Category: Texas A&M Aggies

Buzz Williams’ Pre-Game Press Conference ahead of Texas A&M’s road test vs. Mississippi State

Here is Head coach Buzz Williams’ Pre-Game Press Conference ahead of Texas A&M’s road game against Mississippi State on Saturday afternoon

The 25th-ranked Texas A&M Aggies (21-7, 13-2 SEC) has been and still remains one of the hottest teams in the college basketball landscape, riding a six-game win streak ahead of their Saturday afternoon road challenge vs. Mississippi State inside Humphrey Coliseum.

The Aggie’s win streak began on Feb. 4th after beating Georgia at home, and have since knocked off Auburn, LSU, Arkansas, Missouri, and 11th-ranked Tennessee on Tuesday night, earning the much-needed respect of ESPN Bracketologist Joe Lunardi, who projected Texas A&M as a six seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament.

Against the Vols, sophomore guard Wade Taylor IV scored a game-high 25 points, while forward Julius Marble added 21 points and 9 rebounds combined with a 28-34 (82%) from the free throw line that proved to be extremely beneficial in the game’s final moments. Saturday’s matchup with the Bulldogs has the potential to be another defensive slugfest in an intimidating environment, and if the Aggies plan on still contending for a regular season SEC Title, winning their next two in the Magnolia state, as a Tuesday meeting with Ole Miss also looms, is an absolute must.

On Friday, Head coach Buzz Williams spoke to the local media to discuss the upcoming game against Mississippi State, while briefly looking ahead as the SEC tournament looms. Here is what he had to say.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Cameron on Twitter: @CameronOhnysty

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Aggies projected as a six seed in newest ESPN Bracketology update

The surging Aggies are now projected as a six seed in the NCAA Tournament in the newest bracket from ESPN Bracketologist Joe Lunardi.

What a run it’s been for the 25th-ranked Texas A&M Aggies (21-7, 13-2 SEC), who have now won six in a row in their last three weeks of SEC play, finally receiving the positive feedback from a bulk of the “Bracketology” community, most notably staying on the good side of ESPN’s Joe Lunardi according to his latest Bracket update.

After defeating the 11th-ranked Tennessee Vols 68-63 inside a 12,989 fan-packed Reed Arena on Tuesday night, the Aggies notched their 13th SEC victory and are just one game behind Alabama for conference supremacy, squarely in the mix for a regular season title with three games remaining. Behind the Batman and Robin performances from Wade Taylor IV (25 points) and Julius Marble (21 points, 9 rebounds), the Aggies went an incredible 28-34 (82%) from the free throw line, including 16-17 from Taylor, and 9-13 from Marble at the stripe.

On Friday, Lunardi’s brand-new bracket was a huge boost for the Maroon and White, who shot up from their previous eight-seed projection to a six-seed, and with two more Quad 1 opportunities left on the schedule, moving up to as high as a four seed isn’t out of the question. Due to their recent success, the Aggies are also listed among Lunardi’s “Teams with tourney odd of +90 percent through games of February 23rd.”

On Saturday, Texas A&M will travel to Humphrey Coliseum to take on Mississippi State (18-10, 6-9 SEC) in what just might be their toughest road game yet this season.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Cameron on Twitter: @CameronOhnysty

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GAME PREVIEW: Texas A&M vs. Mississippi State

Here is the official game preview ahead of Texas A&M’s road test vs. Mississippi State on Saturday afternoon

Texas A&M (21-7, 13-2 SEC) is set to hit the road to face the Mississippi State Bulldogs (18-10, 6-9 SEC) on Saturday afternoon, as one of the toughest defenses in the country will look to stifle the surging Aggies in the midst of their six-game win streak. Coming off of their season-defining 68-63 home victory against Tennessee on Tuesday night, Head coach Buzz Williams’ determined squad has reached 13-2 in the SEC, and remains one game behind Alabama for the top spot in the conference.

