Ready to Rise

Nashville is sort of like the Hollywood of the South.

Dreams come true there. 

But some bottom out in Music City, with their lofty aspirations crashing to the earth.

Believe it or not, Texas A&M basketball has experienced both downtown on Broadway. 

At the 2016 SEC Tournament inside Bridgestone Arena, A&M arrived with the conference's regular season title already in hand. As the top seed, they advanced to the championship round. Despite falling in an epic overtime title match versus Kentucky, the Aggies learned later that evening they'd received a 3-seed in the NCAA Tourney--then two-stepped to the Sweet Sixteen.

"It was a great experience, a great time with my team," forward DJ Hogg reflects on his freshman campaign. "I loved it."

"I remember sitting in that room with the guys," recalls Tyler Davis, "waiting to hear what number we would be called out as, and thinking all of our hard work had paid off."
 
At the same site, one year later, A&M returned to earth.

This time, a lethargic 25-point loss to Vanderbilt in the quarterfinals served as the end to a 16-15 campaign. No postseason tournament was on the horizon. The Aggies were singing a down-and-out tune.

"Totally different," laments junior-to-be Tyler Davis. "Last year was a disappointment."
 

Davis, along with Admon Gilder and DJ Hogg, enters his third season at Texas A&M. The trio of rising juniors have no interest in watching the dance unfold.

They're looking to get back onto the floor, and take another spin.

They know if the Aggies are to return to NCAAs, they'll have to lead.

And that means through the summer, during offseason workouts. 

The trek to the tourney doesn't begin in November. It's long been underway. 

The Aggies' efforts with strength and conditioning coach Darby Rich are a major part of the push.

"Darby talks about doing more," states Gilder.  "We're going to have to do a little more every day.  We don't want to be in that predicament ever again."

The juniors will have plenty of help. A solid incoming recruiting class combined with the emergence of JJ Caldwell at point guard will be of great assistance. A big boost to the '17-18 season came a few months ago when Robert Williams, a likely NBA lottery pick after his freshman year, decided to return to A&M. The sophomore is set to be a headliner, but knows the juniors will be out in front of the Aggies' success.

"Everyone on the team follows them. Everyone on this team follows in either Tyler's, Admon's or DJ's footsteps," Williams states -- and restates. "Our team's distance is determined by them. Whatever they put on the table, we'll follow behind them."

For Williams, this is particularly true when it comes to Davis. Williams has a massive wingspan, one of the reasons pro scouts drool over him.

But he often admits he's under Davis' wing while on campus.

"Tyler's been a big presence in my life," says Williams. "Not even to sugarcoat it--I was lazy when I first got here. Tyler just pulled me into the gym with him. He's helped me pick up my work ethic. In basketball, and life, he's helped me so much."

"Every day we work out together," says Davis of his relationship with Williams. "We're challenging each other, we're pushing each other. All of that is going to transition onto the court later in the year. He's so phenomenal. He has a good grasp on things right now. I'm just here to be a better leader for him."
 
In the backcourt, Gilder will be of great assistance to Caldwell's first year of action.

"Admon is helping me off the court and on," says Caldwell. "Defense, in the weight room, how to work hard...he's been the biggest help to me since I got here. He's one of the hardest workers on this team, if not the hardest."

Caldwell sat out last year, and his long wait to hit the court is soon over. Several, including teammates, anticipate his debut.

"Everyone in Aggieland is ready to see him put the jersey on," agrees Gilder. "He has to be able to prepare himself, and be ready for it."
 
The rising juniors can play. They've proven that.

Their new challenge is to lead.

"They've been on a Sweet 16 team, and on one that had injuries and struggled," says head coach Billy Kennedy. "They know what it takes, and now need to be more assertive on the intangibles."

"We're juniors now," says Hogg. "We know what we need to do. Admon, Tyler (and I) need to step up."
 
This season, it's their team.

"They need to communicate, and challenge each other," Kennedy continues. "They'll be more accountable on and off the court."

With the experience of Davis, Gilder and Hogg, the return of Williams, and a talented influx of newcomers arriving, high expectations will be placed on this team.

That's fine with the Aggies.

"We should have heavy expectations," declares Kennedy. "We have experience, talent and depth. We expect great things."

They won't shy away from aiming high. They have a full understanding, however, of what it takes to reach lofty goals.

The Aggies may have a destination in mind, but haven't lost sight of the journey.

"Day to day," says Davis. "We have a bunch of workhorses. We're going to keep a national championship as our main goal, but its one day at a time. It's all about the process."

In 2018, the SEC Tournament takes a one-year hiatus from Nashville, heading to St. Louis. The stage and stakes stay the same.

The Aggies want to get the rhythm of two seasons ago back.

"I think we have a really good chance of experiencing what we did as freshmen," says Gilder.

The Aggies will either be jazzed about another appearance in the NCAA Tournament, and an opportunity to reach those lofty goals. Or, they'll sing the blues if the season doesn't come to fruition as planned.

To hit the right notes, the juniors will have to be a finely-synced trio. And that means leading with vocals, too.

The rest will follow their beat.

"If they have great years, we have a great year," states Kennedy.

For now, they're looking for a little more out of each rehearsal leading up to taking the 2017-18 stage.