A&M looking for improved guard play, three-point shooting against UF
The three-point shots aren’t falling, so Texas A&M is.
The Aggies fell from fifth to 11th in the college basketball polls.
They figure to keep falling unless they begin hitting three-pointers — or stop taking them — when they face Florida in a Southeastern Conference basketball clash tonight at Reed Arena.
Texas A&M (11-2, 0-1) has converted just seven of 51 (13 percent) in the last three games from beyond the arc. The Aggies hit just a pair of three-pointers in a 79-57 SEC-opening loss to Alabama, yet kept shooting them. They missed 19.
A big reason for that is the absence of guards D.J. Hogg, who is suspended, and Admon Gilder, who is injured. Further, guard Duane Wilson injured a knee in the loss to Alabama and is doubtful to play against Florida.
That leaves A&M without three starters who are A&M’s top three three-point shooters. Freshmen J.J. Caldwell, Jay Jay Chandler and Savion Flagg may all be in the starting lineup.
Yet, somehow coach Billy Kennedy found a silver lining in the dark clouds that seem to be hovering overhead.
“I’d rather go through some adversity at this time of the year beginning before the season really starts in conference play,” Kennedy said. “We’re going through some adversity with some injuries and some issues that we’ve got to get dealt with. It’s better to go through it earlier in the year knowing we’re going to get some of those guys back. That’s the good thing.”
That’s one of the few positive signs for the Aggies, who seem to struggle to consistently get the basketball inside to 6-foot-10 Tyler Davis.
Part of that is because inexperienced freshmen who have been thrust into the lineup have been prone to taking poor shots. Also, opponents recognize the spot A&M is in and rotate their defense to neutralize Davis and Robert Williams inside.
“We’re in a tough situation,” Kennedy said. “They (A&M guards) know we want to get Tyler the ball. But the other team knows it, too. They’re not guarding some of our perimeter guys. They’re making it hard for us to get it inside.
“You’ve got to crush them on the glass. We may have to go big and play Tonny (Trocha-Morelos) some at the three. We did that last year. It’s not an ideal situation, but it’s rare you have a guy suspended and you have two guys possibly out for the game. You’re looking at three starters (out) and you’re making adjustments on the fly. That’s just how it is.”
To complicate matters, Florida’s strength is its backcourt.
Senior guard Chris Chiozza averages 13.2 and 5.5 assists, while junior KeVaughn Allen averages 12.2 points. Transfers Jalen Hudson and Egor Koulechov, both averaging more than 14 points, provide more perimeter scoring.
“Chiozza and KeVaughn Allen is probably as good a backcourt as there is in the country,” Kennedy said. “Hopefully, we can neutralize some of that with the advantage we have in the post.
“We have to do a better job being patient and more disciplined offensively. May not take the first quick shot, explore every option to get it inside. We want to shoot better threes and we want to take every opportunity to get Tyler, Rob (Williams) and Tonny the ball inside.”
The Aggies may get a break in that Florida’s 6-foot-11 senior center John Egbunu is out with an injury. That will help, but Williams knows A&M must fix itself to keep from falling further.
“I feel like everyone just has to step up,” Williams said. “Me, Tyler, all the freshmen just have to step up. It’s a big role to fill. We’re missing some key guys. But I think we can do it.”
