FanPost

Aggie Basketball Update: Corpus Christi Epic Fail Edition

USA TODAY Sports

As the non-conference slate tipped off, we identified this week as our first legitimate opportunity to learn a great deal about the Texas A&M Basketball squad. Four games, in six days, against increasingly difficult opposition. Now that we have the nation's 16th most important preseason tournament in the books (take THAT, #17 Great Alaska Shootout), let's take a look at the results.

"Tournament" games

Opponents: Sam Houston St; Arkansas Pine-Bluff
Location: Reed Arena
Results: Texas A&M 79, SHSU 62; Texas A&M 88, Arkansas Pine-Bluff 55

These were technically tournament games... but a loss in either would have no effect on the Ags' semifinal opponent. Confused? Good, me too. Fortunately, the team rose to the occasion in both contests and neither was in question beyond the first media timeout of the 2nd half.

SHSU Game Notes: The Bearkats came into this one averaging an impressive 100+ points per game (albeit against questionable opposition), but the Ags did a phenomenal job shutting this group down. On the offensive side of the ball, free throw shooting (19-30) and three-point shooting (4-10) were good enough to keep an inferior opponent from hanging around. The final score was not indicative of the talent gap between the two teams, as the A&M lead had crept over 30 by the time Kennedy emptied the bench.
Game MVP: On a day defined by above-average contributions from just about everyone, Antwan Space (23 Minutes; 12 points/9 rebounds/4-6 FG) stood out.

Arkansas Pine-Bluff Game Notes: Our preview suggested that the Golden Lions would bring a healthy dose of zone defense... and boy did they oblige, running zone exclusively for all 40 minutes. A fantastic night of 3 point shooting (9-15) along with some very decisive wing play by Jordan Green put this one to bed early. Jamal Jones broke out of his shooting slump to hit 5 of 7 threes and lead the team with 18 points, and Fabyon Harris continued his shooting run with 12 points on 2-3 from beyond the arc. The big men dominated the undersized Lions with 10 blocks, but did allow 18 offensive rebounds (more on this later). It's also worth noting that the zone offense stalled at times without Caruso swinging the ball at the point, which included a quick experiment with him at the high post. I liked that concept, but the guards failed to get him the ball effectively. Defensively, the team added 9 steals to their 10 blocks and did not allow many uncontested looks. However, when they did dabble with some zone defense of their own it was summarily dismantled by APB. It needs some work before we break it out in a big game.
Game MVP: The official Aggie Basketball infographic may disagree, but my MVP this game was Jordan Green (21 Minutes; 11 points/4-6 FG/3-3 FT). Kick-started both halves with extremely aggressive wing play, supplied an infectious energy on defense, and generally played like his hair was on fire.

Actual tournament games

Semifinal Opponent: Missouri State
Location: American Bank Center (Corpus Christi)
Result: Missouri State 73, Texas A&M 67

With the top two Missouri State players out injured, this game looked like a perfect building block (i.e., a tougher opponent than the earlier two that would still ultimately succumb to our height and athleticism) for the inevitable championship game against Virginia. That is not what happened. We lost. Here's a sampling of the events that made this seem like one of "those days," where multiple wtf things start piling up and a defeat seems imminent:

  • Caruso comes up with a key steal in the second half, collides with Fabyon Harris sans defenders, and fumbles the ball out of bounds
  • Kennedy calls a timeout with 1.7 seconds left in the first half... right as Fabyon hits a half court three (we didn't score with the following possession)
  • Multiple close looks just don't go down COME ON JUST GO DOWN and "team rebounds" seem to hit 8 pairs of hands and land with Missouri State
  • A Keaton Page look-a-like named Austin Ruder hits two four point plays in one half
  • WIDE OPEN ALLEY-OOPS ARE COMPLETELY MISSED FOR NO REASON WHAT ON EARTH
  • Missouri State Game Notes: This game looked different from the Ags' prior very poor (but ultimately victorious) efforts against Prairie View A&M and Rice. In those games, the opponent simply packed it in to a zone and dared the Ags to hit from outside, which they didn't. In this game, the Bears mixed in a variety of zone and man defense, and we showed a host of new and exciting ways to be ineffective on the offensive end.

    The first half is really where A&M should have pulled away... but somehow despite holding Missouri State to 23% from the floor, creating a 22-6 "points in the paint" advantage, and generally forcing a lot of rushed/challenged shots, the lead was only 5. To use a tennis term, "unforced errors" were a problem on the offensive side of the ball.

