Texas A&M intent on having 'good week' in final postseason push
Encouragement sometimes can be gleaned from an unlikely source.
For Texas A&M and its hopes of participating in March Madness, said source is Arkansas.
Admittedly, that appears odd because the Aggies (16-13, 7-9) were swept by the Razorbacks this basketball season.
But one has to look deeper. Or rather, farther back.
Last year Arkansas got into the NCAA Tournament despite finishing the regular season with an 8-10 record in Southeastern Conference play.
The Razorbacks eventually advanced to the Sweet Sixteen.
A&M, which has a vital game against Mississippi State (19-10, 8-8) at Reed Arena on Wednesday at 8 p.m., hopes a similar fate awaits.
“I know we need to have a good week this week,” A&M coach Buzz Williams said on Tuesday. “I know there was an 8-and-10 team (Arkansas) that got into the Tournament last year from this league. I’m not saying that’s us. We have history that probably it’s not us.”
True, two seasons ago A&M posted four victories to close the SEC regular season slate. The Aggies followed with three victories in the SEC Tournament to reach the finals.
Yet, A&M was snubbed by the NCAA Selection Committee.
The Aggies remain in a precarious position, but they may be rejuvenated after defeating Georgia, 70-56, last Saturday to end a five-game losing streak.
But Williams acknowledged an even better showing will be required to defeat Mississippi State, which he said is the SEC’s best at the rim.
“They’re the third-best offensive rebounding team in the league,” Williams said. “They’re the third-best defensive rebounding team in the league. They are the biggest in regards to height and width of any team in the league.”
The Bulldogs are led inside by 6-foot-11 Tolu Smith III, who averages 16.9 points and 8.4 rebounds. They can also turn to the 6-foot-10 duo of KeShawn Murphy and Jimmy Bell Jr. when Smith needs a rest.
But Mississippi State’s strength isn’t limited to the paint. Freshman guard Josh Hubbard averages 16.2 points and has hit 83 times from 3-point range.
“If we play those two guys right (Smith and Hubbard) I think we’ll be fine,” A&M junior guard Manny Obaseki said. “If we can contain them and do our job with the other three, we’ll be fine.”
Obaseki’s recent emergence also provides hope. He’s averaged 11.5 points the last two games to deliver offensive help for Tyrece “Boots” Radford.
However, the Aggies need a return to form from leading scorer Wade Taylor IV, who’s been mired in a shooting slump. Taylor has converted just 11.5 percent (3-of-26) from 3-point range over the last four games. He scored a season-low four points in the win over Georgia.
Obaseki, though, maintained Taylor’s offense slump is not reason for concern.
“He’s the best guard in the country,” Obaseki said. “You know what he’s capable of and what he’s done over his three years here. Great players always go on a bad run. It’s part of the game.
“In practice he looked good. His shot was falling. He has a positive attitude. That’s who he is. I’m really confident for his performance coming up.”
The Aggies, who will be without injured forward Henry Coleman III, likely need a productive performance from Taylor to defeat Mississippi State and keep their NCAA Tournament aspirations alive.