The Aggies were led once again by sophomore guard Wade Taylor IV, who matched his career high in points with 25, while forward Julius Marble scored 21 points and recorded 9 rebounds as both were clutch down the stretch to seal the win in the final moments of the game. The biggest takeaway was Texas A&M’s performance at the free throw line, which has been their bread and butter all season, hitting 28-34 (82%), including 16-17 from Taylor, and 9-13 from Marble, accounting for 41% of the team’s offense on the night. After 28 games played, Texas A&M averages 74 ppg, 37 rebounds, shooting 44% from the field, and 33 percent from beyond the arc.

It was surely an emotional roller coaster for one of the hottest, and still, slightly disrespected programs in the country, going on the road to take on a Mississippi State team that ranks 7th in total defense, only allowing 59.5 ppg,  the Aggies need to put Tuesday’s win behind them and focus on the job at hand if March 4th’s season finale vs. Alabama will continue to have any meaning regarding a conference championship.

Mississippi State and first-year Head coach Chris Jans are not to be overlooked by any means inside Humphrey Coliseum, holding a 10-4 home record this season, the Bulldogs have held their own against some of the best competition the SEC has to offer, but have recently come up short, losing two out of three, including a heart breaker on the road against Missouri on Tuesday night. The team is led by senior forward Tolu Smith, who’s currently the leader in points per game (14.9), rebounds (8.4), and blocks (0.8), paired with junior guard Shakeel Moore, (9.1 ppg) and senior forward D.J. Jeffries (8.9 ppg, 6.0 rebounds).

Defensively, The Bulldogs are one best in the country in nearly every metric, most notably ranked 6th in opposing field goal percentage at 38.8% per game, and steals per game (9.0) compared to Texas A&M’s equally aggressive 23rd-ranking opposing field goal percentage of 40% per game. However, this is definitely an offensively challenged squad, only averaging 65.8 ppg, shooting 42% from the field, 64.1 % from the free throw line, and 28% from 3-point range, ranked 348th in the country.

As a current bubble team according to ESPN’s Joe Lunardi, Mississippi State is desperate for what would be a Quad 1 win against the Aggies on Saturday, but going back to the Bulldog’s below-average 3-point percentage, Texas A&M has faired well defensively this season against poor perimeter offenses on a consistent basis.

Texas A&M vs. Mississippi is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 25th, at 2:30 PM CT. and will air on the SEC Network.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Cameron on Twitter: @CameronOhnysty

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Texas A&M hires veteran coordinator Jim Chaney for analyst position

Texas A&M has reportedly hired veteran offensive coordinator Jim Chaney for an offensive analyst postion

Texas A&M’s coaching staff has just become stronger, as it was reported by GigEm247 early Thursday that the Aggies have hired veteran coordinator Jim Chaney to an analyst position on offense under new offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino, leaving a similar post with Georgia Tech during the 2022 season.

Chaney, age 61, has had a very interesting career at both the collegiate and professional level, starting his Division 1 career under Head coach Joe Tiller’s spread offense, known as “basketball on grass” at Wyoming (1993-1996) and Purdue (1997-2005) at the start of his career as an offensive coordinator. During his time at Purdue, Chaney guided Hall of Fame quarterback Drew Brees while breaking multiple records in the Big Ten, and NCAA within his illustrious four-year career.

After a brief two-year stint with the then St. Louis Rams, Chaney served as the offensive coordinator, quarterbacks coach, and running backs coach for the Tennessee Volunteers for a span of six seasons, while also serving in the same two positions for Arkansas under current Illinois Head coach Bret Bielema (2013-2014), Pittsburgh (2015), and Georgia (2016-2018).

From a scheme perspective, Chaney’s recent history as a coordinator lies in the pro-style system with a number of West coast concepts, which fits well with Head coach Jimbo Fisher’s general offensive outlook, and Bobby Petrino’s spread formations in the passing game.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Cameron on Twitter: @CameronOhnysty

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Texas A&M possesses one of the 12 “most lethal rosters for 2023”

According to 247Sports, Texas A&M is among 12 programs with college football’s “most lethal rosters” heading into the 2023 season

The Aggies are just a mere month and a half away from their 2023 Maroon and White spring game on April 15th, ahead of what should be one heck of a season in what many will coin as a “revenge tour” for Head coach Jimbo Fisher after a disappointing 5-7 finish after the 2022 season.

