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Texas A&M Basketball

Re-assessing Aggie basketball's status

December 28, 2013
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It was extremely hard watching the Aggies' game in the Toyota Center against the Oklahoma Sooners. It took me back to Mark Turgeon's first year at the helm, when the Aggies played in Norman and went 18 straight minutes without scoring a field goal.

This is NOT a "blame Turgeon" writeup. So, those of you who have already blown a gasket and cussed me, you can stop right there.

Matt Sachs, TexAgs The Aggies have yet to muster the consistency on offense to put together solid games on that end of the floor. {"Module":"photo","Alignment":"right","Size":"large","Caption":"The Aggies have yet to muster the consistency on offense to put together solid games on that end of the floor.","MediaItemID":37904}
This is the third year for Billy Kennedy; this is his team, his offense, his defense and his responsibility. Kennedy and his staff have improved many different facets of this program — recruiting, talent, athleticism, classroom attendance, graduation expectations — but there is no question there are a number of things that MUST be changed.

I'm not so much worried about the horrendous shooting performance that was on display in the loss to OU as I am the inability for the Ags to execute an offense. A&M has faced a zone defense in each of its 10 games this season and has yet to master an offense to be successful.

This is the holiday season, and since there are no classes in session, Kennedy has no time limitations on practice. I would propose the team work out until the players figure out how to execute an offense correctly.

With the unlimited time constraints on practice, the Maroon & White also needs to have a plethora of rebounding drills thrown into the mix.

The Ags' offense against a man-to-man defense is good in theory, but they need to tweak a few aspects. The open-the-floor, ball screen-and-create-for-their teammates type of offense is something this group can be very successful executing. A&M has a long, athletic squad that has proven to be able to score in droves but the only problem is that the Aggies don't attack the paint using the ball screen on the perimeter.

1If the guards would try to get into the lane and draw two defenders, it would open up players like Jamal Jones and Davonte Fitzgerald behind the three point line.

Attacking the paint also makes the defense rotate and opens angles for not only the perimeter shot but for the low post as well.

Defense is not something to worry about at this point. The Ags have shown the ability to rotate to the weak side, cut off the baseline, double the post when needed and have been successful with a 3/4 court trap. Their on-ball defense can always improve, but as a whole they have done well at the defensive end of the court.

Matt Sachs, TexAgs A&M will have to run the point by committee with players who are not natural points, further complicating the issues. {"Module":"photo","Alignment":"left","Size":"large","Caption":"A&M will have to run the point by committee with players who are not natural points, further complicating the issues.","MediaItemID":38054}
At the same time, there are a few things that everyone can commend the Aggies on this year — their effort, hustle, intensity and team play. This is the first team in four years that dives on the floor for loose balls, plays as one unit and enjoys being in the gym.

As far as the J'Mychal Reese situation goes, the Bryan High standout was removed from the team due to breaking an athletic department regulation. His dismissal means the Ags are without a point guard for another season. While Reese never made a huge impact, he certainly could have produced and added a more dynamic fast-break attack when he was on the floor.

So for now, Alex Caruso and Fabyon Harris will have to continue the point guard responsibilities until Alex Robinson makes his way to Aggieland.

Finally, the most important news of all concerns Tony Trocha. The big man from Colombia has still not been accepted into A&M. Still, this is a day-to-day, evolving situation that could change as soon as you finish reading this.
Discussion from...

Re-assessing Aggie basketball's status

10,754 Views | 10 Replies | Last: 10 yr ago by Deputy Travis Junior
Logan Lee
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Re-assessing Aggie basketball's status
Expert Analysis
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Our offense is too stagnant, other than screening the ball. We rely on reversing the ball and hoping something opens up. This only helps a disciplined zone.
Off the ball movement and screening would help a lot. I am amazed by our complete lack of a developed offense. If we don't shoot we'll from 3 we aren't going to score.
BigJim49 AustinNowDallas
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2 for 20 ?
TXAG4EVR
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We will be in our seats yelling for our team.
aggie67,74&76
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agtrevino07
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1) Trocha's situation with the university is very strange. The kid has been taking ESL classes for almost two semesters. I am not sure if the academic requirements for bb players are different than fb players because it seems our fb team gets anybody regardless of academic limitations.
2) I still think our staff is not well "round-up"...in other words...we have very good recruiters (e.g. Keller and Cyp) but no X&Os or players' developers (besides Darby in regards to physical development).

-Keller: recruiter...motivator...before A&M was a video coordinator at Kansas...his previous stint at Okie St.
-Reese: high school experience only prior to A&M...no proven experience developing D1 players.
-Cole: DII experience only...not sure what is his role in this staff...I have not heard anything about connecting w/ players or recruiting efforts.
-Cyp: amazing recruiter...he has been a successful recruiter everywhere...

Maybe I am extremely ignorant but I have not read anything about these coaches in terms of developing D1 players. I think the staff is very unbalanced and inexperienced and BK needs to bring somebody with stronger X&Os and players' development skills. We have good young players but they need more coaching in order to reach their full potential. I hope BK realizes we need help in those two areas.
general ulysses
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the point about ball screens is a good one. i dont understand our offense and i dont understand why we dont run ball screens. we cannot and have not shot the ball for several years now but many of the players have shown ability to drive and score yet we do not have an offense that incorporates ball screens.
Expert Analysis
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General what are you talking about...all we set are ball screens. We just rarely utilize them to generate movement toward the hoop, I.e. dribble drive, screen and roll, slip screen, movement away from ball coupled with a ball screen, etc.
our offense is passing around the perimeter, ball screen then dribble and pass to the wing, pass it back to the top, hope the defense isn't disciplined and something opens up and if it doesn't, jack a 3 or play 1 on 1 trying to get a shot in the lane. We don't get enough easy looks in the half court and our shooting is inconsistent, going to make for some ugly games
rosstradamas70
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reassess this
just got destroyed
in our place
by n tx
I grew up in the old SWC with Shelby - and I do not believe that I have seen any Aggie teams look this incompetent for this long
this the very first time I have verbalized this - it may be time to look beyond bk

ross skillman '70
Deputy Travis Junior
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