Texas A&M heads to Fort Worth for first clash with TCU since 1996

As they leave Reed Arena for the first time this basketball season, the Aggies can find comfort in their discomfort.

That might seem like a contradiction, but Texas A&M senior guard Jay Jay Chandler explains that feelings of discomfort will better serve the Aggies (3-0) when they face TCU (4-2) at 1 p.m. at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth.

Chandler said this time a year ago that the Aggies had gotten too comfortable when they first went on the road. The result was three disastrous losses in the Orlando Invitational.

“Whenever we went to Florida, we were really comfortable,” Chandler recalled. “Whenever we left Florida, we had a really bad taste in our mouths going off our performance.

“Everyone is going into the game differently. Everyone’s mindset is different. Everyone is a little bit more focused. Everybody is a little bit more uncomfortable, so we can continue playing well. I feel we play better when we’re uncomfortable.”

In that case, the Aggies must have been ill at ease in defeating New Orleans, Tarleton State and Texas Rio Grande Valley at Reed Arena.

However, TCU represents a step up in caliber of competition. Further, coach Buzz Williams warned the Horned Frogs can shoot opponents out of their comfort zone … or any zone, for that matter.

“Over 40 percent of their shots have been from three thus far through six games,” Williams said. “They have four guys shooting over 40 percent from three. They’re very potent offensively.

“We’ll have to do an incredible job — better than we’ve done in the first three games — of getting back in transition. I think that’s where they are lethal.”

Guards R.J. Nembhard and Mike Miles spur that attack. They’ve accounted for 16 of TCU’s 45 goals from 3-point range.

Lia Musgrave, TexAgs

Miller has been outstanding in the two games he has played this season.

The Frogs can also do damage in the paint with 6-foot-11 junior center Kevin Samuel. He averages 9.3 points, 10.8 rebounds and 2.5 blocked shots.

Of course, the Aggies can pose problems inside, too.

Emanuel Miller, a 6-7 sophomore, has scored 44 points in two games. He leads the Aggies in scoring, rebounding and is shooting 88 percent from the free-throw line. Half of his points have come at the foul line. Several more have come on put-backs from some of his eight offensive rebounds.

Williams is duly impressed. Still, he hesitates to say Miller will replace Quenton Jackson, Savion Flagg or Andre Gordon as the Aggies primary scoring threat.  

In three games, Jackson is averaging 14.7 points, Flagg 12.3 and Gordon 12.0.

“I wouldn’t necessarily say he’s a prolific scorer, but he has the opportunity to be a very efficient scorer for us because of the way he can score,” Williams said. “We need him to keep taking those sorts of steps. Not just offensively. He’s so important for what we’re trying to do on both ends of the floor.

“His presence has to be on the glass on both ends. We need him to be our leading offensive rebounder and leading defensive rebounder.”