Unanswered questions linger in Aggies' future

Even when Texas A&M trailed Nebraska by 16 points in the second round of the NCAA women’s basketball tournament, the Reed Arena crowd was anxiously awaiting — perhaps even expecting — the Aggies to unleash a game-winning rally.

Freshman guard Jordan Jones almost provided it.

She hit two three-point field goals and turned a steal into a three-point play in a 90-second span to bring A&M within 64-57 with 2:44 remaining.

“Throughout the season, the team had relied on me for defense and me being a spark player,” said Jones, who was averaging a mere 2.8 points. “I just didn’t want to lose.”

However, a potential defensive rebound deflected off Kelsey Bone’s hand and the Huskers capitalized with Hailie Sample’s rally-killing layup that boosted Nebraska to a 74-63 victory.

So, in a postgame press conference the Aggies, who were looking ahead to a Sweet Sixteen appearance in Norfolk, Va., could only refocus tear-reddened eyes and look ahead to the future.

And even then the picture is blurry.

“I think you saw the second coming of our next point guard in Jordan Jones and what she’s going to mean to this team,” A&M coach Gary Blair said.

Later he added: “Look at Jordan Jones shooting those threes. I don’t think she’s made three in a row in practice this year, but that’s how good that kid is going to be for us.”

But will Jones ever be good enough to calm teammates who often seem to panic in pressure situations? Can she bring discipline to a team that sometimes becomes disorganized? Will she be able to consistently get the ball inside to Bone?

And will Bone even be there to get that entry pass?

Bone, a 6-4 junior All-American candidate who averaged 16.7 points, has talked openly about the possibility of leaving college to enter the WNBA, a curious move considering that megabucks aren’t available in that league.

In the postgame press conference Bone again acknowledged that her future is uncertain.

“I’m going to sit down with Coach Blair and my family sometime this week,” she said. “This isn’t going to be a decision that I rush. I think a decision will be announced sometime next week.”                                                                              

Whether Bone returns or not, the Aggies have some major issues to work out to become a championship-level team.

“We’re close on offense, but we hodgepodge some things,” Blair said. “Sometimes we have people running the wrong way. We’ve got to be more disciplined. We need more cohesiveness on the offensive end, and we’ve got to learn to communicate and help better on defense.”

That was painfully obvious against Nebraska. Frequently, the Aggies seemed on the verge of a rally but too often took rushed or ill-advised shots.

And when crucial stops were needed on the defensive end, a Nebraska player inevitably popped open under the basket for easy layups.

“We were shooting early in the shot clock. They were shooting late,” Blair said. “They were making good decisions. We were standing and watching. They were quicker to the ball. They wanted it more than we did.

“We’ve got to have a better basketball IQ. That’s coaching. That’s teaching. That’s my job.”

No doubt Blair knows his job. He’s led nine teams to the Sweet Sixteen. Three reached the Elite Eight. He guided the Aggies to the national championship just two years ago.

Some thought the Aggies could make another long run through the NCAA tournament this year after they defeated No. 14 South Carolina, No. 9 Tennessee and No. 7 Kentucky in succession to win the SEC postseason tournament.

“I wish we could have pulled it out, but we didn’t,” Blair said “Same time next year, same place and we will be good again.”

But how good?

Could there be another long run through the women’s NCAA tournament in A&M’s future?

Perhaps. But with seniors Kristi Bellock and Adrienne Pratcher completing their eligibility and Bone’s uncertainty, the future is just so unclear.