Houston's defense provides ultimate test for 'new-and-improved' Ags
Press conference video courtesy of the NCAA
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The stakes are different. The venue is different. The Texas A&M starting lineup is different.
Mostly, the Aggies are a vastly different basketball team than on Dec. 16 when they fell to then-No. 4 Houston, 70-66, at the Toyota Center.
“I think that was Game 10,” recalled A&M star guard Wade Taylor IV. “We’ve played, maybe, 25 more games. We’ve just gotten better game in, game out. We’re a different team. A totally new team playing different basketball now.”
The modified No. 9 seed Aggies (21-14) aim for a different result on Sunday night in a rematch with the No. 1 seed Cougars (31-4) in the South Region second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Tip-off is scheduled for 7:40 p.m. CT at FedExForum.
Taylor’s opinion isn’t biased. Houston coach Kelvin Sampson agrees he’s facing a new-and-improved version of the Aggies.
Sampson noted Tyrece Radford did not play in the first game. He also pointed out Manny Obaseki has emerged as more of an offensive threat.
“I think the biggest difference in Texas A&M now vs. when we played them was — I think, evolution-wise, both teams are better,” Sampson said. “Radford, I think, was injured, if I'm not mistaken — I know he didn't play. I think he was injured, though, so he did not play. He's a major part of their game plan.
“Obaseki, same way, he played, but he wasn't featured like he is now. So that's a terrific, terrific backcourt.”
Radford is A&M’s second-leading scorer with a 16.1-point average. Obaseki has averaged 16 points over the last eight games. He did not score against Houston.
Those are the major differences for A&M. Yet, Taylor remains a constant.
“The bigger the stage, the better he seems to play,” A&M coach Buzz Williams said.
That was evident in A&M’s 98-83 first-round victory over No. 8 seed Nebraska.
Most of the pregame attention focused on Nebraska 3-point shooting threat Keisei Tominaga, who had a good outing with 21 points.
Yet, Taylor schooled the “Japanese Steph Curry” in the art of leading a victorious team with a "sensei-tional" performance.
Taylor hit 7-of-10 attempts from 3-point range en route to 25 points. He also dished out five assists.
“Wade’s the best point guard in the country,” said guard Jace Carter, who had 13 points against Nebraska. “He’s going to do what he does every night. He’s our quarterback. He’s our point guard. We roll with him.”
Taylor typically scores in bunches. He’s accumulated 126 points in the last five games.
But now he’s getting more consistent help. Four teammates scored in double figures. Obaseki had 22 against Nebraska. Radford had 20.
Indeed, the Aggies have scored at least 80 points in each of the last five games. They’ve also shot .427 percent (50 of 117) from 3-point range in that span.
“It’s just confidence,” Carter said. “Obviously, Manny Mo is playing out of his mind. It’s definitely giving us a spark. Everyone has embraced their role.
“I don’t think anybody has tried to step out of who they are or stop out of what we call predictable shots or predictable plays. We’re just playing with confidence in ourselves, a chip on our shoulder. I think it’s shown the past five or six games.”
The Aggies must be at their best on both ends of the court against Houston, which has won 12 of its last 13 games. That includes an 86-46 NCAA first-round romp over Longwood.
Guards L.J. Cryer (15.4), Jamal Shead (13.0) and Emanuel Sharp (12.3) all average in double figures. Forward J’Wan Roberts averages 9.3 points and 6.7 rebounds.
However, the Cougars’ strength is in their defense.
Houston leads the nation in scoring defense. The Cougars have held seven of their last eight opponents to 69 points or less.
Shead, an All-American, is a two-time Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year.
“He can guard anybody in the United States, no matter how old they are, no matter how much money they’re getting paid through NIL or through the National Basketball Association,” Williams said. “He is an elite defender.”
Houston’s defense is the ultimate litmus test for the resurgent A&M offense.
The Aggies can’t count on reaching 80 points again, but they’re confident they can create a different outcome in the rematch.
“We have a couple of adjustments that we made on both sides of the ball,” Taylor said. “Can’t say too much, but we’re ready.”