Tag: Zhuric Phelps

Here is the latest SEC availability report ahead of No. 13 Texas A&M vs. Texas

Here is the latest SEC Availability report for Texas A&M and Texas ahead of Saturday’s matchup

No. 13 Texas A&M (15-4, 4-2 SEC) will travel to Austin (TX) on Saturday afternoon to face the Texas Longhorns (13-6, 2-4 SEC). The Aggies are looking to sweep their rival for the first time in more than a decade.

While both teams are coming off close victories, Texas A&M’s emotional 63-62 stunner against No. 16 Ole Miss on the road was highly impressive, as the mainstream college basketball media took notice due to the Aggies’ grit and determination amid poor offense, as star guard Wade Taylor IV produced just four points off a 2-12 shooting night.

Trailing 62-60 with 19 seconds left, senior guard Zhuric Phelps found fellow senior Manny Obaseki for a clutch 3-pointer and combined with a defensive stop; the Aggies escaped Oxford with their sixth Quad 1 victory.

Texas defended home court on Tuesday night to give credit where credit is due, defeating No. 22 Missouri 61-53. The Longhorn defense held the Tigers to just 18.2% from beyond the arc, while Texas guard Tre Johnson and forward Arthur Kaluma combined for 26 points and 16 rebounds.

However, according to the latest SEC availability report, Texas A&M is entirely healthy going into the matchup, while Texas will be without Chendall Weaver, and Arthur Kaluma is listed as probable.

Texas A&M will stay on the road when they travel to Austin to face Texas on Jan. 25 at 1:30 p.m. CST. The game can be watched on ESPN2.

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Relive No. 13 Texas A&M’s memorable 63-62 win over No. 16 Ole Miss

Here are the highlights from Texas A&M’s thrilling 63-62 comeback win over Ole Miss on Wednesday night

Texas A&M (15-4, 4-2 SEC) shot up the conference rankings after leaving Mississippi with a thrilling 63-62 over No. 16 Ole Miss after trailing for the entire game.

After Ole Miss guard Davon Barnes missed a free throw with just over 20 seconds remaining, Aggie guard Zhuric Phelps found fellow senior guard Manny Obaseki for the lead-taking 3-pointer that sealed the deal for the Maroon & White.

However, Texas A&M’s poor shooting, which plagued the team for most of the season, led star guard Wade Taylor IV and Zhuric Phelps to shoot a combined 8-31 from the field, including 0-11 from beyond the arc. Nevertheless, the Aggies’ sheer grit and determination to fight back were based on an incredible team effort.

Manny Obaseki (12 points) was the prominent star off the bench. Still, the play of junior forward Pharrel Payne (10 points, six rebounds) kept the Aggies at arms-length late in the second half, while senior Hayden Hefner’s (9 points) shooting was another surprising bright spot.

Texas A&M boasts six Quad 1 victories, featuring three road wins in Quad 1A, ranking them third in the nation. Currently, the Aggies are considered a top 3 seed for the NCAA Tournament season.

Thanks to Texas A&M basketball’s media team, here are the highlights from the game. Enjoy!

Texas A&M will stay on the road when they travel to Austin to face Texas on Jan. 25 at 1:30 p.m. CST. The game can be watched on ESPN2.

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Texas A&M rises in the NET rankings after comeback win over No. 16 Ole Miss

Texas A&M is now a Top 15-ranked team in the latest NET rankings after defeating Ole Miss on the road

No. 13 Texas A&M (15-4, 4-2 SEC) took a huge step forward on Wednesday night, as the Aggies, through massive late-game adversity, defeated No. 16 Ole Miss 63-62 after the Aggies outscored the home team 11-2, including the go-ahead 3-pointer from senior guard Manny Obaseki.

In a match where star guards Wade Taylor IV and Zhuric Phelps managed only 8 out of 31 shooting from the field, and the team recorded 20 turnovers, A&M’s defense performed well, providing the offense with a chance to either clinch a victory or force the game into overtime.

