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Coach Mark Turgeon's first A&M team was one of the most inconsistent in the country over the second half of the season. The Aggies started the season 15-1, then endured a three-game losing streak and a five-game winning streak before finishing the regular season with five losses in their final seven games.

Turgeon has been brutally honest with his team's failings, often calling out specific players. He's also been brutal about himself at the same time. The Aggies squandered a 20-point lead against Arizona on Dec. 2, eventually losing by 11 points.
A&M has struggled offensively with no players ranked in the top 20 in scoring in the Big 12. Josh Carter (12.5 ppg) is the leading scorer and top perimeter threat. Expectations were big for senior F-C Joseph Jones, but he has responded with the lowest scoring (10.6 ppg) and rebounding totals (5.2 rpg) of his career. And heralded freshman C DeAndre Jordan struggled most of the season before becoming a presence inside with 10 rebounds in two of his final four regular-season games.

A&M's guards are sometimes prone to shaky decisions against teams that forcefully defend them, leading to scoring droughts that have been especially prevalent late in the season. They do rank second in the conference in field-goal percentage (46.7 percent) and third in defensive field-goal percentage (39.1 percent). But the Aggies are last in the Big 12 in free-throw shooting (63.5 percent), steals (4.68 per game) and turnover margin (minus 1.26 per game).

-- Tim Griffin

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http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/clubhouse?teamId=245

What's wrong with that?

That seems pretty much right on target to me

Didn't say anything was wrong with it. Just posting it.

As much as I hate to admit...that analysis is spot on!!! We are the most up-and-down team I've ever seen (or at least rooted for)!!!

nail meet head

That analysis doesn't preclude us from beating anyone on a given night. But here's hoping Superman shows up instead of Clark Kent.

Fo sho.

Clark Kent was upset by random bar guy!

I disagree that that is "right on."

From reading that, you'd think A&M finished near the bottom of the conference.

Before we get started down that path again, I'm not saying I think our team played up to its potential. But, we're a better club than what that article would make the average b-ball fan think.

Contrast their take on A&M with this one on BYU:

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Casual fans might recognize the names of Lee Cummard and Trent Plaisted, two high-efficiency offensive options for the Cougars, but the real story of this year's Mountain West champs is how they defend.
BYU ranks in the top 10 in the country in defending shots from both inside and outside the arc, and it also is a top five team in keeping opponents off the offensive glass. That combination gives the Cougars plenty of wiggle room on the offensive end. Besides the rugged 6-foot-11 Plaisted (15.9 ppg, 8.1 rpg) and 6-foot-6 guard Cummard (15.8 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 3.4 apg), you have to watch out for guard Jonathan Tavernari (13.3 ppg, 5.3 rpg). The best indicator of this team's ceiling was in a Vegas tournament in November when the Cougars beat Louisville and gave North Carolina everything it wanted for the better part of 38 minutes. BYU has had a sneakily quiet season, but 14-2 in the MWC is nothing to sneeze at. This would not be the best of draws for your team in Round 1.

-- Andy Glockner

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Anything different?

For a more relative comparison, check out their take on Baylor (from the same guy):

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One of the "feel good" stories in college basketball this season was the emergence of Baylor, which claimed its first NCAA appearance since 1988. The Bears notched only their fourth 20-win season in the 102-season history of the program, making a remarkable recovery from the mess that coach Scott Drew inherited five years ago.

The Bears' biggest strength is their collection of five talented guards, who account for more than 57.5 points per game. Any of them are liable to emerge as a primary offensive threat as Baylor leads the Big 12 in free-throw percentage (74.4) and 3-pointers made (8.6 per game).

The best is All-Big 12 G Curtis Jerrells (team-leading totals of 14.8 ppg and 3.6 apg), who usually emerges as the team's primary offensive option. G Henry Dugat and G Tweety Carter also are prime producers. But the keys for Baylor to advance might be big games from reserve G LaceDarius Dunn (13.3 ppg) and G Aaron Bruce, a three-year starter who was benched late in the season but provides heady leadership.
F Kevin Rogers (12.5 ppg, 8.5 rpg) is their main interior threat, although Baylor can be vulnerable against opponents who slow the tempo and pound the ball inside.

The Bears have had a breakthrough season, posting their first winning conference record since the Big 12 was formed. They have a nice perimeter-based team, but it might be asking too much to advance deep in the NCAA tournament because of a lack of strength inside.

-- Tim Griffin

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BYU has had a sneakily quiet season

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That also seems spot on. I went and looked at their schedule. A win against Louisville and some respectable losses against very good teams in there.

After reading that... I would think that we are one of the worst teams in the country. Everything he said is accurate, but come on, we do some things well.

How about mentioning how many contributors we have and how we share the load? What about having the biggest team in the country and depth across the board? One of the best defenders in the country in Kirk, with Roland right behind him?