Texas A&M will be stockpiled with talent and returning experience heading into the 2023 campaign, headlined by the return of wide receiver Ainias Smith, who missed the final eight games in 2022 after a season-ending leg injury. Other highly regarded returnees include strong safety Demani Richardson, nose tackles McKinnley Jackson and Walter Nolan, and linebackers Edgerren Cooper and Chris Russell Sr.

Through the transfer portal, the Aggies made four key additions on offense and defense, adding cornerback Tony Grimes, safety Sam McCall, linebacker Aidan Siano, and wide receiver Tyrin Smith, and let’s not forget the incoming freshmen from one of the most underrated recruiting classes in the 2023 cycle.

According to 247Sports writer Brad Crawford, Texas A&M possesses one of the “most lethal rosters” heading into the 2023 season, tied for 5th with the Texas Longhorns in his Top 12 rankings, stating,

Texas A&M pulled in the nation’s No. 1 recruiting class last year — an all-timer — and the Aggies’ 2023 class is among the country’s biggest “sleeper classes,” according to Late Kick host Josh Pate. A year after inking the nation’s top-ranked class, Texas A&M currently has the No. 12 class in the country, one that brings two more five-star players to College Station along with 11 four-star players. Katy (Texas) Paetow defensive lineman David Hicks is the top-ranked player at his position, and the No. 11 overall player. Texas A&M’s other five-star get also came from the Lone Star State in El Campo (Texas) running back Rueben Owens, the No. 2 running back and No. 31 overall prospect. And while Ramsey (N.J.) Don Bosco Prep interior offensive lineman Chase Bisontis didn’t garner a five-star ranking, he was the No. 2 interior offensive lineman in the class.

No matter how bad things looked on the field last season, Jimbo Fisher has a tight grip on a program that is back on the upswing, and with Quarterback Conner Weigman’s first season as the full-time signal caller, the possibilities are endless for one of the best rosters in the country going into the pivotal 2023 season.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Cameron on Twitter: @CameronOhnysty

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Wade Taylor IV and Steph Curry have something in common…

In his last five games, Aggies’ point guard Wade Taylor IV has matched Steph Curry statistically during his 2008 season at Davidson.

Texas A&M (21-7, 13-2 SEC) has been perhaps the most consistent team in team in the country since the start of SEC play, in the midst of a six-game win streak after defeating the Tennessee Vols 68-63 on Tuesday night behind another stellar performance from, you guessed it, starting point guard Wade Taylor IV’s 25 points, matching his career high in just high second season with the program.

At this point statistically, Taylor is averaging a team-high 15.9 ppg, 4.1 assists, and 1.8 steals per game, which of course is very respectable, but Taylor’s last five games tell a completely different story, and according to OptaSTATS, the ascending sophomore has matched one of the greatest college basketball players, and NBA players of all time, and I guarantee you would have never guessed who that is.

So, over the last five games, Wade Taylor has scored 100 + points (109), made 40 + free throws (43), recorded 20 + assists (22), hit 15 + 3-pointers (16), recorded 10 + steals (11), shot 45% from 3-point range, and average 90% shooting from the free throw line. Incredible numbers nonetheless, and only one player in the past years has matched these totals, and that man is Golden State Warriors point guard and future Hall of Famer Stephen Curry, who from Nov. 14th to Nov. 24th during the 2008 collegiate season equaled these totals, adding Taylor’s named to the college basketball history books at such a young age.

