Wade Taylor IV named SEC Player of the Week

Texas A&M star guard Wade Taylor IV has been named SEC Player of the Week after leading the Aggies in wins against Arkansas and Missouri

Texas A&M sophomore guard Wade Taylor IV has been named the SEC Player of the Week on Monday afternoon, after leading the Aggies statically in last week’s victories against Arkansas and Missouri. Taylor Joins starting forward Julius Marble as the second Aggie to receive the Honor this season.

The Dallas, Texas native started the week off scoring 18 points and going 3-5 from 3-point land against the Razorbacks, while 16 points in the second half. Keeping his scoring momentum alive just four days later on road against the Tigers, Taylor once again led the Aggies with 21 points and went 3-5 from the 3-point line, and a perfect 10-10 from the charity stripe.

During the two-game span, Taylor averaged 19.5 ppg and 5 assists, shot 45% from the field, and 60% from deep, while going 13-15 from the free throw line, keeping his title as the SEC’s top free throw shooter at 85.4% on the season. In only his second season with the program, this is the second SEC honor, Taylor has received after previously being named SEC Freshman of the week on Dec. 20th, 2021.

Congratulations to Wade Taylor IV on his much-deserved recognition heading into Texas A&M’s huge home matchup with the 11th-ranked Tennesee Volunteers on Tuesday night.

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 Post Game Press Conference after Aggies defeat Arkansas 62-56

See what Head coach Buzz Williams and Wade Taylor IV had to say after Texas A&M defeated Arkansas 62-56 in a heated rematch

Texas A&M (19-7, 11-2 SEC) played one of their worst offensive games of the season on Wednesday night, shooting only 35% from the field, but due to their hellacious defensive effort to hold Arkansas to just 56 points on the night, the Aggies defeated the Razorbacks in the rematch 62-56 in front of 11,315 fans inside Reed Arena.

Wade Taylor IV led the game in points with 18, hitting 3-5 from 3-point range, while Dexter Dennis (14 points, 2-3 from 3-point) and Tyrece Radford (12 points, 4-5 FT) provided enough offensive production, including 18-22 from the free throw line to keep the Razorbacks at bay for their fourth straight win in SEC play.

Even at 11-2 in the conference with a firm grip on second place in the SEC standings, Texas A&M isn’t receiving an ounce of praise from multiple “bracket experts” with many still believing the Aggies have more work to do in order to solidify a spot in the NCAA Tournament. Nonetheless, this group just keeps on winning, knowing that their recent actions on the court speak much louder than their early season performances.

After the game, Head coach Buzz Williams and star guard Wade Taylor IV spoke to the local media to discuss the win, and look toward their last five games in the regular season. Here is what both had to say on the night.

Texas A&M defeats DePaul 82-66

Texas A&M defeats DePaul 82-66 behind Tyrece Radford’s career-high 31 points

In the return of “Buzz Ball”, a term coined from Aggies head coach Buzz Williams’ defensive scheme that requires consistent effort and defensive intensity needed for 40 minutes every game, Texas A&M came into the Sullivan Athletic Center on Black Friday to face the 3-2 DePaul Deamon Deacons the hope to reestablish said defensive identity.

After their 67-51 win against Loyola Chicago on Sunday, Buzz Williams knew that in order to increase early scoring, develop an offensive rhythm, and play sufficient defense throughout, the offensive needed to run through Tyrece “Boots” Radford, while having players like Wade Taylor IV continue coming off the bench. Let me tell ya, that plan worked to perfection on Friday afternoon, as Radford scored a career-high 31 points, while Wade Taylor IV notched 21 and 6 of the team’s steals. Radford’s offensive leadership and steadfast scoring effort continued late, as the senior scored 11 of the team’s final 13 points in the second half.

The Aggies held the lead the entire first half after going up 5-0, holding a 38-27 lead at the half. Henry Coleman III was third on the team in scoring with 12 points, 3 rebounds, and 6 assists, and was an impressive 11-13 from the free throw line, while the team went 25-31 (80.6%) from the charity stripe.

The defense, led by Wade Taylor IV’s 6 first-half steals was stifling throughout, limiting the Demon Deacons to 26% shooting and 28% from 3-point, while forcing 15 turnovers.

After reaching an admirable 4-2 on the season, Texas A&M will return to Reed Arena to face SMU on Wednesday, Nov. 30th at 7:00 PM CT., which will be aired on SEC+/ESPN+.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions.
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Head coach Buzz Williams’ Press Conference after Aggies’ defeat Abilene Christian 77-58

Head coach Buzz Williams’ Press Conference after Aggies’ defeat Abilene Christian 77-58

On Friday night, the 2022 Texas A&M Basketball squad defeated Abilene Christian by the score of 77-58, as the Aggies move to 2-0 on the young season, as they have begun to find their identity as a cohesive unit on offense and defense.

