Around Aggieland (1/7)
During Friday's edition of TexAgs Radio, the fishbowl's own Richard Zane joined to share updates from the latest in Aggie Athletics as a busy weekend is on tap in College Station with basketball season in full swing and much, much more.
Track & Field
On Wednesday, it was announced that legendary head coach Pat Henry will be inducted into the Texas Track & Field Coaches Association Hall of Fame as a member of the 2022 class.
- The induction will be held Friday, Jan. 7, at the Great Wolf Lodge in Grapevine.
- During his time in Aggieland, Henry has won nine NCAA team national championships, and 62 Aggies have won NCAA event championships.
- Joining the TTFCA Hall of Fame is Henry’s fifth Hall of Fame induction.
The Bowerman has released its preseason watch list, and Texas A&M is represented on both the men’s and women’s sides.
- Sophomore middle-distance runner Brandon Miller makes his first appearance on the Bowerman watch list after winning the 800m at both the SEC indoor and outdoor championships and finishing as the national runner-up at the NCAA outdoor championships.
- Three-time NCAA national champion Tyra Gittens has been named to the Bowerman watch list after finishing 2021 as a finalist for the award. The multi-event superstar won NCAA championships in the pentathlon, indoor high jump and heptathlon last season.
Men’s Basketball (12-2, 1-0 in SEC)
Texas A&M opened SEC play on Tuesday night with a thrilling victory over Georgia in Athens as Marcus Williams’ game-winning three defeated the Bulldogs, 81-79.
- Henry Coleman III scored a game-high 23 points, shooting 8-11 from the field.
- Williams contributed 18 points and was 4-7 from behind the arc.
- Texas A&M led by as many as 17 points in the second half, but Georgia fought back to take a 79-78 lead with 5.5 seconds left before Williams’ heroic shot.
The Aggies return to Reed Arena on Saturday for a matinee affair with the Arkansas Razorbacks.
- Tipoff is scheduled for 12 p.m. CT, and the game will be televised on the SEC Network.
Women’s Basketball (10-4, 0-2 in SEC)
Thursday night was a rough one for Gary Blair & Co. as No. 25 Texas A&M fell to No. 7 Tennessee in Knoxville, 73-45.
- Postgame, Blair called the loss “an embarrassment.”
- Destiny Pitts (12), Kayla Wells (11) and Qadashah Hoppie (10) each scored in double-digits.
- Tennessee’s Jordan Horston scored a game-high 18 points.
- The Aggies scored just 17 points in the second half and scored only three points in the fourth quarter.
The Aggies look to right the ship on Sunday afternoon when they host Florida at Reed Arena.
- Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. CT and will be streamed on the SEC Network+.
Football
On Wednesday, Jimbo Fisher hired Ole Miss’ D.J. Durkin to be the next defensive coordinator at Texas A&M.
- Prior to spending the last two seasons as the DC at Ole Miss, Durkin had previously been the DC at Florida (2013-14), Michigan (2015) and the head coach at Maryland (2016-18).
- Durkin replaces Mike Elko who became the head coach at Duke last month.
Wide receiver Ainias Smith has announced that he will return to Texas A&M for his senior season in 2022.
- In 2021, Smith had 47 receptions for 509 yards and six touchdowns.
- During his three-year career, Smith has scored 20 total touchdowns as a receiver (15), running back (4) and punt returner (1).
During Monday night’s College Football Playoff championship game, Texas A&M’s Jimbo Fisher will be featured on ESPN’s MegaCast.
- Fisher and the Aggie coaching staff will offer live commentary on Film Room, which will air on ESPN2 at 7 p.m. CT on Monday.
Swimming & Diving
Texas A&M’s meets with Florida State (Thursday) and Florida (Saturday) have both been canceled.
- Reasoning for the cancellations has not been announced.
The Aggies will return to the pool on Saturday, Jan. 22, when both the men’s and women’s teams travel to Baton Rouge to face LSU.
