Aggies wrap regular season with road trip to face No. 12 Arkansas
Coach Buzz Williams is keenly aware of the difficult task that awaits Texas A&M as they close the SEC basketball regular season on Saturday in Fayetteville.
“Obviously, they’re one of the hotter teams in the country,” Williams said.
“They” are the No. 12 Arkansas Razorbacks (20-5, 12-4), who have posted seven consecutive Southeastern Conference basketball victories since falling to Oklahoma State, 81-77, in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge on Jan. 30.
Of course, in that same span, the Aggies (8-8, 2-7) have played just once — a 63-57 loss to Mississippi State last Wednesday.
Therefore, Williams has to know the cards appear stacked against the Aggies in the 3 p.m. clash at Bud Walton Arena. The game will be televised on the SEC Network.
Arkansas leads the SEC in scoring behind the play of guards Moses Moody, who averages 17 points, and JD Notae, who averages 13.
Meanwhile, A&M averages an SEC-low 63.1 despite the performance of sophomore forward Emanuel Miller, who is making a case for All-SEC recognition by averaging 15.4 points and 8.1 rebounds.
As talented as the Razorbacks are, Williams maintains the Aggies' greatest challenge is overcoming their tendency for turnovers, erratic shooting and allowing second-chance points.
A&M had a season-low four turnovers and allowed just eight offensive rebounds against Mississippi State earlier this week.
The fact remains that the Aggies typically struggle in those statistical categories. Those issues are exacerbated by the fact the Aggies aren’t in top condition because of their 32-day layoff between games.
“Every kid is kind of in a different place,” Williams said. “What is the best thing that we can do on the court offensively? Defensively? What is the best we can do for preparation for an opponent?
“The contest is really us against us. With each rep of giving our best, how can we figure out how to have maximum efficiency within that rep?”