Aggies hoping win over Florida can vault them into the NCAA Tournament
As Texas A&M prepares for a second basketball clash with Florida, coach Buzz Williams said the Aggies are now in a different place.
The Aggies are playing in a different venue. They’re also playing with a different point of view.
A&M (20-11) faces Florida (19-12) at 11 a.m. on Thursday in the second round of the Southeastern Conference basketball tournament at Amalie Arena in Tampa, FL.
Three weeks ago, the Aggies defeated the Gators 56-55 at Reed Arena to end a long, frustrating losing streak. Williams said the Aggies have a different mindset now than they had then.
“We had lost eight games in a row going into that game,” Williams said. “So I think we’re in a different place, but I also think (Florida is) very good.”
The Aggies have been very good since defeating Florida. That win began a U-turn in A&M’s season. The Aggies have won five of their last six games, finished 9-9 in SEC play, earned the eight-seed in the SEC Tournament and are back in the discussion to get in the NCAA field.
They’re playing with more confidence since changing their approach and relying more heavily on Quenton Jackson and Tyrece Radford.
“We feel like we’re in a good groove going into this game,” said Radford, who has scored in double figures in each of the last five games. “We’re honestly a better team now because we learned from the losing streak and just staying together through it all.
“It was a huge confidence boost for the team to pull off that close game (over Florida). We’re not looking back at the game we had before. It’s now a neutral setting. We’re just going to go out there with the same confidence to pull out the win.”
The Aggies could benefit to some extent by looking back at that earlier win over the Gators.
Although Jackson scored 16 points, the Aggies squandered a big lead. They had to rally late and clinch the victory on three Wade Taylor IV free throws in the final minute.
They won despite hitting just 2-of-18 3-pointers and allowing Florida 20 offensive rebounds.
The Aggies have converted at least five treys in every game since. They’ve also done a much better job on the defensive boards. A&M has allowed 40 offensive rebounds in the past five games combined.
They must contain Florida’s 6-foot-11 forward Colin Castleton, who averages 16.4 points and 9.1 rebounds. He scored 15 points and had 15 boards against the Aggies.
Much of that responsibility may fall on 6-foot-8 Henry Coleman. He had just four points and five rebounds in the first game against Florida.
Coleman admits he cannot on his own contain Castleton.
“We have to take up space,” Coleman said. “We have to rebound the ball. That starts way before the shot goes up. Being in the right position to rebound. Being in areas to make them take more difficult shots so they’re not easily getting to the paint to rebound.
“It’s going to take one or two guys really keying on him and getting him out of the way so we can be successful and get those rebounds.”
Radford agreed.
“With him being that tall, that big, it’s probably impossible to keep him away from the basket,” Redford said. “What we can do is try to get as many bodies on him as possible to stop him from getting as many rebounds and second-chance points.”
The SEC Tournament — and A&M’s recent surge — provides a second chance for the Aggies to get into the NCAA Tournament field.
A victory over Florida might be enough for the Aggies to eke in. A&M likely would clinch a place in the field with a victory over Florida followed by an upset of top-seed Auburn on Friday.
But Kentucky Hall of Fame coach John Calipari feels the Aggies and the other four teams that finished 9-9 in SEC play should be included because of the league’s overall strength.
He recently tweeted: “Any team in the SEC that’s 9-9 should be in the NCAA Tournament. The top four teams in our league went 35-1 at home. Crazy! We are the best league and our teams deserve that respect!!”
The NCAA selection committee probably does not agree.
Williams wouldn’t say whether he agreed or not.
“I think when you’re in the Hall of Fame, you can tweet and say and do whatever you want to do,” Williams said. “I’ve taken a social media fast, but one of our guys on staff mentioned it to me. I was like, ‘That’s great.’ I think Cal can do whatever Cal wants to do because he’s Cal.
“His name starts with a C. Mine starts with a B, so I’m going to be quiet.”