Phelps, who was dealing with illness-based symptoms throughout the game, took over late in the final 30 seconds, scoring consecutive jumpers before finding Obaseki on a perfect pass with 14 seconds left, as the Aggies took their first and final lead in one of the best comebacks in program history.

Following the victory, Texas A&M holds a 4-2 conference record, tying for third place in the SEC alongside No. 22 Missouri and No. 5 Florida. The most notable change, however, is in the critical NET rankings, where they jumped four spots to reach No. 14.

In terms of NCAA Tournament seeding, Texas A&M boasts a combined record of 10-4 in Quad 1 and Quad 2, which features six Quad 1 wins and three notable Quad 1A victories (road wins). This places their overall record and Quad 1 position tied for third in the nation.

Under coach Buzz Williams’ this is the highest NET ranking for the Aggies during SEC play.

Texas A&M will stay on the road when they travel to Austin to face Texas on Jan. 25 at 1:30 p.m. CST. The game can be watched on ESPN2.

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Wade Taylor IV’s return spurred Texas A&M’s late game dominance vs. LSU

Texas A&M outscored LSU 38-27 in the second half, mainly due to star guard Wade Taylor IV’s return to the lineup

Texas A&M (14-4, 3-2 SEC) got back on track in SEC play as the Aggies defeated visiting LSU (12-5, 1-4 SEC) 68-57 behind the return of star guard Wade Taylor IV, who, despite struggling from the field (3-13, 12 points) led the Aggies to close out the game early in the second half.

Before Saturday’s showdown, the Wade Taylor-less Aggies dropped consecutive matchups against Alabama and Kentucky. While both losses counted as Quad 1 defeats and won’t affect the program’s NCAA Tournament standing A&M’s offense looked disjointed and borderline confused on most possessions.

In football terms, Wade Taylor is the quarterback of the offense. While senior guard Zhuric Phelps has led the SEC in scoring since Taylor’s absence, he is not a true point guard but a pure scorer. He looked more confident and, most importantly, efficient against LSU, leading the Aggies with 13 points.

Taylor’s impact was epitomized during Texas A&M’s 10-0 run with just over eight minutes remaining. The senior guided the offense while making two key free throws and assists. The game changed on a dime after forward Solomon Washingon’s 3-pointer made it 52-43, and the Aggies never trailed after.

While the Aggies finished an average of 42.6% from the field and 32% from beyond the arc, these gritty performances are what coach Buzz Williams expects from his team when completely healthy, knowing that Wade Taylor’s leadership, toughness, and elite basketball IQ makes Texas A&M one of the toughest outs in college basketball.

Texas A&M will face No. 21 Ole Miss on the road on Jan. 22 at 8:00 p.m. CST. The game can be watched on ESPN2.

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‘We need to learn from all the hard things we’ve been through’ Buzz Williams knows the SEC comes with tough times

Texas A&M HC Buzz Williams knows the Aggies tough schedule will come with from tough lessons along the way

Texas A&M (14-4, 3-2 SEC) steadied the ship slightly in the double-digit win over LSU in front of the home crowd in Reed Arena.

The Aggies looked better than they have for a few reasons. One is that the Tigers are objectively not as talented as Alabama or Kentucky, and Wade Taylor IV’s return to action after missing three games. This win puts them back above .500 in SEC play. It’s been a rough road, but A&M will be better because of it.

“We had two Quad 1A games, three games against top-20 teams, and two of them on the road. Every team is going to encounter that in this league. We need to learn from all the hard things we’ve been through.”

We all knew the conference slate would be tough as nails, and the Aggies are learning to weather the storm.

A&M will return to face No. 21 Ole Miss at The Sandy and John Black Pavilion on Jan. 22 at 8:00 p.m. CST. The game can be watched on ESPN2.

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Instant reaction to No. 11 Texas A&M’s 68-57 win over LSU on Saturday night

Wade Taylor IV’s return to the starting lineup fueled Texas A&M’s home win over LSU on Saturday night

As they say, a win is a win, and for Texas A&M (14-4, 3-2 SEC), defeating rival LSU (12-6, 1-4 SEC) 68-57 amid the return of senior guard Wade Taylor IV to the starting lineup was a Saturday night gift for every Aggie fan in attendance.

