Texas A&M Aggies
SEC (20-12, 9-9)
Before the calendar hit 2018, it looked like Texas A&M was living up to their high expectations. But once SEC play began, things started to fall apart for the Aggies and they ended up with an 9-9 conference record, their third straight year without a winning record in SEC action.
Big Wins: 11/10 vs West Virginia (88-65), 2/7 at Auburn (81-80), 2/10 Kentucky (85-74)
Bad Losses: 12/30 at Alabama (57-59), 1/6 LSU (68-69), 2/20 Mississippi State (81-93)
Coach: Billy Kennedy
Why They Can Surprise:
The Aggies frontcourt has done a very good job picking up the slack as injuries have hampered the play on the perimeter. Tyler Davis, Robert Williams, DJ Hogg and Tonny Trocha-Morelos have turned this into one of the best teams in the country in rebounding and shot blocking. Williams is the best of the bunch in those categories, averaging 9.0 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game. Davis adds 8.8 rebounds and 1.3 blocks and is the team’s top scorer. Davis and Williams are two of the most efficient scorers in the country. Hogg is a more versatile scoring threat and can knock down some three-pointers and finish around the basket. Trocha-Morelos will see plenty of playing time off the bench. He is most known for his defensive abilities, but the 6-10 senior can hit some three-pointers and adds another dynamic to an already impressive frontcourt.
Why They Can Disappoint:
JJ Caldwell was dismissed from the team in February after a much anticipated and relatively disappointing partial freshman campaign. In 17 games he averaged 3.0 points and 2.5 assists. Shortly thereafter Duane Wilson was lost for the year with a knee injury. The graduate transfer from Marquette was averaging 9.0 points and 4.0 assists in College Station before his collegiate career ended in disappointment. Admon Gilder and TJ Starks are the main cogs that remain in the backcourt. Gilder is a great all-around player and will do plenty of scoring. Starks is just a freshman and is still developing his game. At times fellow freshmen Jay Jay Chandler and Savion Flagg will have to play extended minutes due to the lack of other options. The Aggies have the usual problems that plague backcourts that have unexpectedly lost much of their depth. Turnovers are an issue, the three-point shooting is non-existent at times and the team can forget that they must wait for the big men and feed them as often as possible.
Probable Starters:
TJ Starks, Freshman, Guard, 9.6 ppg, 2.0 apg
Admon Gilder, Junior, Guard, 12.2 ppg, 2.6 apg, 4.2 rpg
DJ Hogg, Junior, Forward, 11.3 ppg, 2.6 apg, 5.2 rpg
Robert Williams, Sophomore, Forward, 10.3 ppg, 9.0 rpg, 2.6 bpg
Tyler Davis, Junior, Center, 14.5 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 1.3 bpg
Key Role Players:
Tonny Trocha-Morelos, Senior, Center, 6.9 ppg, 4.5 rpg. 1.0 bpg
Jay Jay Chandler, Freshman, Guard, 3.7 ppg
Savion Flagg, Freshman, Guard, 4.3 ppg, 3.6 rpg
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 75.2 (139th in nation, 7th in conference)
Scoring Defense: 69.8 (109, 8)
Field-Goal Percentage: 45.9 (115, 5)
Field-Goal Defense: 40.1 (13, 2)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 6.6 (272, 11)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 32.9 (289, 10)
Free-Throw Percentage: 66.5 (319, 14)
Rebound Margin: 5.8 (26, 1)
Assists Per Game: 15.8 (51, 2)
Turnovers Per Game: 13.5 (222, 10)
Recent Postseason Appearances:
2016 NCAA Round of 64 win over Green Bay
2016 NCAA Round of 32 win over Northern Iowa
2016 NCAA Regional Semifinal loss o Oklahoma
2016 CIT First Round loss to Louisiana-Lafayette
2015 NIT First Round win over Montana
2015 NIT Second Round loss to Louisiana Tech
2014 CBI First Round win over Wyoming
2014 CBI Quarterfinal loss to Illinois State
2011 NCAA Round of 64 loss to Florida State
2010 NCAA Round of 64 win over Utah State
2010 NCAA Round of 32 loss to Purdue
2009 NCAA Round of 64 win over BYU
2009 NCAA Round of 32 loss to Connecticut
2008 NCAA Round of 64 win over BYU
2008 NCAA Round of 32 loss to UCLA
2007 NCAA Round of 64 win over Pennsylvania
2007 NCAA Round of 32 win over Louisville
2007 NCAA Regional Semifinal loss to Memphis
*all team stats through 3/4