With three games left in the regular season, I expect nothing less than what we’ve all witnessed from Taylor in these last six victories performing like an SEC player of the year candidate, and as well as he’s played all season, it’s almost crazy to think that his future is even brighter heading into his junior campaign.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Cameron on Twitter: @CameronOhnysty

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Fans react to an exciting Aggie win over 11th ranked Tennessee

Social Reacts to Buzz Williams Leading the Aggies to its 10 straight home win at Reed

There is no doubt the Aggies are playing some of their best basketball in years right now. They have won 15 of their last 17 and are 14-1 when they’ve played in front of the home crowd. Aggie fans packed Reed Arena filling 12,989 seats and had it rocking from start to finish. It was so loud at points in the game that it was hard to even hear here the official’s whistles.

The Aggies took the win over the Vols in a nail-biter that ended in a 68-63 victory, led by Wade Taylor and Julius Marble who up a combined 46 points. Wade’s 26 points will put him in line to take home another SEC player of the week award.

The No.25 ranked Aggies are making it really hard this year to keep them out of the NCAA Tournament next month and they seem to be peaking at the right time.

Check out the social media fire storm from the game.

The Best Images from Texas A&M’s 68-63 win over Tennessee

Here are the best images from Texas A&M’s huge 68-63 win over the 11th-ranked Tennessee Volunteers on Tuesday night

What a Tuesday night it was for the 25th-ranked Texas A&M Aggies (21-7, 13-2 SEC), who stayed undefeated at home in SEC play after beating the 11th-ranked Tennessee Vols 68-63, staying in clear contention just half a game back Alabama for first place in the conference.

Inside Reed Arena in one of the loudest environments this season, over 12,989 Aggies showed up to support their team, as star point guard Wade Taylor IV tied a career-high in points with 25 on the night, including 16-17 from the free throw line, while Michigan State transfer Julius Marble scored 21 points and 9 rebounds, also contributing a 9-13 performance from the charity stripe.

Against the top defense in the SEC, the Aggies only shot 39% from the field, and 26% from deep, but due to their consistency on defense combined with a tough demeanor that hasn’t been matched all season, this Texas A&M squad has the makings of an old school “grind it out” unit that’s completely focused on the fundamentals, and never takes a day off.

After the game, USA TODAY Sports’ photographers provided us with their best images from the game, and we’re here to gladly share them with you!

 

McKinzie Green named to the SEC Community Service Team

McKinzie Green named to the SEC Community Service Team

There are few more meaningful recognitions an athlete can receive than that of being recognized for off the field community service. Being a student athlete at a place like Texas A&M is essentially two full-time jobs, student, and athlete. So when the Southeastern Conference recognizes their Community Service team for athletes who do great work off the field serving their communities, it’s a big deal.

On Wednesday, the 2023 Women’s Basketball Community Service Team as announced by the conference and Aggies graduate guard McKinzie Green was included on the list.

Green’s service initiatives include literacy programs at local elementary schools, building bikes for kids at Christmas, the AggiesCan student led food drive, and more.

McKinzie is an example for her teammates and Aggies everywhere of the A&M core values of Leadership and Selfless Service.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Joey on Twitter: @JoeyIckes

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Aggies baseball falls to Lamar in first loss of 2023

Aggies baseball falls to Lamar 7-4 in first loss of 2023

Jim Schlossnagle and the Texas A&M baseball team hosted the Lamar Cardinals at Blue Bell Park in College Station on Tuesday night, and for the first time in 2023, the Aggies came out on the wrong side of the score board.

The Aggies took an early lead on a third inning solo home run by centerfielder Jordan Thompson, and took a 4-2 lead into the seventh, when a familiar foe of the Aggies reared it’s ugly head again, as senior relief pitcher, Matt Dilliard walked the leadoff batter. He rebounded with a strike out on the next batter, but a single and a fielders choice pushed a run across to bring the score to 4-3.

The next batter, Cardinals catcher Ryan Snell, broke the game open with a three run home run to give Lamar a 6-4 lead. They would add an insurance run in the 8th, and the Cardinals would take the 7-4 win.

The Aggies will take on Portland in a three game series this weekend at Blue Bell Park.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Joey on Twitter: @JoeyIckes

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