In two games so far this season, starting guard Wade Taylor IV has emerged as the go-to scoring threat, leading the team in points for the second game in a row with 21, while shooting a perfect 3-3 from 3-point. Henry Coleman III had 13-points and an 11-rebound double-double, while Dexter Dennis and Tyrece Radford both accounted for 13 points on the night in what was a very balanced scoring attack for the starting 5.

After the game, head coach Buzz Williams, Henry Coleman III, and Wade Taylor IV spoke to the media to discuss the win, as the team looks towards their upcoming matchup with Murray State in the Myrtle Beach Invitational starting next Thursday.

Here are the quotes from the night:

Head coach Buzz Williams’ press conference after Aggies’ defeat Louisiana Monroe 87-54

Head coach Buzz Williams’ press conference after Aggies’ defeat Louisiana Monroe 87-54

The Aggies opened the 2022 college basketball season with a dominant 87-54 victory over the Louisiana Monroe Warhawks, earning head coach Buzz Williams his 50th win with Texas A&M, as his fourth season with the program is off to a fantastic start.

It was a balanced scoring attack for the maroon and white in front of a packed Reed Arena, as five players scored in double digits while sophomore point guard Wade Taylor IV led the team with 18 points, and 5 rebounds, and was an impressive 4-6 from beyond the arc. Witchita State transfer Dexter Dennis had a memorable debut, scoring 11 points while shooting 3-4 from 3, and was locked in defensively throughout the night, providing a glimpse into what earned him AAC defensive player of the year just a season ago.

After the game, head coach Buzz Williams and Wade Taylor IV, and Hayden Hefner talked to the media to discuss the victory. Here are the quotes from both of them on the night.

The Aggies open up their 2022 basketball season by defeating Louisiana Monroe 87-54

The Aggies open up their 2022 basketball season defeating by Louisiana Monroe 87-4

The Aggies couldn’t have asked for a better season-opening win in one of their most important seasons under 4th-year head coach Buzz Williams, defeating the Louisana Monroe Warkhawks 87-54 on Monday night.

In the first game without former star guard, and 2021 leader Quenton Jackson, the starting lineup included returning starters Tyrece Radford, Wade Taylor IV, Henry Coleman, Witchita State transfer Dexter Dennis, and freshman Solomon Washington.

From start to finish, the Aggies showed consistency on offense and were lethal from beyond the arc, shooting an impressive 46 % from 3-point range while hitting 12 3’s, while starting guard Wade Talyor IV (18 points, 4-6 from 3) showed great improvement as a shooter and should be a go-to offensive threat from the outside as the season progresses. Witchita State transfer Dexter Dennis had a solid debut, shooting 4-6 for 11 points and 3-4 from three, the second most on the night behind Taylor IV. While shooting 50.8 percent from the field, the Aggies outrebounded the Warhawks 47-36, while mounting a 38-point lead during their second-half run.

Led by junior forward Henry Coleman III, the Aggies’ inside game began to pick up in the second half, scoring 6 of his 11 points after the break, while Michigan State transfer forward Julius Marble also contributed 6 points in the paint, as the two will continue to jell down the stretch to eventually become a feared duo.

Fan favorite Hayden Hefner (12 points, 2-5 3-point) and Manny Obaseki (4-6, 10 points) showed just how deep Buzz Williams’s roster truly is, as the latter Obaseki will most likely join the starting lineup down the stretch as the former 5-star continues to increase his level of play as the season ramps up. All in all, the team did its job and blew out an inferior opponent, while showing that they belong in the conversation for one of the better teams in the SEC, and the country at large. Gig ’em.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions.
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Rough second half costs Notre Dame against Texas A&M

Are the Irish already in trouble early in the season?

If Notre Dame is going to live up to the preseason hype as an NCAA Tournament team, it will have to do better than it did the past few days. Despite being in front for much of its third and final Maui Invitational game against Texas A&M, it proved to be for naught. The Aggies came back for a 73-67 win, forcing the Irish to a 1-2 record in the tournament and a sixth-place finish.

The Irish (3-2) led almost the entire first half and held a 14-point lead early in the second. However, the Aggies (6-1) took control when their bench went on a scoring tear that the Irish couldn’t stop. Once the Aggies took their first lead since 1-0, they never gave it back. With the Irish piling up turnovers and being forced into tough offensive possessions, a win was not to be.

The Aggies received little scoring help from their starters, which makes this game’s outcome even more surprising. Quenton Jackson scored all but three of his 18 points in the second half and finished with an 8-of-11 shooting performance from the field. Hassan Diarra was just behind Jackson with 17 points as he was 7 of 11 from the free-throw line. Wade Taylor IV scored 14.

Dane Goodwin paced the Irish with 18 points and made all eight of his free throws. Prentiss Hubb scored 11 points but also committed a career-high eight turnovers. Paul Atkinson Jr. also scored 11, and Blake Wesley had 10 off the bench.