounds in Big 12 play.
*Five of the Aggies' top nine scorers are underclassmen (three freshmen, two sophomores).
About Oklahoma
*The Sooners finished 30-6 last year and advanced to the Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament.
*Oklahoma is in its fourth season under Coach Jeff Capel.
*The Sooners are led by freshman guard Tommy Mason-Griffin, who is averaging 13.8 points per game. Senior guard Tony Crocker adds 11.8 points.
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Earlier This Season
COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP/Jan. 19, 2010) - Bryan Davis grabbed the rebound. He was immediately fouled but missed the free throws, giving Oklahoma another chance. Tommy Mason-Griffin missed a shot, and Sloan was fouled on the rebound. He made two free throws with 3 seconds remaining. The Sooners got the ball one last time, but Sloan intercepted a pass from Tiny Gallon as time expired. Mason-Griffin led Oklahoma with 21 points.
Last Year in Norman
NORMAN, Okla. (AP/Feb. 4, 2009) -- Taylor Griffin hit a tiebreaking layup with 46.4 seconds left to complete No. 2-ranked Oklahoma's rally from a late nine-point deficit in a 77-71 victory over Texas A&M. The Sooners (22-1, 8-0 Big 12) blew a 15-point lead and found themselves trailing 68-59 with 6:25 to play before rallying behind the defense of Juan Pattillo. Pattillo blocked a dunk attempt by Josh Carter and a layup by Bryan Davis had 13 points. The Sooners moved up this week to their highest ranking since heading into the 1990 NCAA tournament at No. 1. They got quite a scare from the Aggies. Carter and Nathan Walkup combined to score all of Texas A&M's points during a 13-0 run that came largely while Blake Griffin was on the bench and seemed to be struggling to catch his breath. Carter bracketed three 3-pointers around a two-handed, fastbreak dunk by Walkup before Griffin returned and missed two free throws. Walkup then added a putback off Carter's missed 3-pointer giving the Aggies their nine-point lead. Blake Griffin hit two free throws to start Oklahoma's comeback, and Elonu fouled out with 5:36 left, clutching both hands to his face after he was whistled for jumping underneath Pattillo on a rebound. The Aggies didn't have another field goal the rest of the way. "Man, we missed him," Turgeon said. "We didn't score another bucket after he went out of the game." Pattillo, who finished with four blocks, then came through on the defensive end and also curled around the right side of the lane for a layup that brought Oklahoma within 68-67. Warren tied it at 69 with two free throws with 1:52 remaining, and Carter and Sloan both missed chances to put the Aggies back ahead before Taylor Griffin's tiebreaking basket. Blake Griffin played part of the game with a sleeve on his right arm, but he took it off as A&M completed its comeback from a 15-point first-half deficit in the opening minutes of the second half. A&M took charge on the glass to claw its way back into the game. Davis had a tip-in and a two-handed putback jam in an 11-3 spurt that helped the Aggies cut a 27-12 deficit to eight by halftime. Texas A&M tied it at 42 on Carter's 3-pointer from the right wing that followed two offensive rebounds.
Roland's Value
*Senior guard Derrick Roland will miss the rest of the season after breaking his right leg on Dec. 22 against Washington. Roland was considered by many to be the top perimeter defender in the Big 12. He was the Aggies' No. 2 scorer, a team captain and perhaps the team's top leader.
*To illustrate Roland's importance to the team, because of foul trouble or injury he played fewer than 25 minutes in all three losses. His fewest minutes played came in the close losses to New Mexico (14 minutes, early foul trouble) and Washington (16 minutes, leg injury). He also got in foul trouble against West Virginia (24 minutes) and was on the bench during a key second-half run by the Mountaineers.
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Depleted Roster
*When last season ended, Coach Turgeon thought he would have four senior starters returning in 2009-10. But All-Big 12 center Chinemelu Elonu opted to remain in the NBA Draft and was chosen late in the second round by the Los Angeles Lakers. Then Roland was lost before the Christmas break to a season-ending broken leg.
*In addition, Â Turgeon expected to have the services of freshmen big men Kourtney Roberson (6-9, 230) and Ray Turner (6-8, 220) when fall practice began. However, Roberson did not qualify and Turner was not cleared by the NCAA clearinghouse to even practice until mid-December. A&M re-signed Roberson, who is attending a prep school, in November as part of the 2010 recruiting class.
*In addition, DeAndre Jordan entered the 2008 NBA Draft after his freshman season. He would have been a junior this year. Jordan was a second-round pick by the Los Angeles Clippers.