Tag: Andersson Garcia

Texas A&M basketball will need to lean on Andersson Garcia and Zhuric Phelps

Texas A&M head coach Buzz Williams talks about the qualities that Andersson Garcia and Zhuric Phelps bring to the Aggies

On Monday, Head Coach Buzz Williams gave his thoughts about the big win over Lamar in their bounce-back victory in their home opener. Buzz’s big advantage this season is the returning experience led by senior guard Wade Taylor IV.

Senior forward Andersson Garcia and senior guard Zhuric Phelps have very important roles this year, and Wade Taylor will need to lean on these two to help relieve some of the stress on the offense side. Former SMU guard Phelps has made an immediate impact, averaging 17 points and 63.6% from the field. He also had six steals in his first two games in the Maroon & White.

Garcia, better known as “The Dominican Dennis Rodman,” is somewhat of a cult hero in Aggieland. When he is not grabbing rebounds, he is playing in the band or knocking down game-tying three-pointers in the postseason. He is the top offensive rebounder in the SEC and has been working on this jump shot, turning himself into a double-double machine.

Below are a few comments from Buzz Williams about how Garcia and Phelps have already significantly impacted the last two games.

“Andersson Garcia is really bright. How he processes rebounding is savant-ish. He is a much more confident shooter than he has ever been because of the work he’s put in. He can shoot.”

“Not only does Zhuric impact our team, but he’s going to make the game easier for the other four guys on the floor. I think he has a very high ceiling. He’s a great on-ball defender and that changes our team. I don’t think he’s close to his ceiling yet.”

No. 23 Texas A&M will host No. 21 Ohio State on Friday, Nov. 15. The game will air on SEC Network at 8:00 p.m. CT.

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Texas A&M defeats Lamar 97-71 before hosting No. 23 Ohio State on Friday night

Texas A&M’s depth and enhanced 3-point shooting are promising signs ahead of hosting No. 21 Ohio State

No. 23 Texas A&M (2-1) looks like a completely different team compared to the Aggies’ Week 1 road loss to UCF. This is mainly due to better shooting and the addition of senior guard Zhuric Phelps, who has now led the Aggies in points over the past two games.

After defeating East Texas A&M on Friday, head coach Buzz Williams’s deep and talented roster showed up and showed out against visiting Lamar on Monday night. The Aggies defeated the Cardinals 97-71 behind 12 3-pointers and 55% shooting from the field.

Needing an early spark, senior forward Andersson Garcia hit two early threes to get the Aggies offense going, leading to former Nebraska guard CJ Wilcher making his first real impact with the teams since transferring, hitting three from deep on five attempts.

However, the guard play of stars Wade Taylor IV (13 points) and Zhuric Phelps (16 points) stood out due to Taylor’s decision-making and Phelps’ slashing ability, which continues to look like a dangerous combination as the schedule only gets tougher over the next month.

Defensively, the Aggies held Lamar to 37% shooting and 33% from 3-point land, forcing ten turnovers while recording seven steals and six blocks.

Making a huge impact off the bench, Andersson Garcia knows that this is just the start of what could be a special final collegiate season for the elite defender:

“I think it’s (15 points) my career high. I was feeling great. My mentality was it was my last year so I needed to play one game at a time. I want to take advantage of every second.”

Texas A&M will host No. 21 Ohio State on Friday, Nov. 15. The game will air on SEC Network.

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Texas A&M forward Andersson Garcia announces his decision for next season

Andersson Garcia is back!

Social media never fails to entertain, but most of the time, it can be downright misleading, as Texas A&M senior forward Andersson Garcia was attached to a rumor stating that he had entered the transfer portal on Saturday.

None of this had been confirmed, and thankfully, most of the fan base was too busy with their personal lives to see what had been released. So far this season, no Aggie player from the roster has announced their attention to enter the portal.

