Photo by Matt Sachs, TexAgs
Texas A&M Women's Basketball
* He thinks the way the team played in the second half against Texas was embarrassing. The team just didn’t compete and Texas was playing for their NCAA Tournament lives. The team has adjusted and practiced well the last couple of days. They know they let down a lot of Aggies who made the trip to Austin to watch the game. It was a chance to leave the Big 12 with a statement, but they weren’t able to get it done. Texas then goes to Kansas City and gets clobbered by Texas Tech and it makes you wonder where the Aggies were on Sunday afternoon. That was a completely different Texas team than the one that A&M played over the weekend. But that’s what the rivalry is all about, when A&M and Texas tee it up in any sport, it’s going to bring out the best in everybody. They didn’t have that extra edge on Sunday, but hopefully they will have it Thursday when they play Kansas. If Kansas is able to win against A&M, they have a good chance of making their first NCAA Tournament and keeping Texas at home.
* He would rather the girls be playing the 5 P.M. ball game as opposed to the 7:30 P.M. game. He thought they would get the number two seed and get that game, but due to some tremendous tie-break situation that he had never heard of, they ended up with the three seed and the later game. The team will not be going over to watch any of the other games except for the one where they would have a chance to play the winner if they took care of business. The kids will get there at half time, while the coaches will be there for the entire game. The men play at 2 P.M. today and the whole team went out to support them against Oklahoma last night, but will not be able to do that today because they need to be focused on their own game.
* A&M has been to four straight Big 12 Tournament championship games and has won two of them. They want to compete for the championship because A&M is all about, ‘Building Champions’ and winning championships. This would give them a great boost for the NCAA tournament. There is a really nice article in the Kansas City newspaper today about Tyra White coming home, but odds are that she won’t play today due to a hot spot on her foot. She has been on crutches for a day or two but hopefully she will be back in the tournament later if they are still playing. She has started 90-something ball games in a row and when someone has a streak like that, you start taking that position for granted. They will have to hodgepodge around today with a different line-up and figure out who is going to step up while Tyra is out.
* Tyra White is part of the glue to the puzzle. She rebounds very well and she can create her own shot compared to the smaller guards needing room to get their shot off. She can drive the ball, get to the free throw line and hit the three when necessary. Defensively she is the team’s second best wing defensive player behind Sydney Carter. It’s going to be tough. Everyone asks him what his mood is like today and having Tyra out doesn’t put him in a very good mood. He had a feeling this was going to happen and the team will have to adjust accordingly. For Tyra to not be able to play in her home city in front of her family and friends is heartbreaking, particularly knowing you are going against a team from Kansas.
* Getting Aishah Sutherland off of the offensive glass is a key to beating Kansas today. Since Carolyn Davis has been hurt, Sutherland has done a good job of putting the team on her back. They have the best point guard in the league in Angel Goodrich because she can score, she distributes and she is hard to press against. It’s going to be a two man show for them between Sutherland and Goodrich. A&M will have to guard Goodrich for 40 minutes because she won’t come off the floor. They will also have to limit her touches and keep her shooting percentage in the 30’s instead of the 40’s or the 50’s. Sutherland is a high energy player and whether it’s going to be Adaora Elonu or Kelsey Assarian on her, they have their work cut out because they are playing for their NCAA lives. They either go to the WNIT or they go to their first NCAA Tournament since 2000. Kansas will be fired up, particularly when they see Tyra White not playing. But Carolyn Davis, out of Houston, Texas, is also not playing for them so technically that evens it up to give other kids opportunities.
Gary Blair on previews KU & assesses White's health status
Notes from Talkin' Hoops with Gary Blair
* Just had breakfast, getting ready to watch film, then the team will head to a shoot around before eventually playing the last game of the night at 7:30 PM.* He thinks the way the team played in the second half against Texas was embarrassing. The team just didn’t compete and Texas was playing for their NCAA Tournament lives. The team has adjusted and practiced well the last couple of days. They know they let down a lot of Aggies who made the trip to Austin to watch the game. It was a chance to leave the Big 12 with a statement, but they weren’t able to get it done. Texas then goes to Kansas City and gets clobbered by Texas Tech and it makes you wonder where the Aggies were on Sunday afternoon. That was a completely different Texas team than the one that A&M played over the weekend. But that’s what the rivalry is all about, when A&M and Texas tee it up in any sport, it’s going to bring out the best in everybody. They didn’t have that extra edge on Sunday, but hopefully they will have it Thursday when they play Kansas. If Kansas is able to win against A&M, they have a good chance of making their first NCAA Tournament and keeping Texas at home.
* He would rather the girls be playing the 5 P.M. ball game as opposed to the 7:30 P.M. game. He thought they would get the number two seed and get that game, but due to some tremendous tie-break situation that he had never heard of, they ended up with the three seed and the later game. The team will not be going over to watch any of the other games except for the one where they would have a chance to play the winner if they took care of business. The kids will get there at half time, while the coaches will be there for the entire game. The men play at 2 P.M. today and the whole team went out to support them against Oklahoma last night, but will not be able to do that today because they need to be focused on their own game.
* A&M has been to four straight Big 12 Tournament championship games and has won two of them. They want to compete for the championship because A&M is all about, ‘Building Champions’ and winning championships. This would give them a great boost for the NCAA tournament. There is a really nice article in the Kansas City newspaper today about Tyra White coming home, but odds are that she won’t play today due to a hot spot on her foot. She has been on crutches for a day or two but hopefully she will be back in the tournament later if they are still playing. She has started 90-something ball games in a row and when someone has a streak like that, you start taking that position for granted. They will have to hodgepodge around today with a different line-up and figure out who is going to step up while Tyra is out.
* Tyra White is part of the glue to the puzzle. She rebounds very well and she can create her own shot compared to the smaller guards needing room to get their shot off. She can drive the ball, get to the free throw line and hit the three when necessary. Defensively she is the team’s second best wing defensive player behind Sydney Carter. It’s going to be tough. Everyone asks him what his mood is like today and having Tyra out doesn’t put him in a very good mood. He had a feeling this was going to happen and the team will have to adjust accordingly. For Tyra to not be able to play in her home city in front of her family and friends is heartbreaking, particularly knowing you are going against a team from Kansas.
* Getting Aishah Sutherland off of the offensive glass is a key to beating Kansas today. Since Carolyn Davis has been hurt, Sutherland has done a good job of putting the team on her back. They have the best point guard in the league in Angel Goodrich because she can score, she distributes and she is hard to press against. It’s going to be a two man show for them between Sutherland and Goodrich. A&M will have to guard Goodrich for 40 minutes because she won’t come off the floor. They will also have to limit her touches and keep her shooting percentage in the 30’s instead of the 40’s or the 50’s. Sutherland is a high energy player and whether it’s going to be Adaora Elonu or Kelsey Assarian on her, they have their work cut out because they are playing for their NCAA lives. They either go to the WNIT or they go to their first NCAA Tournament since 2000. Kansas will be fired up, particularly when they see Tyra White not playing. But Carolyn Davis, out of Houston, Texas, is also not playing for them so technically that evens it up to give other kids opportunities.
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