Aggies looking to conjure 2020 turnaround spirit against No. 17 Mizzou
What a difference a year doesn’t make.
The Aggies (7-4, 2-3) are counting on the twist of an old adage when they play host to No. 17 Missouri (7-2, 1-2) in a Southeastern Conference basketball clash on Saturday at noon in Reed Arena.
A year ago the Aggies also started SEC play 2-3. However, excellent defense, timely shooting and sheer tenacity enabled them to reverse course and finish strong. Part of that surge was two victories over Missouri.
Duplicating last year’s finish may start with duplicating the last game performance.
A&M used a tenacious second-half defensive performance to rally from a 33-22 halftime deficit and upset Mississippi State, 56-55, on Wednesday. The Aggies held Mississippi State to just 8 field goals and 1 from 3-point range in the second half.
That’s how they beat Missouri at Reed Arena last year. The Aggies limited Missouri to just 30.6 percent shooting and 25.9 percent from 3-point range in a 68-51 victory.
Despite A&M’s second-half showing in Starkville, coach Buzz Williams warns that the Aggies aren’t yet as proficient in his defense as a year ago.
“I don’t think we’re as good. We have done a really poor job in one of the premises of Cover-2 in regards to the contested 3 percentage,” Williams said. “Our numbers have been really, really bad. We’re not at the same point we were this time last year in that regard.”
Keeping Missouri under wraps is no easy challenge. The Tigers have exceeded 80 points four times this season. They toppled Arkansas 81-68 on Jan. 2 behind a 25-point output by 6-foot-10 forward Jeremiah Tilmon.
Also, Tigers guards Xavier Pinson, Mark Smith and Dru Smith all average in double figures.
A&M has scored 56 points or fewer in four of its five SEC games. Only forward Emanuel Miller and guard Quenton Jackson average in double figures, which magnifies the importance of the Aggies’ defensive play.
Will the second-half surge against Mississippi State will a turning point and result in the Aggies having another strong finish to conference play? Will the Aggies, perhaps recognizing a formula for victory, respond with a similar defensive performance?
Williams admitted he doesn’t know. Borrowing a line from his opponent’s state, he’s taking a “show me” approach.
“That’s the biggest question,” Williams said. “Are we going to start from the end of this (Mississippi State) game and take the next baby step? Or are we going to rewind to the beginning and have the same conversation we’ve been having over and over?
“I think so much of the results happen from what you do every day. We just haven’t had the consistency.”
They found that consistency last season. They’re looking to find it again.
