Billy Kennedy
Jalen Jones
Alex Caruso
Texas A&M Basketball
Storylines, standings adding weight to Texas A&M-LSU showdwn
If March is a time for Madness then January is a time for jockeying.
No doubt, Texas A&M has used this month’s basketball schedule to position itself in the top 10 of the national rankings and take the lead in the Southeastern Conference race.
The 10th-ranked Aggies (15-2, 5-0 SEC) have an opportunity to get some separation from the field Tuesday night at Reed Arena when they face surging LSU (11-6, 4-1), which is second in the SEC standings.
“To get where we want to get and to accomplish what we want to accomplish – to win championships – we have to win our home games,” A&M coach Billy Kennedy said.
Even though two-thirds of the SEC schedule remains, this projects as one of A&M’s biggest games in several years.
The combination of an A&M victory and a South Carolina loss at Ole Miss would give the Aggies at least a two-game lead over the rest of the field in the SEC race.
“We’re just looking at it as another game. We can’t get caught up into running away with the SEC,” senior forward Jalen Jones said. “It’s a big game because it’s the next game and we have to prepare ourselves as well as possible to come out with a victory.”
Some of Jones’ teammates view the clash as more than just another game.
“I think they’re the only team at 4-1 right now and us at 5-0, so this is a big game in the standings,” senior guard Alex Caruso said. “Also, just them being LSU and one of the teams we place twice a year, so it’s good to get the first one. When you play a team twice a year you want to get the first win and not have a bunch of pressure going at their place to try to win the next one.
“But we’re trying to put ourselves in as good position to win the league and distancing ourselves as much as possible. Three road wins did that and another home win against a top-half SEC team would be good as well.”
Matt Sachs, TexAgs
Jalen Jones, the Aggies' leading scorer, will also draw the initial duty of defending Ben Simmons in the pivotal matchup.
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The Aggies, who this week broke into the top 10 in both polls for the first time since 2008, are aiming to continue the momentum from a dominant 79-45 blowout of Georgia on Saturday.
Jones, Caruso and Danuel House all scored 12 points in that game.
Jones (17.2) and House (15.9) along with freshman center Tyler Davis (10.8) points are all averaging in double figures. Caruso is averaging 7.9 points, but also leads the team with 5.1 assists per game.
Just as important, the Aggies are second in the SEC in scoring defense allowing only 64.8 points per game.
They likely will need a strong defensive showing against LSU, which is the second in the SEC in scoring with an 82.8 average.
The Tigers have won four of their last five games, including an 85-67 victory over Kentucky and a 90-81 triumph over Ole Miss.
Freshman Ben Simmons, a 6-10 forward, averages 20 points and 12.9 rebounds. He’s widely considered the best player in college basketball and likely the first pick in the next NBA Draft.
“I look at it as he’s another player,” Jones said. “He’s obviously a very talented freshman and has a lot of hype. It’s going to take a group effort. I’ll be matched up on him and we’ll do a couple of things to try to throw him off. We just have to try to guard him tough and make it as difficult as possible on him.”
Simmons does have plenty of help, too.
Craig Victor, a 6-9 transfer from Arizona, has provided the Tigers an extra measure of inside strength since becoming eligible nine games ago. He averages 13.6 points.
Also, senior Keith Hornsby (14.2 points) and Tim Quarterman (10.9) are perimeter scoring threats.
“You don’t stop Ben Simmons,” Kennedy said. “You hope you can control him some. You better worry about the other players, too, because it’s not a one-man team.”
Neither are the Aggies, but they might be without 6-10 sophomore forward Tonny Trocha-Morelos, who was arrested Sunday night on a DWI charge.
Trochia-Morelos averages 7.6 points and has hit 15 three-pointers this season. Kennedy indicated whether Trochia-Morelos will play could be a game time decision.
“It’s something that’s being evaluated right now. When we get all the facts we’ll make a decision at the right time,” he said.
No doubt, Texas A&M has used this month’s basketball schedule to position itself in the top 10 of the national rankings and take the lead in the Southeastern Conference race.
The 10th-ranked Aggies (15-2, 5-0 SEC) have an opportunity to get some separation from the field Tuesday night at Reed Arena when they face surging LSU (11-6, 4-1), which is second in the SEC standings.
“To get where we want to get and to accomplish what we want to accomplish – to win championships – we have to win our home games,” A&M coach Billy Kennedy said.
Even though two-thirds of the SEC schedule remains, this projects as one of A&M’s biggest games in several years.
The combination of an A&M victory and a South Carolina loss at Ole Miss would give the Aggies at least a two-game lead over the rest of the field in the SEC race.
“We’re just looking at it as another game. We can’t get caught up into running away with the SEC,” senior forward Jalen Jones said. “It’s a big game because it’s the next game and we have to prepare ourselves as well as possible to come out with a victory.”
Some of Jones’ teammates view the clash as more than just another game.
“I think they’re the only team at 4-1 right now and us at 5-0, so this is a big game in the standings,” senior guard Alex Caruso said. “Also, just them being LSU and one of the teams we place twice a year, so it’s good to get the first one. When you play a team twice a year you want to get the first win and not have a bunch of pressure going at their place to try to win the next one.
“But we’re trying to put ourselves in as good position to win the league and distancing ourselves as much as possible. Three road wins did that and another home win against a top-half SEC team would be good as well.”
Matt Sachs, TexAgs
Jalen Jones, the Aggies' leading scorer, will also draw the initial duty of defending Ben Simmons in the pivotal matchup.
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Jones, Caruso and Danuel House all scored 12 points in that game.
Jones (17.2) and House (15.9) along with freshman center Tyler Davis (10.8) points are all averaging in double figures. Caruso is averaging 7.9 points, but also leads the team with 5.1 assists per game.
Just as important, the Aggies are second in the SEC in scoring defense allowing only 64.8 points per game.
They likely will need a strong defensive showing against LSU, which is the second in the SEC in scoring with an 82.8 average.
The Tigers have won four of their last five games, including an 85-67 victory over Kentucky and a 90-81 triumph over Ole Miss.
Freshman Ben Simmons, a 6-10 forward, averages 20 points and 12.9 rebounds. He’s widely considered the best player in college basketball and likely the first pick in the next NBA Draft.
“I look at it as he’s another player,” Jones said. “He’s obviously a very talented freshman and has a lot of hype. It’s going to take a group effort. I’ll be matched up on him and we’ll do a couple of things to try to throw him off. We just have to try to guard him tough and make it as difficult as possible on him.”
Simmons does have plenty of help, too.
Craig Victor, a 6-9 transfer from Arizona, has provided the Tigers an extra measure of inside strength since becoming eligible nine games ago. He averages 13.6 points.
Also, senior Keith Hornsby (14.2 points) and Tim Quarterman (10.9) are perimeter scoring threats.
“You don’t stop Ben Simmons,” Kennedy said. “You hope you can control him some. You better worry about the other players, too, because it’s not a one-man team.”
Neither are the Aggies, but they might be without 6-10 sophomore forward Tonny Trocha-Morelos, who was arrested Sunday night on a DWI charge.
Trochia-Morelos averages 7.6 points and has hit 15 three-pointers this season. Kennedy indicated whether Trochia-Morelos will play could be a game time decision.
“It’s something that’s being evaluated right now. When we get all the facts we’ll make a decision at the right time,” he said.
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