In season No. 31, Gary Blair anticipating one of his best teams

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Gary Blair, Texas A&M’s 70-year-old women’s basketball coach, isn’t interested in a 31-and-done, so he sure won’t accept another one-and-done.

Fortunately, he likely won’t have to worry about either.

Blair’s 31st season as a college basketball head coach won’t be his last because he says his 31st team could be one of his best. It projects to be much improved over last season’s team, which was eliminated in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

“Why retire if you’re good at what you doing? I think I still have a lot to give back to the game,” said Blair, whose career as a high school coach, college assistant and head coach spans 44 years. “I’m going to keep going as long as I can keep doing the job at the highest level. I’m not in this for wins. I’m in this for rings and championships and being a difference in a kid’s life. I’m a young 70. I’m going to keep going.”

Those closest to Blair — like Mississippi State coach and former A&M assistant Vic Schaefer — would not expect anything less.

“Coach has so much energy and he’s so passionate,” Schaefer said. “He’s done so much for our game. He’s a multi-Hall of Famer. That guy — I keep calling him the Energizer Bunny — is going to do it as long as his health holds up, and he’s in great health. He’s enjoying it.

“He thrives in the spotlight when the game is on the line.”

Blair is convinced the Aggies are in line to win championships. Though South Carolina and Tennessee are considered favorites to win the Southeastern Conference race, Blair told reporters at Media Day that the Aggies aren’t conceding anything.

In fact, he’s still after a national championship to match the 2011 national title. The seniors on this year’s team were recruited during that championship season.

“This team still has a lot to give, but they’re tired of hearing about 2011,” Blair said. “They want to hear about 2015-16. To do this you have to have your kids take ownership of the traditions, the program and everything that A&M has been for them. They believe in themselves. I believe in them. I think we can still produce at the highest level.

“Why not us? We’re not going to try to finish third, fourth, fifth or sixth in our league. We’re going in trying to find a way to win a championship.”

Blair’s Aggies found a way to win a championship in 2011 even though Baylor was the team most projected to win.

That A&M team had great senior leaders and an experienced, proven starting lineup.

So does this year’s team, which figures to be Blair’s best since the championship year.

Four starters return from last year’s team that finished 23-10, but was upset by Arkansas-Little Rock in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The list of starters includes senior guards Jordan Jones, who is recovered from a torn ACL that sidelined her late last season, and Courtney Walker, senior forward Courtney Williams and 6-5 sophomore center Khaalia Hillsman.

The Aggies stumbled to a 1-4 finish after losing Jones. Blair said she’s back to “90 percent” effectiveness. He needs her to be the defensive force she’s been the last two seasons when named the SEC’s top defensive player.

The Aggies also figure to get a boost from forward Jasmine Lumpkin, a transfer from Michigan State, freshmen Danni Williams — a three-point shooting threat — and Anriel Howard, a remarkable athlete who will participate in jumping events for Pat Henry’s track team.

“This team wants to define its own legacy,” Blair said. “I’ve got five outstanding seniors. We’ve been to the elite eight. We’ve been to the second round. We’ve been to the first round. We’ve been in the top 10. We won the first team championship in the SEC for Texas A&M our first year when we won the conference tournament.

“I’ve got five experienced seniors. You win with seniors. You win with a senior point guard. So, we’re going to go in and try to be the best we can be and let the chips fall.”

Blair still plans to be around to pick up those chips and restack them for many years to come.