Aggies have chance to gain momentum before SEC Tournament as they play Bulldogs

A challenging Southeastern Conference basketball grind finally comes to an end for Texas A&M on Saturday.

But not without another significant challenge for the Aggies.

Not only are the Aggies (13-16, 6-11) limping to the finish line with a depleted lineup, but they’re on the road for a 1 p.m. clash with a wounded Mississippi State (21-9, 9-8), which still has an outside shot at earning a double bye in next week’s SEC postseason tournament.

The Bulldogs have lost their last two games, but are tied for fifth in the SEC standings — one game behind South Carolina. The top four teams in the standings qualify for a double-bye.

The Aggies don’t have to worry about that. They’re just trying to regain some momentum going into the tournament.

“It’s very important that we play well and give ourselves a chance to win the game,” A&M coach Billy Kennedy said on Friday. “If we can win and then go into the tournament with some momentum, obviously it helps.”

It would also help if the Aggies can have the services of sophomore guard Jay Jay Chandler who is slowed by a shoulder injury sustained in a 71-54 loss to South Carolina last Tuesday. The Aggies are already without guard T.J. Starks, who is sidelined for the remainder of the season due to a dislocated shoulder.

“We need Jay Jay. We need everybody,” Kennedy said. “Jay Jay didn’t practice live contact today. We hope to have him play (Saturday). We believe he’ll be able to play. He was able to shoot some today, so that was a positive.”

Lia Musgrave, TexAgs

Having Jay Jay Chandler back would give the Aggies some much-needed guard depth. 

“We’re leaning on if Jay Jay can go, starting him. We’ll know for game time. If he can play we’re going to play him.”

The Aggies need all the help they can get. Over the last six games Savion Flagg has averaged 17.3 points and Wendell Mitchell has averaged 16.7 points, but they need some assistance. No one else has been consistently productive of late.

Meanwhile, Mississippi State averages 76.8 points largely behind the play of senior guard Quinndary Weatherspoon, who is ranked second in the SEC with an 18.4 scoring average. Weatherspoon has averaged 14 points in four career games against A&M.

“Mississippi State is is one of the more experienced, talented teams in our league,” Kennedy said. “On the perimeter Quinndary Weatherspoon has proven to be one of the better guards in this league the last three years. He’s having a great year and everything starts with him.”