Post-game commentary
Nothing like absolutely laying an egg in the last scheduled meeting against your arch rival. Hideous performance, falling to a Texas team on the NCAA Tournament bubble by 15 points, 79-64.
Prior to this year, A&M had beaten Texas 11 straight times. But this team let itself get swept by the team from Austin, and a very average team at that.
We're talking about the defending national champions here and a group that starts three seniors that have been through it all over the last four years. That's what makes following this group nearly as head-scratching and frustrating as the men's team.
Not quite, but almost.
Logan and I are going to Kansas City to cover both the men and women. When it comes to the women's side of things, I could see them get to the championship game and make a run at the league title, but I could also see them lose to any team that they play. You just don't know what type of team will show up, but if it's anything similar to what we saw today, they may not win a game in K.C. and could find themselves ousted at home in the NCAAs.
But the bottom line is that this IS the defending champion Aggies. Here's hoping they dig deep and find what got them there in 2011.
Post-game quotes
Head Coach Gary Blair
Opening Statement…
"Texas played with a sense of urgency today. If they would have lost the game they would have been out of the NCAA Tournament. It’s simple. As well as they played against A&M the last two ball games, they could win the conference tournament. It all starts with guard play and their guards were just a lot better than ours today. (Yvonne Anderson) That was the biggest key in the ball game. (Chassidy) Fussell is going to get hers. We tried to play Tyra White, have a taller player on her, to extend, but she’s just got a great shot, she plays with no fear. When they have two of three cooking at all times and then Fontennette threw in that last dagger near the end of the game, you just pat them on the back, give them credit and say see you Thursday night when we have to play them again.
"The last two years, we’ve beaten Texas 3-0, 3-0 and most of them were not close. This one was not close here. Texas was good. They hurt us with guard play, they hurt us with the pick and roll, they hurt us on the boards, they hurt us with energy, and we hurt ourselves by our seniors who have never lost in this arena, not being able to express themselves to the younger players who do not understand what the rivalry is between us and Texas.
"Right now we’re going to go back to the drawing board. We’re not ready for the Big 12 Tournament because right now we’re not good enough. I’ve used this adage all year that everybody was giving us their best shot, but what are we supposed to do. We’re not paying like defending national champions. We’re too inconsistent.
On this being his last time coaching in the Frank Erwin Center...
"This will probably be the last time I sit in this arena unless it happens in the NCAA Tournament. You hate to close the chapter in such a great arena. This place has been very special to my growth as a coach."
On not bringing any players to the press conference...
"I always bring the players in and I always answer every question, but today I don’t think they deserved to be in here and I don’t deserve to be in here."
Post-game notes
* For the 13th time this season, Texas A&M used the starting lineup of Adrienne Pratcher, Sydney Carter, Tyra White, Adaora Elonu and Kelsey Bone…The Aggies are 9-4 with this starting lineup.
* The Aggies are 6-5 on national TV this season.
* A&M moves to 23-60 in the all-times series with Texas. The Aggies have won 11 of the last 13 meetings between the two storied rivals.
* Texas A&M was swept by the Longhorns for the first time since the 2004-05 season.
* White has now started in 87 straight games, a streak that started on Jan. 4, 2010 against Lamar.
* White has scored in double figures in in all but four games this season. Bone scored in double figures for the 21st time this season, Elonu scored for the 19th, and Carter for the 16th.
* The Aggies are 9-2 this season when four or more players score double figures.
[This message has been edited by gabe_bock (edited 3/4/2012 5:04p).]
Nothing like absolutely laying an egg in the last scheduled meeting against your arch rival. Hideous performance, falling to a Texas team on the NCAA Tournament bubble by 15 points, 79-64.
Prior to this year, A&M had beaten Texas 11 straight times. But this team let itself get swept by the team from Austin, and a very average team at that.
We're talking about the defending national champions here and a group that starts three seniors that have been through it all over the last four years. That's what makes following this group nearly as head-scratching and frustrating as the men's team.
Not quite, but almost.
Logan and I are going to Kansas City to cover both the men and women. When it comes to the women's side of things, I could see them get to the championship game and make a run at the league title, but I could also see them lose to any team that they play. You just don't know what type of team will show up, but if it's anything similar to what we saw today, they may not win a game in K.C. and could find themselves ousted at home in the NCAAs.
But the bottom line is that this IS the defending champion Aggies. Here's hoping they dig deep and find what got them there in 2011.
Post-game quotes
Head Coach Gary Blair
Opening Statement…
"Texas played with a sense of urgency today. If they would have lost the game they would have been out of the NCAA Tournament. It’s simple. As well as they played against A&M the last two ball games, they could win the conference tournament. It all starts with guard play and their guards were just a lot better than ours today. (Yvonne Anderson) That was the biggest key in the ball game. (Chassidy) Fussell is going to get hers. We tried to play Tyra White, have a taller player on her, to extend, but she’s just got a great shot, she plays with no fear. When they have two of three cooking at all times and then Fontennette threw in that last dagger near the end of the game, you just pat them on the back, give them credit and say see you Thursday night when we have to play them again.
"The last two years, we’ve beaten Texas 3-0, 3-0 and most of them were not close. This one was not close here. Texas was good. They hurt us with guard play, they hurt us with the pick and roll, they hurt us on the boards, they hurt us with energy, and we hurt ourselves by our seniors who have never lost in this arena, not being able to express themselves to the younger players who do not understand what the rivalry is between us and Texas.
"Right now we’re going to go back to the drawing board. We’re not ready for the Big 12 Tournament because right now we’re not good enough. I’ve used this adage all year that everybody was giving us their best shot, but what are we supposed to do. We’re not paying like defending national champions. We’re too inconsistent.
On this being his last time coaching in the Frank Erwin Center...
"This will probably be the last time I sit in this arena unless it happens in the NCAA Tournament. You hate to close the chapter in such a great arena. This place has been very special to my growth as a coach."
On not bringing any players to the press conference...
"I always bring the players in and I always answer every question, but today I don’t think they deserved to be in here and I don’t deserve to be in here."
Post-game notes
* For the 13th time this season, Texas A&M used the starting lineup of Adrienne Pratcher, Sydney Carter, Tyra White, Adaora Elonu and Kelsey Bone…The Aggies are 9-4 with this starting lineup.
* The Aggies are 6-5 on national TV this season.
* A&M moves to 23-60 in the all-times series with Texas. The Aggies have won 11 of the last 13 meetings between the two storied rivals.
* Texas A&M was swept by the Longhorns for the first time since the 2004-05 season.
* White has now started in 87 straight games, a streak that started on Jan. 4, 2010 against Lamar.
* White has scored in double figures in in all but four games this season. Bone scored in double figures for the 21st time this season, Elonu scored for the 19th, and Carter for the 16th.
* The Aggies are 9-2 this season when four or more players score double figures.
[This message has been edited by gabe_bock (edited 3/4/2012 5:04p).]
