Aggie Men's Basketball hoping to end SEC slump in trip to Kentucky

The outlook couldn’t get much worse for Texas A&M.

Mired in a three-game losing streak which has ejected them from the college basketball top 25, the Aggies (11-4, 0-3) now must travel to face No. 21 Kentucky (12-3, 2-1).

And they face a Kentucky squad coming off a loss.

Kentucky hasn’t endured consecutive Southeastern Conference losses since 2014 when the Wildcats fell to Arkansas on Feb. 27 and then at South Carolina on March 1.

At least the Aggies will venture into Rupp Arena Tuesday night with a stronger roster than they’ve had at any time in their three-game skid, in which they were without three starters in each loss.

Though point guard Duane Wilson remains sidelined with a knee injury, guard D.J. Hogg returned from a three-game suspension in Saturday's 69-68 loss to LSU. Forward Robert Williams is back from an illness that forced him to sit out the LSU loss. Guard Admon Gilder is expected to be back in the lineup after missing five games with a knee injury.

“I think we’ve got a good handle on our team now from learning from the mistakes we’ve made before Christmas,” A&M coach Billy Kennedy said. “From here on out we expect to be in good shape.”

Butch Dill/USA Today Sports

Forward Robert Williams is expected back in the lineup for A&M's matchup with the Wildcats, along with guard Admon Gilder.

That doesn’t necessarily mean they’re in good enough shape to beat Kentucky.

Hogg is still trying to play his way back into playing shape.

Williams hasn’t practiced much in the last week.

Gilder doesn’t figure to play extended minutes.

Plus, Kentucky is … well, Kentucky.

The Wildcats appear more vulnerable than usual because their backcourt hasn’t been elite. However, they’re strong in the paint as always.

Kevin Knox, a 6-foot-9 freshman, averages 14 points and 5.9 rebounds to lead five Kentucky players that average in double figures. P.J. Washington, a 6-7 freshman forward from Dallas, averages 10.7 points and 5.1 rebounds. Nick Richards, a 6-11, 240-pound freshman, and 6-9 sophomore Wenyen Gabriel, provide more inside muscle to challenge A&M’s 6-10 center Tyler Davis and Williams.

“They’re still very talented, big and athletic,” Kennedy said. “Post defense and physical play is something we’re going to have to do well. It’s something that’s been a strength of our’s earlier in the year, hopefully will continue to be that way.”

The Aggies, though, should be more concerned with their own three-point shooting.

A&M has covered just 20 of 95 three-point attempts (21 percent) in the last five games. Five of those occurred in the second half against Florida after the Aggies had fallen behind by 16 points.

Kennedy acknowledged that his young guards who’ve had to play more without Hogg, Wilson and Gilder on the floor, often rushed three-point attempts rather than try to execute the offense. The Aggies cannot afford to do that against Kentucky.

“You see Rupp Arena filled with 23,000, and you see an environment and that you have to be disciplined offensively,” Kennedy said. “Our young guards have got to be more efficient. (They) can't just come out and take quick shots or turn the ball over or it’s going to be ugly.

Hogg will help with that even though he converted just 1 of 5 three-point shots against LSU. Gilder’s return figures to provide a big lift in that area, too. Not only have they hit most of A&M’s three-pointers – they’re the only Aggies to shoot better than 33 percent from behind the arc. Hogg has shot 47.9 percent, and Gilder shoots 43.6 percent.

Hogg offered a mea culpa for drawing the suspension that at least was partially responsible for derailing the Aggies’ early momentum.

“It was a big mistake on my part,” he said. “I have to bounce back and pick up where I left off.”

If he does, there is still opportunity for the Aggies to regain the momentum and close strong.

Kennedy pointed out No. 17 Arizona lost three straight earlier in this season and then posted nine wins in a row. Florida lost three straight and then won six of its next seven.

“The fact that we’ve lost them doesn’t mean we can’t get where we want to get at the end of the year,” Kennedy said.

They hope the u-turn starts in Lexington.