Billy Kennedy discusses fixing A&M's issues, assesses his future

Key notes from Billy Kennedy interview

• Defensively were are not competing at the highest level and offensively we're still having struggles. I've never had a team give up that many points in back-to-back games and it is very frustrating. We are still trying to figure out what the defensive problems are, if I knew what they were it would already be fixed. Effort is the one thing that we can always control and I think we need to get some more out of a couple of guys.
   
• We know we can do itm, we just have to figure out a way to get things done defensively. We've changed the intensity in practice. We are still a work in progress, but we need to get it together against Vanderbilt and win a couple of games down the stretch. 
   
• We need to play for each other better. When you lose a senior in Duane Wilson and have a couple other issues, your team gets fractured a little bit. We need to get back to bringing that fire and energy and let the chips fall where they may. I think our energy can be better.
   
• The one thing we have struggled with is playing teams like Mississippi State who have a lot to play for. When things start well, we are fine. But when we get behind early we havent been able to come back. That is something we need to continue to work on.
   
• We can't give away the kind of turnovers we did the other night. Mississippi State did some things to frustrate and confuse TJ, but hopefully we can get those issues fixed moving forward.
   
• We are going to try some different things at practice with the point guard position. Against certain teams you need a guy like TJ who can play downhill and attack. He did well in some games not turning the ball over. At the end of the day, we have to do what works. If that's Admon Gilder at the point, we will do it.
   
• Tyler Davis and Admon have been really consistent all year. We need those two to lead a little bit better and help us get more out of other guys. It all starts with Tyler, he is such a a weapon and has been good all year. That's one of the main things we lost with Duane was the fire that he brought. It's time for someone else to step-up and fill that role.
   
• Vanderbilt is going to play small ball and shoot a lot of threes. We are going to have to defend the three-point line better than we have. We also need to take advantage of the size mismatch down low. I really think the key is going to be stopping the three better than we have in the past up there.
   
• Georgia is completely different than Vandy in the fact that they will play down low, tough basketball and feed the post. At this time of the year you have to be ready to get physical and win a tough game on the road.
   
• I feel like I've been coaching for my job everyday since I have been here. The one thing that we can control is effort and attitude, and we need to get back to doing that at a high level. It’s disappointing that you can lose when you’re giving it all you’ve got and you’ve laid it out on the line, but that’s what we’ve got to get back to doing because that’s what I’m about and what this program has been about for seven years. I want A&M to be the most successful program possible, hopefully with me here. We’re going to continue to fight and do everything we can to represent the school in the right way and let the chips fall where they may.