Texas A&M looks to take another step forward vs. LSU on Saturday

Will the real Texas A&M Aggies please step forward?

Actually, the Aggies took a major step forward last Wednesday by opening Southeastern Conference basketball play with an impressive road victory over Florida.

A&M (9-5, 1-0) aims to continue moving forward on Saturday when facing LSU (12-2, 1-1) at 5 p.m. at Reed Arena.

But will the Aggies more resemble the team that struggled through most of December or the one that put on a suffocating defensive performance to subdue Florida, 66-63?

Obviously, coach Buzz Williams wants to see a similar effort to that in Gainesville, in which the Aggies forced Florida to commit 20 turnovers.

“I thought it was for sure the hardest we’ve played,” Williams said. “I thought it was the longest we had played hard. I thought it was the first time in the season that the connectedness of everybody playing hard was present. In truth, that’s what gave us a chance.”

The Aggies figure to need another defensive gem to have a chance to end a 10-game losing streak to LSU that dates back to 2017.

Matt Sachs, TexAgs

A&M’s last win over LSU in College Station was a 92-62 victory on Jan. 11, 2017. The Aggies have lost their last five meetings with the Tigers inside Reed Arena.

A&M frustrated Florida by neutralizing 6-foot-11 forward Colin Castleton. The Aggies hope to similarly contain LSU’s 6-foot-10 KJ Williams, who averages 18.8 points.

But KJ Williams, a transfer from Murray State, presents different — and perhaps bigger — problems than Castleton did.

“I think the difference in (KJ Williams) than (Castleton) is that (KJ Williams) is second on their team in 3-pointers attempted and made,” Buzz Williams said. “We can’t guard (KJ Williams) the way we guarded (Castleton). The ball screen coverage and a lot of different things… It is based on where is (KJ Williams), but it’s different because they have a different skill.”

A&M hopes to get another stellar effort from 6-foot-9 junior Julius Marble II. The transfer from Michigan State did an admirable job in frustrating Castleton. He also scored a season-high 17 points.

“That particular night from start to finish, I thought, he was the best player on the floor,” Buzz Williams said of Marble. “I hope that begins the next chapter for him because it changed our team.”

Marble is playing with a sore shooting wrist, which was injured against Florida, but at least he’s playing. Sophomore guard Manny Obaseki suffered a broken hand and is expected to miss the next four to six weeks. Also, forward Henry Coleman III and guard Andre Gordon were slowed by twisted ankles.

Whoever is on the court for the Aggies will be expected to aggressively attack the rim for layups and to draw fouls.

The Aggies lead the nation in converted free throws and rank second in free throws attempted.

Senior guard Tyrece Radford and sophomore guard Wade Taylor IV are both shooting better than 80 percent from the free throw line.