Snapping their two-game conference losing streak, the Aggies were lights out, allowing just 27 points in the second half while limiting LSU to 36.2% from the field and 24.1% from beyond the arc. They also forced an impressive 18 turnovers on the night.

In his return to the lineup, Wade Taylor IV wasn’t perfect, finishing 3-13 from the floor with 12 points and just 1-5 from 3-point range, but he was efficient from the stripe (5-6 FT) and provided an immediate spark to an offense that had been lacking flow without his leadership.

On the night, Texas A&M finished 42.6% from the field and 31.8% from the three, but after being tied at the half, senior guard Zhuric Phelps took over the scoring duties late, finishing an efficient 6-13, grabbing six rebounds and leading the team with four assists.

Overall, this gritty victory raised the Aggies to above .500 in conference play, and Taylor’s return has brought the team back to form.

GAME NOTES:

  • Forwards Solomon Washington and Andersson Garcia finished with 14 rebounds.
  • Texas A&M outrebounded LSU 33-31
  • 42.6% FG / 31.8% 3PT / 42.9% FT

Texas A&M will face No. 21 Ole Miss on the road on Jan. 22 at 8:00 p.m. CST. The game can be watched on ESPN2.

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One stat from Texas A&M’s 81-69 loss to Kentucky highlight’s team’s inefficient play

Texas A&M’s season low four assists explains the offense’s blatant lack of cohesion

Texas A&M (13-4, 2-2 SEC) entered last weekend’s Saturday night showdown vs. Alabama undefeated in conference play and looking like one of the best teams in the country this season .

However, during A&M’s first SEC game vs. rival Texas, the Aggies may have defeated the Longhorns 80-60 but lost star guard Wade Taylor IV for the next three games. This resulted in a comeback win over Oklahoma and consecutive losses to the Crimson Tide and the Kentucky Wildcats on Tuesday night.

After falling to the Wildcats 81-69, the Aggies lost the rebounding battle and shot a dismal 16-25 from the free-throw line, both areas of struggle since Taylor’s departure from the lineup.

Even more surprising, Texas A&M’s season-low four assists are the lowest mark under coach Buzz Williams and the worst number since a 2018 game vs. Missouri. For those who believe that A&M would have lost to Kentucky even with Taylor in the lineup, I can safely say that the offense would have looked much crisper.

With senior Zhuric Phelps (21 points) and Manny Obaseki (12 points) running point, both guards are iso players who only pass if they can’t immediately drive the paint, which has made the Aggies offense a clustered mess with a blatant lack of flow.

However, junior forward Pharrel Payne, who has recorded double-digit outings in six of seven games, inclding 15 points against the Wildcats, is the only player who has created a spark off the bench, and will continue to make an impact despite the Aggies’ lack of team scoring.

Payne is currently 32-35 from the field since A&M’s win over Wake Forest, shooting an NCAA-leading 91.4% from the field.

Until Wade Taylor returns, Phelps or Obaseki need to settle down and work with Buzz Williams to run the offense and set players up for success, but until that happens, the Aggies better hope they outrebound and keep opponents from gaining offensive momentum.

Texas A&M will return home to host LSU in Reed Arena on Jan. 18 at 7:30 p.m. CST. The game can be watched on the SEC Network.

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Instant reaction to No. 11 Texas A&M’s 81-69 road loss to No. 8 Kentucky

Texas A&M’s lack of efficiency on offense and poor rebounding led to Tuesday’s road loss to Kentucky

Texas A&M (13-4, 2-2 SEC) has now endured back-to-back SEC losses, culminating in Tuesday’s 81-69 loss to No. 8 Kentucky in another lopsided shooting performance.

Led by senior guard Zhuric Phelps’ 21 points, the Aggies’ failure to find any offensive flow started late in the first half. Coach Buzz Williams’ odd game plan included too many 3-point attempts, even though A&M’s five three-pointers tied the team’s season average.