Am I really going to be the first to say that was ridiculous? Way to only focus on the negatives Griffin. We do plenty of things well. I think our defense is pretty darn good and we have depth. So sorry to disappoint the nation, but we don't have one star player. That seems to be what everyone just loves to see. Well, I like how everyone on our team contributes. Sure I miss Acie, but I like that all our guys can step up.

That analysis by Griffin was way too harsh. I loved reading the BYU and Baylor analyses, which were polar opposites of A&M's. If we're so horrible, then why are we seeded higher than the Baylor team Griffin praised?

we were at one time ranked in the top ten, and fall to the point that we wouldn't have made the NCAA tourney if we'd lost against isu in big XII tourney. that's why they focus on the negative.

How do you get that from the article?

One of the worst teams in the country? Give me a break. He didn't mention our big wins, but I don't know that he did in very many of those recaps.

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That also seems spot on. I went and looked at their schedule. A win against Louisville and some respectable losses against very good teams in there.

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Smoke and mirrors.

Look at where those games were played and what players played.

Louisville without their #1 scorer.

UNC without their star guard.

All tough games basically at home.

Smoke and mirrors.

we gave kansas a run for their money basically on their home court...i think that deserves respect

they are who we thought they were!!!!

Everything in there is correct but after reading Baylor's recap/analysis I would have to say the tone of ours IS negative. Baylor didn't exactly finish out the season strong and I am pretty sure they lost 5 conference games in a row at one point (at least 4 in a row after the 5OT game at Reed.)

But, who really cares. Only thing that matters is how our team plays at 6:25 on Thursday.

Honestly it has to do with preseason and early season hype. Everyone thinks we under-achieved, whereas teams like BYU and Baylor were better than expected. That's the reason for the slant, and I think there is some justification to that.

So hayden, have you changed your mind on A&M not having the capability to win a game in the tournament?

Yeah, I'm not sure he should brag on BYU's national statistical rankings against a 2nd-tier conference schedule.

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we gave kansas a run for their money basically on their home court...i think that deserves respect

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and they kicked our ass, the week before on our home court. hence, the label as inconsistent.

the mentality that everyone hates a&m, and is out to get us is getting old.

we are a middle of the road team, that no one expects to do anything in the tourney. we are in the same boat as a ton of other schools. anyone who has watched us all year is not going to take us as a serious contender to make a run, and nor should they. the odds of us putting together several really good games in a row are very, very slim.

texags, just like nay school's board, is way too sensitive about their own team. we are not a top 20 team this year. everyone needs to quit being so sensitive and try to see us objectively.

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A&M's guards are sometimes prone to shaky decisions against teams that forcefully defend them, leading to scoring droughts that have been especially prevalent late in the season.

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The key sentence in there I believe. But I think it can be extended past our guards to our whole team. I can't count how many times while watching our team on the offensive end I have asked myself, "WTF are they seeing or thinking?"

To those of you comparing the Baylor article to ours. We underachieved. Bears overachieved. It's that simple.

For example, if the Bears have a better season than us or even Texas than football, their season will be praised; ours will be bashed.

Not sure why some of you can't understand that.

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To those of you comparing the Baylor article to ours. We underachieved. Bears overachieved. It's that simple.

For example, if the Bears have a better season than us or even Texas than football, their season will be praised; ours will be bashed.

Not sure why some of you can't understand that.

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While I agree that we underachieved, from a pure talent perspective, Baylor underachieved as well. Baylor has the talent (and the experience) to be higher than a 11th seed.

Ole Tim Griffin at it again

The line about the guards is accurate, and the biggest reason we have struggled on offense this year. We had NO POINT GUARD returning on this year's team. Turge basically has had to try to manufacture one.

Acie played virtually every minute of every game last year. Even in the rare times that the Ags brought the ball down with Kirk or Sloan at the point, Acie was still in the game.

This year has been like starting a football season with a QB that has never taken a snap and doesn't throw well. Sloan may eventually become a decent, mature PG, but he is not that yet. When teams play in your face defense, the Aggie guards cannot take them off the dribble very often like Acie could, they cannot get free for a shot, and Carter, obviously cannot shoot when guarded.

Gig'em<BR>Outrigger<BR>

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But the Aggies are last in the Big 12 in free-throw shooting (63.5 percent), steals (4.68 per game) and turnover margin (minus 1.26 per game).

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This is the formula for an one game exit.

If we can continue to play like we did against KU we can beat anyone in the country......we have played very good on neutral courts this year.

I have no problem with what is written. I think we will be fine in our game against BYU and make it to the second round. I am not very confident as how well we will do against UCLA.

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If we can continue to play like we did against KU we can almost beat anyone in the country

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fify

[This message has been edited by jphelmet (edited 3/17/2008 10:35a).]

JP. Funny.