Photo by Matt Sachs, TexAgs
Texas A&M Basketball
Game Preview: #18 Texas A&M at Arizona State
Who: Arizona State Sun Devils
When: Saturday, Dec. 5
Where: Tempe, Ariz.
Time: 9:30 pm CST
TV: ESPN2
Saturday's matchup will be the first true road game for Billy Kennedy and the Texas A&M Aggies this season. A&M is coming off a sluggish performance in a 10-point victory against an inferior Florida Gulf Coast team, while the Sun Devils are riding a wave of emotion as they pulled out an exciting, down-to-the-wire win over the Creighton Bluejays on the road.
Bobby Hurley and Arizona State are 5-2 on the year and look to be on the verge of finding their groove. By year's end, this Sun Devil team could prove to be a formidable opponent in the NCAA tournament.
Led by Tra Holder, Gerry Blakes and Savon Goodman, ASU looks to control the tempo of the game. It isn't a team that wants to make the game a track meet, but the Sun Devils do look to score easy baskets in transition. While they had a great shooting night against Creighton, they aren't known for having excellent perimeter shooters. Most of their points are scored inside the arc, because they are good at attacking the basket off the dribble and finding an open teammate.
As a freshman, Holder came into College Station last season and controlled the entire game. His team left with a one-point loss, but Holder was able to penetrate into the lane and find his teammates and led his team in scoring. He is more of a scoring point guard, but if his team gets hot he will distribute the ball.
On the other hand, Goodman and Blakes are looking for their shots on offense. Goodman, who is very similar to Jalen Jones, is going to be physical and aggressive toward the basket. He is looking to score, which is evident by his four total assists on the season. Blakes is the team's second leading assists man behind Holder, but he would also rather put the ball in the bucket; he has taken the most shots of anyone on his team this year.
Matt Sachs, TexAgs
Anthony Collins' ability to control the perimeter and the pace of the game will be one of Saturday's determining subplots.
Anthony Collins can't allow Holder to outplay him at the point. Collins has been able to control the tempo of almost every game, which has proven to be successful this year. The Ags have to get up and down the court in a hurry and get in a rhythm early to take the Sun Devils and their 'Curtain of Distraction' out of the game.
Outside of defense and rebounding, every Aggie needs to play his role.
Danuel House needs to take good shots and be aggressive on offense. Jalen needs to attack the basket. Alex Caruso needs to figure out when to shoot and when to be a playmaker.
D.J. Hogg needs to relax and make shots (his defense will get better if he heats up on offense). Admon Gilder needs to continue doing what he does, because I think he's been really good so far. Elijah Thomas needs to mentally prepare himself to play, instead of trying to rely on just being better. He may be better than his opponent, but it takes more than that at this level.
And Tavario Miller must continue being a work-horse. He can't lose that edge just because he hasn't seen as many minutes in the past few games.
It sounds easy, but ASU is a good team and it will show up and try to make sure all of that doesn't happen.
When: Saturday, Dec. 5
Where: Tempe, Ariz.
Time: 9:30 pm CST
TV: ESPN2
Saturday's matchup will be the first true road game for Billy Kennedy and the Texas A&M Aggies this season. A&M is coming off a sluggish performance in a 10-point victory against an inferior Florida Gulf Coast team, while the Sun Devils are riding a wave of emotion as they pulled out an exciting, down-to-the-wire win over the Creighton Bluejays on the road.
Bobby Hurley and Arizona State are 5-2 on the year and look to be on the verge of finding their groove. By year's end, this Sun Devil team could prove to be a formidable opponent in the NCAA tournament.
Led by Tra Holder, Gerry Blakes and Savon Goodman, ASU looks to control the tempo of the game. It isn't a team that wants to make the game a track meet, but the Sun Devils do look to score easy baskets in transition. While they had a great shooting night against Creighton, they aren't known for having excellent perimeter shooters. Most of their points are scored inside the arc, because they are good at attacking the basket off the dribble and finding an open teammate.
As a freshman, Holder came into College Station last season and controlled the entire game. His team left with a one-point loss, but Holder was able to penetrate into the lane and find his teammates and led his team in scoring. He is more of a scoring point guard, but if his team gets hot he will distribute the ball.
On the other hand, Goodman and Blakes are looking for their shots on offense. Goodman, who is very similar to Jalen Jones, is going to be physical and aggressive toward the basket. He is looking to score, which is evident by his four total assists on the season. Blakes is the team's second leading assists man behind Holder, but he would also rather put the ball in the bucket; he has taken the most shots of anyone on his team this year.
Matt Sachs, TexAgs
Anthony Collins' ability to control the perimeter and the pace of the game will be one of Saturday's determining subplots.
Keys to the game
Texas A&M has a clear size advantage over ASU, as the Sun Devils only have two players that measure over 6-9. With the way Tyler Davis and Tonny Trocha-Morelos have been playing (along with Jalen Jones) the past two games, the Aggies could dominate the inside in Tempe.Anthony Collins can't allow Holder to outplay him at the point. Collins has been able to control the tempo of almost every game, which has proven to be successful this year. The Ags have to get up and down the court in a hurry and get in a rhythm early to take the Sun Devils and their 'Curtain of Distraction' out of the game.
Outside of defense and rebounding, every Aggie needs to play his role.
Danuel House needs to take good shots and be aggressive on offense. Jalen needs to attack the basket. Alex Caruso needs to figure out when to shoot and when to be a playmaker.
D.J. Hogg needs to relax and make shots (his defense will get better if he heats up on offense). Admon Gilder needs to continue doing what he does, because I think he's been really good so far. Elijah Thomas needs to mentally prepare himself to play, instead of trying to rely on just being better. He may be better than his opponent, but it takes more than that at this level.
And Tavario Miller must continue being a work-horse. He can't lose that edge just because he hasn't seen as many minutes in the past few games.
It sounds easy, but ASU is a good team and it will show up and try to make sure all of that doesn't happen.
Never miss the latest news from TexAgs!
Join our free email list
SPONSORED BY
