Complete effort vs. Wofford necessary for A&M to overcome problematic data

When Texas A&M coach Buzz Williams pores over the data from recent basketball games, the problems are obvious.

The Aggies miss too many layups. They allow opponents to shoot at too high a percentage. They often struggle in the first half.

The problems are easily found on the stat sheet. The solution is not.

There is no statistical category to measure intensity and tenacity.

The Aggies were intense and tenacious in the second half of an 83-79 loss at Memphis on Saturday night.

Williams hopes he can get that effort for the entire game when the Aggies (6-4) face Wofford (7-5) at 1 p.m. at Reed Arena on Tuesday.

“I’m encouraged that we’re doing a lot of good things, and we also have identified the things we have to improve at,” Williams said. “I would say first on the list is we need to play really, really hard as priority 1-A for 200 minutes, and I think some of the numbers would handle themselves.”

Perhaps the most problematic numbers from the loss to Memphis was A&M converting just 12-of-28 (43 percent) layups.

“We got to the rim 51 percent of the time on the road against a Sweet Sixteen, Elite Eight-type team,” Williams said. “We shot 28 balls at the rim, and we made 43 percent of them.

“We’re getting there. We just have to find ways to finish.”

No doubt the Aggies need to finish better. They need to start better, too.

They struggled in the first half and trailed 45-39 at halftime. The Aggies were much better in the second half and briefly took the lead with just over three minutes remaining.

Sophomore guard Wade Taylor IV scored 25 points, and junior forward Julius Marble II had 16 in that loss.

“I thought the connectedness and the fight and the grit — all of the words coaches use — I thought it was distinctly different in the second half than the first half,” Williams said. “We did a lot of good things, but a lot of those good things were in the second half.”

The Aggies figure to be able to do more good things against Wofford because the Terriers aren’t as fast and athletic as Memphis.

But that doesn’t imply facing Wofford equates to an easy victory.

Wofford is led by 6-foot-8 senior forward B.J. Mack, who averages 16.3 points. Also, freshman guard Jackson Paveletzke averages 15.3 points.

A&M will be Wofford’s third Southeastern Conference opponent. The Terriers battled SEC teams LSU and Vanderbilt to the last minute before falling by three points in both games.

Williams said the Aggies must play Wofford with the same effort they showed in the second half against Memphis.

“We will be just as stressed — in a different way — vs. Wofford than we were at Memphis,” Williams said. “I think regardless of the style of play and the locale of the game, we need to have the same level of intensity regardless of who we’re playing.

“Sometimes intensity can cover up a mistake. Wofford will make you pay for mistakes.”