    The second half start was very poor, with many early possessions looking awfully unconvincing. Settling for outside shots is OK on a day when you're hitting some, but we just weren't hitting any. At all. In general there was just an awful energy level coming out the break, and that falls on the head coach. Jordan Green finally did hit an (admittedly bad/forced) 3 to get things moving, but a series of poor defensive plays by Smith (who continually turned his head and lost shooters and/or backdoor cutters) kept Missouri State around. Good thing I didn't call that guy our premier perimeter defender. Fabyon Harris carried the team for a short stretch and continued to look good when the offense dictated his involvement... but his level of restraint (5 points on 2-4 FG in 28 minutes) has officially become problematic. Much like Caruso, this team could benefit from him becoming more selfish at times.

    Coming down the stretch we started to see a series of almost comical mishaps, which can be found in the bullet points above. Those events, combined with more lost defensive assignments and some ridiculous heat-check level shooting from Ruder pushed Missouri State and their bench to the "holy crap we can actually win this" emotional state that makes March Madness great, and they were able to ride that energy level for the rest of the game. It's worth noting that the Aggies' offensive execution down the stretch finally came around and was pretty dang impressive, but the Bears had an answer for every A&M bucket and hit every damn free throw they needed to close it out. All in all, the deserving team won.
    Game MVP: There's really only one answer here - Missouri State SG Austin Ruder (32 minutes; 19 points/5-9 3PT). Two four point plays, range that extended to southwest Austin, and absolutely huge buckets whenever they needed it.

    Consolation Final Opponent: SMU
    Location: American Bank Center (Corpus Christi)
    Result: SMU 55, Texas A&M 52

    SMU Game Notes: Message delivered, message received. Coach Kennedy shook up the starting lineup after the loss to Missouri State, starting true freshman Davonte Fitzgerald over ineffective swing man Shawn Smith. Fitz played very well in the new role (19 minutes; 12 points / 4 rebounds), hitting two threes in the first half and carrying the Aggie offense for early stretches. A&M also committed to getting the ball down low early, and that patience led to a series of good possessions and a 30-26 halftime advantage. I do have to note that SMU started rather poorly, and you could fault the Ags for not opening a larger lead by the break.

    The second half continued a disturbing theme... one where Texas A&M comes out of the break very lethargic and allows the opponent to build early momentum. Saturday's version included awful offensive possessions, careless turnovers, and a lack of focus on defense. Again, that is on the coaching staff. A few minutes into the second half Roberson picked up his third foul, so we got to see Dylan Johns get some meaningful minutes for the first time this season. SMU immediately attacked him on the pick and roll... and he held up. His minutes weren't entirely eventful, but I'm quickly learning that any time you can get replacement level play from our backup bigs, you take it and run. Speaking of backups, J-Mychal Reese might have wrestled the point guard job from Alex Caruso (21 minutes; 5 points / 0 assists / 3 TO). He outplayed Caruso for long stretches, and brought the ball up on pretty much every key possession down the stretch. That's not to say that Caruso won't play in crunch time (his vision/defense is too important), but we'll likely see him on the wing.

    Down the stretch, I began to notice the lack of team identity. With no discernible "plan" in big moments, the key late possessions went to whoever effectively felt they had a good look. When executed with discretion, this can work. When Antwan Space (29 minutes; 6 points / 3-11 FG / 3 TO) decides to take a contested 20 footer with 11 seconds left in the shot clock, it does not work. Kennedy earned some stripes for me by benching Space and inserting Davonte for the rest of the game. It was a move made too late, but perhaps the starters have finally been put on notice. The critical possession summed up the weekend for our Aggies, as Reese (who played very well) had a runner just rim out with a few seconds remaining. SMU hit their free throws, and that was that.
    Game MVP: SMU guard Nic Moore (34 minutes; 16 points / 4-6 3PT) made the big plays when they mattered most.

    Overall Impression

    Well, we said this was an opportunity to learn about our basketball team... and I fear that's exactly what happened. The squad looks formidable on days when the outside shot is falling, but those days are coming too far and few in between. On top of that, the game against SMU completely opened the door for crunch time minutes. On a weekend with two losses like this, virtually nobody's role on the team appears safe (which is a good thing). We need to see real strides in the next month, or this team will not be invited to a postseason tournament of any kind.

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