All conference basketball games are important. Some, though, are more vital than others.
Texas A&M’s Southeastern Conference 2:30 p.m. clash with Missouri at Reed Arena on Saturday is especially crucial.
The Aggies (7-8, 1-3) desperately need a home court victory over struggling Missouri (9-6, 0-3) to avoid falling into a deeper hole that could become an abyss with a brutal two week stretch following.
Four of A&M’s next five opponents are 13-4 or better. That includes No. 3 Tennessee (15-1) and No. 18 Ole Miss (13-3).
“Every conference game is very important, but this one is super important,” sophomore guard Jay Jay Chandler said. “We’ve got to come out here and capitalize and try to get this one so we can get back above .500.”
Coach Billy Kennedy echoed those thoughts.
“There are no easy games. So when you have an opportunity to win at home, you’ve got try to win your home games,” Kennedy said. “It is a big game. I expect us to play better because I didn’t think we played as well we needed to play against Auburn. That was obvious with our performance.”
The Aggies are looking to bounce back from a tough 85-66 loss to No. 14 Auburn last Wednesday night that was even more one-sided than the 19-point deficit suggested.
The Aggies committed 15 turnovers, were out-rebounded by 17, allowed 20 second chance points and shot just 38 percent (19 of 50) from the field.
Sophomore Savion Flagg and junior Wendell Mitchell each scored 22 points in that loss, but they didn’t get much help. No one else managed more than seven points.
However, sophomore guard T.J. Starks, who managed just six points against Auburn, scored in double figures in both games against the Tigers last season. That low output against Auburn was the third time Starks has scored under double figures this season. He’s averaged 16.5 points in the following games.
“Auburn did a good job of putting two guys on him and making it hard for him to catch it,” Kennedy said. “That’s what teams are starting to do because he’s such a key piece of our team. He’s the primary ball handler. People try to take him away. He’s got to learn to handle that better. Hopefully, he’ll do that against Missouri.”
A&M matches up better against Missouri, which has lost its last three games to Tennessee, LSU and Alabama. While Auburn leads the SEC in steals, Missouri is ranked 13th. Also, Missouri is last in the conference in scoring and rebounding.
Senior guard Jordan Geist averages 13.5 points to lead the Tigers, while guard Mark Smith averages 11.9 points and 6-foot-10 sophomore forward Jeremiah Tilmon averages 9.7 points and 5.9 boards.
“I expect them to come in here with some desperation,” Kennedy said about Missouri. “We need to have the same type of attitude.”
