No. 10 Texas A&M's rising profile faces another perilous test in Norman

Click HERE to view Texas A&M’s Tuesday press conference.

No question, Texas A&M’s basketball profile is rising. But so is its degree of difficulty.

An eight-game winning streak has enabled the No. 10 Aggies to climb into the top 10 of the AP poll for the first time in nine years.

However, there is no time for celebrating because the caliber of upcoming opponents is elevating in the powerful Southeastern Conference.

After opening SEC play with a 20-point victory over Texas last Saturday, the Aggies (12-2, 1-0) next face No. 17 Oklahoma (13-1, 0-1) Wednesday at 8 p.m. CT in Norman.

OU is the first of three consecutive A&M opponents currently ranked among the nation’s top 20.

“The margins in this league are just so thin,” A&M coach Buzz Williams said on Tuesday. “From a calendar standpoint of what’s required just to have a chance, it’s hard to exhale and have a bowl of ice cream and be excited about that because you’re going to play a top-20 team on the road. And the reward is you play a top-five team (Alabama) at home (on Saturday).”

Becoming a championship contender isn’t supposed to be easy. But it’s not supposed to be this difficult. Nine SEC teams are currently ranked in the AP Top 25. Fourteen are ranked among the top 50 in the NET rankings.

Staying in the top 10 figures to be more difficult than staying there.

Getting past Oklahoma, which is coached by one-time A&M assistant Porter Moser, will be difficult. The Sooners have already posted “Quadrant 1” victories over Michigan, Arizona and Louisville.

“(They’re) really efficient with the ball behind the arc,” Williams said. “They get fouled at a high rate. Similar to Texas, they’re really good in the first six seconds, but maybe even as potent in the next six seconds of the possession.

“So, they keep you on your heels at all times because they have four guys on the floor that can pass, dribble and shoot and can make plays, with or without a ball screen.”

OU guard Jeremiah Fears and forward Jalon Moore both average 17.9 points. Guard Duke Miles averages 12.3. Guard Kobe Elvis averages 9.6.

The Sooners average 82.8 points to rank 41st in the nation in scoring. Their team shooting percentage of 48.53 is 45th in the country.

That’s impressive, but don’t expect A&M to be overly impressed.

The gritty Aggies play a suffocating brand of defense that has been the basis of their climb. A&M is 15th in the nation in scoring defense. All 14 A&M opponents have been held below their season shooting percentage.

“We don’t play pretty,” guard Jace Carter said. “But we’re ranked where we’re ranked, and our record is the way it is because of that. That’s our identity. We don’t shy away from it at all.”

Zoe Kelton, TexAgs

Zhurc Phelps has reached double figures in 10 of his 13 games played this season.

That’s not to imply the Aggies aren’t effective on the offensive end. They’ve scored 77 points or more in eight games.

All-SEC guard Wade Taylor IV continues to lead A&M with a 15.7-point average. But guard Zhuric Phelps, who averages 13.3 points, appears to be surging.

The transfer from SMU has hit double figures in each of the last five games, including a team-high 18 in the victory over Texas.

Equally important, his turnover total has begun to decline. He had just three miscues vs. Texas.

“I know he played well on Saturday. That was very important to our success,” Williams said. “I think he can play closer to how he played on Saturday more often.

“Statistically speaking, he’s played with a high turnover rate prior to Saturday and still, I think, had more turnovers than he wants. He gets fouled at a high rate but hasn’t shot it as well as I think he can.”

The steadiness of Taylor, the surge of Phelps and the strong defense gives the Aggies a good chance to keep climbing, even in the perilous SEC.