Well, credit to Garcia for quickly dispelling the transfer portal rumor, stating that not only was this false, but the senior will officially be returning for his final season in College Station as well.

This is significant news regarding next season’s expectations, as Garcia, who broke Texas A&M’s career rebounding mark with 327 on the year, including the offensive rebounding record with 180, will always be remembered for hitting the game-tying shot against the No. 1-seed Houston Cougars in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

Potential return announcements from Wade Taylor, Henry Coleman III, and Manny Obaseki are also expected in the coming weeks/months.

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Texas A&M senior Andersson Garcia named to finalist for defensive player of the year award

Texas A&M fan favorite Andersson Garcia named to finalist for the 2024 Lefty Driesell Defensive Player of the Year

Texas A&M was known for its tenacious defense, and the lynchpin was Dominican Dennis Rodman, professionally known as senior Aggie forward Andersson Garcia. His play throughout the season landed him a finalist for the 2024 Lefty Driesell Defensive Player of the Year.

Garcia had a record year in the Maroon & White, breaking two over four decades old records. He surpassed Claude Riley’s offensive and total rebounding number by ten with 327; then, he passed Aggie legend John Beasley’s conference rebound record with 180. He capped off the season by making the All-SEC defensive team.

The recipient of the annual award is determined by a 10-member voting committee, which consists of current and former head coaches and two senior staff members of collegeinsider.com. The 2024 award will be announced in Phoenix, AZ, the men’s Division I Basketball Championship site.

Below is the entire list of finalist below

2024 LEFTY DRIESELL DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR FINALISTS

Justin Abson 6-9 Appalachian State
Adrian “Ace” Baldwin Jr. 6-1 Penn State
Reece Beekman 6-3 Virginia
Adem Bona 6-10 UCLA
Boo Buie 6-2 Northwestern
Johni Broome 6-10 Auburn
Devin Carter 6-3 Providence
Isaiah Cozart 6-7 Eastern Kentucky
Isaiah Crawford 6-6 Louisiana Tech
Ryan Dunn 6-8 Virginia
Zach Edey 7-4 Purdue
KiAndre Gaddy 6-6 Tarleton State
Andersson Garcia 6-7 Texas A&M
Dajuan Harris Jr. 6-2 Kansas
DaRon Holmes II 6-10 Dayton
Ryan Kalkbrenner 7-1 Creighton
Malevy Leons 6-9 Bradley
Tamin Lipsey 6-1 Iowa State
Bez Mbeng 6-4 Yale
Clifford Omoruyi 6-11 Rutgers
Jamal Shead 6-1 Houston
Charles Thompson 6-7 Towson
Kellen Tynes, Jr. 6-3 Maine
Amari Williams 6-10 Drexel
Zakai Zeigler 5-9 Tennessee

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Despite losing to Houston in the round of 32, Andersson Garcia’s game tying 3-pointer will be remembered forever

Texas A&M’s tournament run may be over, but Andersson Garcia’s game tying 3-pointer will forever live in out memories.

Texas A&M’s (21-15) 2023-2024 season ended after falling to the No. 1-seed Houston Cougars on Sunday night, failing to complete what looked to be an epic comeback after taking the game to overtime.

With just 1:20 left in regulation, the Aggies battled back from their 82-71 deficit on the backs of Tyrece Radford, Wade Taylor IV, Manny Obaseki, and, most importantly, senior forward Andersson Garcia, who would go on to have his “one shining moment” at the buzzer.

Down 86-83 with 1.2 seconds on the clock, head coach Buzz Williams drew up a play that no one saw coming, as Radford inbounded to Garcia, who had only attempted 19 3-pointers on the year, quickly picked up the bounce pass at the top of the key, shooting what would become the most memorable shot in his playing career.

Fading away like a kid in his driveway shouting, “Kobe!” Garcia tied the game, causing an eruption from the crowd. He immediately placed his hands over his face, cemented on the ground while being tackled by his Aggie teammates in the process.

