Aggies understand the 'value' of historic top-10 clash with Alabama
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Maybe spectacular Texas A&M comebacks will become a trend in Southeastern Conference basketball play.
The No. 10 Aggies (13-2, 2-0) next aim for a spectacular comeback to Reed Arena when they face No. 5 Alabama (13-2, 2-0) at 7 p.m. CT on Saturday.
Perhaps shockingly, the game will be the first top-10 men’s basketball matchup ever played in College Station.
That fact caught Aggies coach Buzz Williams by surprise.
“I feel honored,” Williams said when informed of the rare matchup. “I feel very special. That’s special.”
A&M junior forward Solomon Washington agreed.
“It’s special,” he said. “We know the value of the game. We know what type of matchup it’s going to be. We have a little history with Alabama.
“But (we’re) not trying to put too much spotlight on just one game. Just approach it how we’ve approached every other game so far.”
Perhaps it is just like any other game, but it’s not just any other opponent.
Alabama is the highest-scoring team in the country. The Crimson Tide averages 90.9 points.
All-SEC guard Mark Sears leads the way with an 18.5 average. Forward Grant Nelson averages 12.6. Guard Labaron Philon averages 12.3.
The Crimson Tide averages 31.6 shots per game from 3-point range, which is the sixth-highest total in the nation. On average, Alabama makes 10.1 treys.
When A&M faced Alabama last season in Tuscaloosa, the Tide hit 18-of-41 attempts from behind the arc in a 100-75 win.
That’s cause for concern, especially after Oklahoma converted 14 treys on Wednesday night.
“We watched all 24 (3-point attempts) to try to learn from what happened in Norman, but also to prepare for tomorrow,” Williams said. “I anticipate Alabama, who statistically shoots more 3s than Oklahoma, will probably shoot more 3s than Wednesday night.”
That especially will be true should the Tide get multiple chances on possessions. Alabama is ranked 15th in the nation in offensive rebounding. So, when the Tide misses, it often gets another attempt.
That will put greater importance on A&M rebounding. The Aggies already lead the nation in offensive rebounding but must be productive on the defensive end, too.
“I’m a little partial to the category of rebounding,” Williams said. “I actually think that’s what will determine winning and losing.”
Strong offensive rebounding and identical records aren’t the only similarities between the Aggies and Tide.
Both teams are on long winning streaks. A&M has posted nine consecutive victories. Alabama has won seven straight.
Also, they’ve played five common opponents. They both beat Oklahoma, Creighton and Rutgers. They both lost to Oregon. The difference is A&M defeated Purdue 70-66, while Alabama fell to the Boilermakers 87-78.
Another big difference is Alabama’s star All-SEC guard, Sears, is available.
A&M is likely without All-SEC guard Wade Taylor IV, who was sidelined in the victory over Oklahoma with an undisclosed injury.
Taylor is A&M’s leading scorer with a 15.7 average. But Zhuric Phelps stepped up vs. OU with a career-high 34 points, including a game-winning 3-pointer.
However, Phelps, who averages 14.8 points, doesn’t feel a responsibility to carry the team without Taylor.
He has a point. Pharrel Payne, Hayden Hefner, Jace Carter and Washington had strong offensive showings vs. Oklahoma, too.
“I feel like with this team we have, it could be anybody’s night,” Phelps said. "It just happened to be my night on Wednesday night against OU. It could’ve been anybody’s night. It could be anybody’s night tomorrow.”