Sometimes, the shots fall, but just like in Saturday’s loss to Alabama, Texas A&M is missing senior guard Wade Taylor IV’s leadership at point guard. Phelps and fellow senior guard Manny Obaseki (12 points) are scoring guards who are always looking for their own shot.

For the sixth time in seven games, former Minnesota forward Pharrel Payne has produced double-digit scoring efforts, netting 15 points, and was a perfect 5-5 from the floor. Payne’s impact off the bench has been the bright spot in both losses.

For the second straight game, Texas A&M lost the rebounding back 31-40, while the Aggies struggled from the free-throw line yet again, finishing 16-25 from the stripe.

These problems are fixable, but this team is desperate for Taylor’s return to the lineup, which could return as soon as Saturday’s home game vs. LSU.

GAME NOTES:

  • Transfer Zhuric Phelps (21 points) and Pharrel Payne (15 points) led the Aggies in scoring
  • Texas A&M was outrebounded 40-31
  • 39.0% FG / 23.3% 3PT / 64.0% FT

Texas A&M will return home to host LSU in Reed Arena on Jan. 18 at 7:30 p.m. CST. The game can be watched on the SEC Network.

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‘Zhu was tremendous,’ Coach Buzz Williams explains how Texas A&M won without Wade Taylor

“Zhu was tremendous. Zhu was really good on Saturday. But we can’t just give all of that to one player. Our group did a really good job.”

For only the second time in his historic Texas A&M career, senior point guard Wade Taylor IV missed a game Wednesday night due to injury.

However, the Aggies were still able to win at Oklahoma, thanks in large part to fellow senior PG, Zhuric Phelps.

“Statistically speaking, you could say that (Taylor) may be the best player (in Texas A&M history). There have been a lot of really good players. The game before Christmas was the first time that (Taylor) has ever missed the game, including the two practices prior, too. The same thing happened – I guess it would be Monday, Tuesday, entering today,” Aggies coach Buzz Williams recalled postgame. “He carries a lot for our team. He is incredibly gifted, but his IQ level as a player is probably at the same level or better than his talent. So not only did we miss his talent; we also missed his IQ. As best we could, our staff did a really good job of dispersing that burden and not putting it on one guy.

Texas A&M G Zhuric Phelps’ career night against Oklahoma was one for the ages

Texas A&M’s double-digit second-half deficit against Oklahoma disappeared behind a career performance from senior guard Zhuric Phelps

After three seasons at SMU, senior guard Zhuric Phelps shifted to Texas A&M to continue his college career. For the Midland, Texas native, this decision stands out as one of the wisest he has made throughout his playing journey.

Amid Texas A&M’s 12-2 start to the 2024-2025 season, Phelp’s impact was significant outside of missing the season-opening loss to UCF, as the senior is second on the team with 13.3 PPG, only trailing star guard Wade Taylor IV (15.7).

After leading the Aggies with 18 points in Saturday’s win over the Texas Longhorns, Phelp’s role became even more critical this week before facing No. 17 Oklahoma on the road. Wade Taylor would miss his second game of the year, putting a hole in the Aggie offense.

Knowing that Taylor’s three-point shooting and clutch production would be sorely missed, Texas A&M’s offense was stagnant and disjointed. At the same time, Oklahoma’s senior guard, Brycen Goodine, displayed his best Steph Curry impression, shredding the Aggies from deep and finishing 9-11 from beyond the arc for a career-high 34 points.

After trailing by double digits, including an 18-point deficit in the second half, Phelps transformed into a powerhouse. Despite scoring only six points and shooting 2-11 in the first half, he erupted in the second, scoring 28 points and hitting 6-11 from three-point range, ultimately tying with Goodine for a career-high 34 points.

However, nothing matched the excitement of Phelps’ game-sealing three-pointer, looking like a young James Hardin, tripping up Sooners forward Glenn Taylor Jr. and sending a message to the rest of the SEC: The Aggies are one of the hottest teams in the country, with, and without Wade Taylor IV.

After defeating Oklahoma 80-78, No. 10 Texas A&M will host No. 5 Alabama on Saturday, Jan. 11. The game will air on ESPN at 7:00 p.m. CT.

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