Game 14 - SEC Home Opener
Aggies Record: (10-3)
Aggies Kenpom: 50
Opponent: LSU (12-1)
Opponent Kenpom: 37
Date: January 3rd
Time: 3:00pm
Location: Reed Arena - College Station, Texas
Streaming: ESPNU
Betting Spread: A&M -4.5
Radio: https://12thmanfoundation.evenue.net/event/B25/MB01?RSRC=SIDEARM&RDAT=sgl
Tickets: https://12thmanfoundation.evenue.net/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/SEGetEventInfo?ticketCode=GS:TAMU:B25:MB10:&linkID=tamu&dataAccId=837&locale=en_US&siteId=ev_tamu&RSRC=SIDEARM&RDAT=sgl
Live Stats: https://12thman.com/sidearmstats/mbball/summary
Game Preview
It just means more, it really does. Gone are the buy games, gone are the laid back relaxed game watching times. It's time for heartbreak, it's time for huge season defining wins, it's time to have your cardiologist's business card on your coffee table. It's conference time and we kick things off this afternoon at home at 3pm against the LSU Tigers.
Right now we stand at 10-3 after non conference with losses to Oklahoma State, UCF, and SMU. We have two wins over Pitt and Florida State (both 7-7), the rest are all against mid majors, some at the bottom of the division 1 rankings. As it stands, we've played 8 quad four games and 1 quad four game (9-0). We are 0-1 in quad 1 games and 1-2 in quad 2 games. Our NET rankings currently sits at 67, however these will drastically change next week and after with conference play.
Statistically, our offensive numbers are off the charts. We are number 1 in assists, number 1 in bench points, number 4 in ppg, and number 7 in 3's ppg. I'm really interested to see how these number hold up against SEC talent. Can we enforce our fast level of play, can we disrupt the rythym of more talented teams?
LSU comes into Aggieland with only one loss on the season, a 24 point loss to Texas Tech. They did however beat SMU in New Orleans and did beat a lowly ranked Boston College team in overtime. The rest of their wins were to smaller schools. The biggest question mark for them is will they be with or without their leading scorer #11 Dedan Thomas Jr who averages 16.2 ppg and 7 assists per game. That would be a huge loss for them if he's unable to go. Their next leading scorer sits at 16.1 ppg, 6'10 big man #1 Mike Nwoko. Nwoko along with 6'9 #10 Marquel Sutton provide a huge and effective paint presence for LSU. Sutton can stretch the floor as well as he is second in 3's attempted behind their sharp shooter #3 Max Mackinnon. How every they rely a lot on their big men to score and run a lot of offense through them. Our bigs will need to step up.
We'll need to have someone great outside shooting in this one and hopefully we can get out to a hot start. I want to see how our offense flows against a better opponent and how fast we play. The beauty of this lineup is we have multiple guys who can step up and lead the scoring. Whether it's Dominguez from downtown, big game experienced vets like Rylan Griffen, Marcus Hill, and Pop Isaacs, our aggressive big man Rashaun Agee, or will it be others who step up. Depth and versatility are huge in conference play and that's one of our strengths. That's why we have to stay true to our identity and pace.
We are in year 1 of a new coaching regime. Coming into the year there were a lot of questions and uncertainties. We had an entirely new roster, new coach, new identity. It's nearly impossible to define a season on a first season, but this is where the foundation is laid. With a couple wins right out of the gate we can get ourselves into bubble talk and earn our way into the tournament. It's going to be an uphill battle, we're gonna play some tough games, we're gonna be out manned, out talented, but we're gonna fight.
18 conference games, it all starts this afternoon. A run to something great, a run for the ages, a great start to a tenure for Bucky McMillan can start today. The first step to everything. Get to Reed Arena, make some noise, and let's start 1-0. BTHO lsu!!
Aggies Record: (10-3)
Aggies Kenpom: 50
Opponent: LSU (12-1)
Opponent Kenpom: 37
Date: January 3rd
Time: 3:00pm
Location: Reed Arena - College Station, Texas
Streaming: ESPNU
Betting Spread: A&M -4.5
Radio: https://12thmanfoundation.evenue.net/event/B25/MB01?RSRC=SIDEARM&RDAT=sgl
Tickets: https://12thmanfoundation.evenue.net/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/SEGetEventInfo?ticketCode=GS:TAMU:B25:MB10:&linkID=tamu&dataAccId=837&locale=en_US&siteId=ev_tamu&RSRC=SIDEARM&RDAT=sgl
Live Stats: https://12thman.com/sidearmstats/mbball/summary
Game Preview
It just means more, it really does. Gone are the buy games, gone are the laid back relaxed game watching times. It's time for heartbreak, it's time for huge season defining wins, it's time to have your cardiologist's business card on your coffee table. It's conference time and we kick things off this afternoon at home at 3pm against the LSU Tigers.
Right now we stand at 10-3 after non conference with losses to Oklahoma State, UCF, and SMU. We have two wins over Pitt and Florida State (both 7-7), the rest are all against mid majors, some at the bottom of the division 1 rankings. As it stands, we've played 8 quad four games and 1 quad four game (9-0). We are 0-1 in quad 1 games and 1-2 in quad 2 games. Our NET rankings currently sits at 67, however these will drastically change next week and after with conference play.
Statistically, our offensive numbers are off the charts. We are number 1 in assists, number 1 in bench points, number 4 in ppg, and number 7 in 3's ppg. I'm really interested to see how these number hold up against SEC talent. Can we enforce our fast level of play, can we disrupt the rythym of more talented teams?
LSU comes into Aggieland with only one loss on the season, a 24 point loss to Texas Tech. They did however beat SMU in New Orleans and did beat a lowly ranked Boston College team in overtime. The rest of their wins were to smaller schools. The biggest question mark for them is will they be with or without their leading scorer #11 Dedan Thomas Jr who averages 16.2 ppg and 7 assists per game. That would be a huge loss for them if he's unable to go. Their next leading scorer sits at 16.1 ppg, 6'10 big man #1 Mike Nwoko. Nwoko along with 6'9 #10 Marquel Sutton provide a huge and effective paint presence for LSU. Sutton can stretch the floor as well as he is second in 3's attempted behind their sharp shooter #3 Max Mackinnon. How every they rely a lot on their big men to score and run a lot of offense through them. Our bigs will need to step up.
We'll need to have someone great outside shooting in this one and hopefully we can get out to a hot start. I want to see how our offense flows against a better opponent and how fast we play. The beauty of this lineup is we have multiple guys who can step up and lead the scoring. Whether it's Dominguez from downtown, big game experienced vets like Rylan Griffen, Marcus Hill, and Pop Isaacs, our aggressive big man Rashaun Agee, or will it be others who step up. Depth and versatility are huge in conference play and that's one of our strengths. That's why we have to stay true to our identity and pace.
We are in year 1 of a new coaching regime. Coming into the year there were a lot of questions and uncertainties. We had an entirely new roster, new coach, new identity. It's nearly impossible to define a season on a first season, but this is where the foundation is laid. With a couple wins right out of the gate we can get ourselves into bubble talk and earn our way into the tournament. It's going to be an uphill battle, we're gonna play some tough games, we're gonna be out manned, out talented, but we're gonna fight.
18 conference games, it all starts this afternoon. A run to something great, a run for the ages, a great start to a tenure for Bucky McMillan can start today. The first step to everything. Get to Reed Arena, make some noise, and let's start 1-0. BTHO lsu!!
