Eager to finish strong versus Hogs, Aggies could be playing for NIT berth

There is a school of thought that Texas A&M’s late-season success has the Aggies on the cusp of a postseason basketball berth.

That school of thought suggests the Aggies could all but clinch a place in the National Invitation Tournament field with a victory over Arkansas on Saturday.

A&M coach Buzz Williams has not enrolled in that school.

“I haven’t studied the numbers,” said Williams when asked if he felt a postseason berth was at stake. "My guess would be no. I would have to look at the numbers. I would say a lot of good things have to go our way, and we would have to do more than what we’ve done up to this point. That would be my guess.

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The Aggies are riding high after an upset over No. 17 Auburn on Wednesday night.

“But do I think there’s a chance? Yeah. I think there’s a chance.”

The Aggies (15-14, 9-8) could significantly enhance their postseason chances by beating Arkansas (19-11, 7-10) in a 3:30 p.m. SEC clash at Reed Arena. The game will be televised on the SEC Network.

A victory would be the Aggies’ fifth in seven games, potentially raise their SEC Tournament seeding as high as sixth and enable seniors Josh Nebo, Wendell Mitchell and Mark French exit in style in what figures to be their final home game.

“It’s bittersweet,” Mitchell said. “I’m just excited to be with these guys and share this moment. Some guys leave early. Some guys stay the entire four years. I just want to enjoy every moment of it. So this last home game, I want to finish on a good note with a dub (win).”

That will likely require another relentless effort like the Aggies gave in a 78-75 upset of No. 17 Auburn on Wednesday.

Nebo had 19 points, while Mitchell, Savion Flagg and Jay Jay Chandler all contributed 14.

Similar offensive output may be needed to keep up with Arkansas’ Jones — that’s guard Mason Jones — who has averaged 33 points over the last three games.

“How good is he?” Williams said. “I’m not sure who’ll guard him. I’m not sure who in our league has done a very good job guarding him. He’s just been phenomenal. And now that (Isaiah Joe) is back, it makes them even more potent.”

Joe, a sophomore guard, missed five games with a knee injury. Since his return to the lineup, he’s averaged 20 points in four games.

Rey Romo, TexAgs

Josh Nebo - along with Wendell Mitchell and Mark French - will play his final game at Reed Arena on Saturday.

Containing Jones and Joe is a major key to winning for A&M. They both scored 17 points in a 69-59 victory over A&M in Fayetteville in the SEC opener.

A&M, as its current streak indicates, is a much-improved team since that Jan. 4 meeting.

“I think we try a lot harder,” Williams said.” I think we’re probably all on the same page. But most teams probably can say that. That seems like an eternity ago. What was it? The first Saturday in January?

“This will be the first Saturday in March. That’s a long time relative to the journey we’ve been on. But if I could only say one thing. I think we try a lot harder than we did then.”

Nebo echoed his coach's thoughts.

“We’ve gotten a lot better,” Nebo said. “We’ve grown a little bit more. All the young guys have gotten experience in SEC play. So we’re a little bit more experienced.”

However, Nebo disagrees with Williams’ opinion on postseason possibilities. He feels the Aggies are playing for a postseason berth.

“I would say we are,” Nebo said. “Especially, since this is my last year, I want to play as many games as I can. I don’t want the season to end. What am I going to do when the season is over?

“So, I just want to keep playing whether that’s the NCAA Tournament or whatever tournament we get picked into.”