Billy Kennedy, Tyler Davis, Admon Gilder and the rest of the Aggies met the media on Thursday prior to practice at Charlotte's Spectrum Center in advance of their first-round NCAA Tournament matchup with Providence (Friday, 11:15 a.m. CT, CBS).
Selected quotes are below. Â
"It's definitely different. We've taken advantage of playing people one-on-one. You've gotta be able to make physical plays on the defensive ends. Hopefully we won't get out guards in foul trouble. Their size on the perimeter is an advantage for their team. Our size with our post guys is an advantage with us. We've played Penn State. Probably [the] closest to Providence to when we played Penn State earlier in the year."
"This week we've watched a whole lot of film on them. I know he's a big guard. I think he's right about 6-7. I think they punch it in to him a lot, so we have to stick to our basics. We front the post from a guard standpoint and we have great bigs who will be able to help us on the help side and come over and even block a shot. I think it's a good matchup for me. Not just me, but the whole entire team. So we're looking forward to it."Â
"I just need to do my job like I have been all year. Coach Kennedy's going to get the ball in to me. I've just got to make the right play, make the basketball play, use my size to my advantage, seal inside, get easy buckets, just be a force in the paint and do my job."
On matching up with Providence guard Kyron Cartwright
"I'm ready to compete. We are here for a reason just like they are. I feel like I prepared pretty well to play against him tomorrow. I know he is a great player, and he makes great plays offensively and defensively. But I think I prepared myself well through the season to come ready to play and give him a challenge."Â
On if playing against Collin Sexton in the SEC Tournament gives him confidence to play against Providence's guards
"Yes, you can say that. I can use that last game against [Collin] Sexton and bring it to this game but I just look at each opponent different. Everybody has their own game. I feel like if I just focus well enough, I can compete at the same level I did against Sexton."Â
On what the emphasis been in practice the last few weeks
"Transition defense and rebounding. They thrive in transition so we have to make sure we get back. 1's and 2's [point guards and shooting guards] get back and everybody else crash the class. If we keep them out of transition and limit offensive rebounds, I feel like we have a good chance of winning."Â
On if he still feels like a freshman
"No, sir. I don't feel like a freshman at all. I feel way older than that. I am just ready to play."
On if Providence guard Kyron Cartwright reminds him of anyone in the SEC
"He reminds me a little bit of Lamar Peters from Mississippi State. They are both left-handed and they have a good offensive game, and they like to attack hard. I just like his [Cartwright's] game. We are both lefty, so he kind of reminds me of myself as well. I know how to play him. Hopefully we give each other a good battle."
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"Just emphasize it in all areas. It is not only big men, but guards, too. The guards play a major part in this from Admon [Gilder] all the way down to TJ [Starks]. Me and Tyler [Davis], they told us the game plan, we just have to step it up."Â
On if Providence beating Xavier and taking Villanova to overtime in the Big East Tournament opened their eyes
"They definitely opened our eyes and they are a great team with a great coaching staff. It also lets you know anyone can be beaten. That is the mindset we are coming in with. We are not coming in thinking that we had great wins at the beginning of the season and we are going to cruise through it. We are coming in thinking that we are playing against a team that deserves to be here."Â
On how to capitalize on the advantage that Texas A&M has on the inside
"Honestly, just sticking to the game plan we have been doing all year – playing through Tyler [Davis]. You can't not guard Tyler. You have to play the game around him, so playing through Tyler and flowing inside and out and making sure the guards are there and making sure they get their touches because with them collapsing on us, the guards are open. That is when you leave Admon [Gilder] and great shooters like Admon and DJ [Hogg] and TJ [Starks] to play their game."Â
On what he has to do to breakout offensively
"Just play my hardest, that is all. I feel like when I play my hardest, I am at an elite level. Just playing my hardest and making sure I give everything every play and don't hold back."