Sending the game into overtime, Houston, led by elite point guard Jamal Shead (21 points, ten assists) and Emmanuel Sharp (30 points, 7-10 3-point), continued to make shots while the Aggies failed to take advantage of the moment, eventually falling 100-95.

In contrast, a wave of disappointment briefly took over the A&M sideline. Still, despite the loss to one of the best teams in the country, Andersson Garcia’s Texas A&M career won’t just be remembered for setting the new program rebounding record.

While the Aggies can undoubtedly learn from the defeat, primarily caused by the 16 missed free throws coupled with a bad shooting night from Wade Taylor IV, the NCAA Tournament is beautiful and cruel. After falling in the first round last season, almost defeating a championship favorite is undoubtedly a step in the right direction heading into next season.

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Texas A&M guard Wade Taylor IV named to the SEC All-Tournament team

After scoring 82 points in three games during the SEC Tournament, Aggie guard Wade Taylor IV was named the SEC All-Tournament team

Texas A&M didn’t get the result they wanted in the SEC Tournament after losing to Florida in the Semifinals on Saturday afternoon. Still, nevertheless, the Aggies’ two wins were enough to earn the program its second consecutive NCAA Tournament birth.

Star junior guard Wade Taylor IV was on fire during the SEC tournament last week. He led all scorers with 82 points and averaged over 25 points a game. His memorable play earned him an All-Tournament selection.

Taylor led the Aggies to win over Ole Miss and Kentucky, bolstering the team’s resume and helping A&M earn their No. 9 seed. They will face No. 8 seed Nebraska on March 22 in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament. Deserving a ton of credit for turning the team around late into the year, head coach Buzz Williams has another chance to earn his first NCAA Tournament win sporting the Maroon & White.

 

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Texas A&M forward Andersson Garcia has set a new program record

After Texas A&M’s loss to Florida in the SEC Tournament, Andersson Garcia has now set a new program rebounding record

Texas A&M (20-14, 9-9 SEC) may have lost to Florida in the SEC Tournament Semifinals, but the season isn’t over, no matter what happens on Selection Sunday regarding the Aggies’ NCAA Tournament chances.

Looking at the strides, this team has made throughout the year, outside of junior guard Wade Taylor IV, senior forward Andersson Garcia’s incredible rebounding ability and defensive instincts have heavily enhanced his NBA playing future.

Garcia has averaged 9.4 rebounds per game this season while accumulating a mind-blowing 320 rebounds from the start of the regular season to Saturday’s loss to Florida. Even more impressive, Garcia is second in the country in offensive rebounds, averaging 4.5, just below Purdue center Zach Edey’s 4.6 per contest/

On Saturday, Garcia grabbed seven rebounds against the Gators. With this number, the senior has now passed former Texas A&M Forward Claude Riley’s 317 rebounds during the 1981-82 season.

For those who have been paying attention, Andersson Garcia, who stands at just 6-7, plays with consistent intensity and determination, emulating NBA rebounding legend Dennis Rodman, as Aggies head coach Buzz Williams has already dubbed Garcia as the “Dominican Dennis Rodman” while paying homage to his Dominican ancestry.

As someone who has covered Garcia’s ascendance throughout his three-year career with the program, this young man deserves a trip to the NCAA Tournament to continue playing at a high level and further increase his NBA chances.

Congratulations, Andersson!

Selection Sunday will take place at 5:00 p.m. CT. and will air on CBS

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Best Photos: Texas A&M’s 70-56 road win over Georgia

Photos: Here are some of the best photos from Saturday’s game against Georgia.

Texas A&M (16-13, 7-9 SEC) snaps their five-game losing streak by shutting down Georgia’s (15-14, 5-11 SEC) offense on Saturday for a much-needed 70-56 victory.

There is a lot of work to be done for the Aggies but a double-digit win over Georgia with Wade Taylor having his worst game of the season is a good start. Even with their loss to No. 18 South Carolina, they looked to have a little more pep in their step and knew they might not have a lot of basketball left if they didn’t tighten up.