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Selected quotes are below. Â
Head Coach Billy KennedyÂ
Coach, in terms of how Providence is, they have a lot of players that can be installed into different positions on the floor. With the exception of the point guard is their some aspect of preparing for a team that has that level of versatility, that is different or more difficult than someone who plays people at traditional positions?"It's definitely different. We've taken advantage of playing people one-on-one. You've gotta be able to make physical plays on the defensive ends. Hopefully we won't get out guards in foul trouble. Their size on the perimeter is an advantage for their team. Our size with our post guys is an advantage with us. We've played Penn State. Probably [the] closest to Providence to when we played Penn State earlier in the year."
Admon GilderÂ
On guarding Providence's Alpha DialloÂ"This week we've watched a whole lot of film on them. I know he's a big guard. I think he's right about 6-7. I think they punch it in to him a lot, so we have to stick to our basics. We front the post from a guard standpoint and we have great bigs who will be able to help us on the help side and come over and even block a shot. I think it's a good matchup for me. Not just me, but the whole entire team. So we're looking forward to it."Â
Tyler Davis
On his size advantage in the postÂ"I just need to do my job like I have been all year. Coach Kennedy's going to get the ball in to me. I've just got to make the right play, make the basketball play, use my size to my advantage, seal inside, get easy buckets, just be a force in the paint and do my job."
TJ Starks
On matching up with Providence guard Kyron Cartwright"I'm ready to compete. We are here for a reason just like they are. I feel like I prepared pretty well to play against him tomorrow. I know he is a great player, and he makes great plays offensively and defensively. But I think I prepared myself well through the season to come ready to play and give him a challenge."Â
On if playing against Collin Sexton in the SEC Tournament gives him confidence to play against Providence's guards
"Yes, you can say that. I can use that last game against [Collin] Sexton and bring it to this game but I just look at each opponent different. Everybody has their own game. I feel like if I just focus well enough, I can compete at the same level I did against Sexton."Â
On what the emphasis been in practice the last few weeks
"Transition defense and rebounding. They thrive in transition so we have to make sure we get back. 1's and 2's [point guards and shooting guards] get back and everybody else crash the class. If we keep them out of transition and limit offensive rebounds, I feel like we have a good chance of winning."Â
On if he still feels like a freshman
"No, sir. I don't feel like a freshman at all. I feel way older than that. I am just ready to play."
On if Providence guard Kyron Cartwright reminds him of anyone in the SEC
"He reminds me a little bit of Lamar Peters from Mississippi State. They are both left-handed and they have a good offensive game, and they like to attack hard. I just like his [Cartwright's] game. We are both lefty, so he kind of reminds me of myself as well. I know how to play him. Hopefully we give each other a good battle."
Â
Robert Williams
On how to respond to Providence focusing on rebounding the basketball"Just emphasize it in all areas. It is not only big men, but guards, too. The guards play a major part in this from Admon [Gilder] all the way down to TJ [Starks]. Me and Tyler [Davis], they told us the game plan, we just have to step it up."Â
On if Providence beating Xavier and taking Villanova to overtime in the Big East Tournament opened their eyes
"They definitely opened our eyes and they are a great team with a great coaching staff. It also lets you know anyone can be beaten. That is the mindset we are coming in with. We are not coming in thinking that we had great wins at the beginning of the season and we are going to cruise through it. We are coming in thinking that we are playing against a team that deserves to be here."Â
On how to capitalize on the advantage that Texas A&M has on the inside
"Honestly, just sticking to the game plan we have been doing all year – playing through Tyler [Davis]. You can't not guard Tyler. You have to play the game around him, so playing through Tyler and flowing inside and out and making sure the guards are there and making sure they get their touches because with them collapsing on us, the guards are open. That is when you leave Admon [Gilder] and great shooters like Admon and DJ [Hogg] and TJ [Starks] to play their game."Â
On what he has to do to breakout offensively
"Just play my hardest, that is all. I feel like when I play my hardest, I am at an elite level. Just playing my hardest and making sure I give everything every play and don't hold back."
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