Coach Buzz Williams was happy to see his team continue to fight while his team is fighting through a five-game losing streak.

“For us to be able to go on the road and have that same fight after losing five in a row, I’m grateful.”

NOTE: Henry Coleman did not suit up

Texas A&M will host Mississippi State at Reed Arena on Wednesday, March 6, at 8 p.m. CT.

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Post Game: Texas A&M finally gets back in the win column after defeating Georgia on the road

Texas A&M keeps their NCAA Tournament hopes alive with a 70-56 win over Georgia on the road

Texas A&M (16-13, 7-9 SEC) snaps their five-game losing streak by shutting down Georgia’s (15-14, 5-11 SEC) offense on Saturday for a much-needed 70-56 victory.

The game started at a breakneck pace, with both teams trading the lead and going on runs in the first 15 minutes. Neither team shot particularly well, but the Aggies did play a little cleaner while the Bulldogs relied on the three-point shot to keep them within striking range.

Things started to tilt slightly in the Aggies’ favor as Georgia struggled to make a bucket and take a 30-29 lead with about two minutes left in the first half.  Wade Taylor got into foul trouble early keeping him at bay the majority of the half, but the rest of the team was able to pick up the slack taking a slim 34-32 lead into the locker room. Tyrece Radford led A&M with 11 points while Taylor surprising went scoreless.

Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

SECOND HALF:

Both teams struggle out of the gate, with only three made shots between them in the first five minutes. The Aggie defense kept the Bulldogs out of the paint, forcing them to shoot almost exclusively on the jump shot, where they have struggled up to this point.

A&M kept the pressure on never letting the Bulldogs a chance to close the gap and with both teams shooting poorly the Aggies hit just enough shots to maintain a ten-point lead in the final minutes of the game. Head coach Buzz Williams finally got his team back on track. I’m sure he would like to see them shoot better, but the win was a step in the right direction.

NOTE: Henry Coleman did not suit up

Below are the Aggies critical contributors from the game:

Tyrece Radford:  20 points / 10 rebounds

Manny Obaseki:  12 points / 5 rebounds

Andersson Garcia:  11 points / 10 rebounds

Georgia’s top contributors:

Jabri Abdur-Rahim: 10 points / 2 rebounds

Blue Cain:  11 points / 2 rebounds

RJ Melendez: 8 points / 4 rebounds

Texas A&M will host Mississippi State at Reed Arena on Wednesday, March 6, at 8 p.m. CT.

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How to watch: Texas A&M vs. Georgia basketball game

Texas A&M will be on the road in Athens Georgia looking for their first win since February 10 and snap their 5-game losing streak

Texas A&M (15-13, 6-9 SEC) will travel to Athens to face Georgia (15-13, 5-10 SEC) on Saturday at 5 p.m. CT.

There is a lot that needs to happen for the Aggies to make the postseason. Currently sporting a five-game losing streak with a below .500 record overall and in league play. A&M appeared to take a step in the right direction during a last-second loss to No. 18 South Carolina, which can be argued they had a chance to win if not for a controversial call at the end of the game causing A&M to reset their offense. At this point, the Aggies have to put together a string of wins to make the postseason and possibly save Coach Buzz Williams’ job.

Georgia has issues of their own going 2-8 through the last nine games. With a virtually identical record as A&M and also currently on a losing streak they want to be the ones to come out on top. A win over Texas A&M would be an injection of some confidence into the struggling team. Saturday they will have that chance to all but eliminate the Aggies from any NCAA Tournament hopes and a step towards getting back even in SEC play.

The A&M SEC opponents are hosting Kentucky, Florida, and Tennessee at Reed Arena to highlight the home slate. The Aggies’ road foes include Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Georgia, LSU, Missouri, Ole Miss, Tennessee, and Vanderbilt.