Pilchard
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This Wednesday, our Deacs invade Reed Arena in College Station to face the Aggies with a MSG trip on the line.
Here's the rundown on Buzz Williams' squad:
2021-22 Season: 25-12 #48. The Aggie season can be divided into 3 segments:
Started the season hot: 15-2 with wins over #39 Notre Dame (by 6) and #18 Arkansas (by 5)
Mid-season swoon: losing 8 straight and 9 of 10 between January 19 and February 19, including ugly home losses to #99 S. Carolina and #140 Mizzou.
Closed on a roll: currently on a 9-1 run with wins over #30 Bama by 16, #13 Auburn by 5, #18 Arkansas by 18. In the NIT, A&M has beaten #262 Alcorn State by 12 and #81 Oregon by 15.
WF and A&M played 3 common opponents: both beat ND and Oregon State; both lost to LSU (A&M lost to LSU twice)
Analytics: KP rates the Aggies as the #64 team on offense and the #39 team on defense. Offensively, A&M pounds on offensive glass (#20 in the nation; #3 in SEC in offensive rebounding %) and draws fouls (#48 in FT rate). A&M has been a poor shooting team for most of the season #215 in 3 PT % and only 27% of their offense comes from 3s (#273), but A&M was smoking from deep during their SEC Tourney run (over 50% in each of their first 3 SECT games). Defensively, A&M applies max ball pressure as the Aggies are #3 in the nation in steal rate, and #9 in the country in TO rate (yikes for WF fans). Even though A&M excels at grabbing offensive boards, the Aggies struggle to rebound on defense (#345 in opponents' offensive rebound rate). A&M plays a moderate to slow tempo (66.5 possessions per game #211); in Saturday's Oregon game, Aggies were limited to 61 possessions. A&M is deep; #24 in bench minutes.
Roster:
In the win over the Ducks, the Aggies started:
G 6-0 Fr. Wade Taylor: On Feb. 22, Taylor started his 2nd game of the season, since then, A&M is 9-1; 2nd in assists; 28% from 3;
G 6-2 Jr. Tyrece Radford: Felon; transferred from VT; 42% from 3; 2nd in boards -- an incredible rebounder for his size
G/F 6-4 Fr. Manny Obaseki: also began starting on February 22; 28% from 3; 2nd double figure game of the season in the NIT win over Oregon
F 6-5 Sr. Quenton Jackson: leading scorer (14.5 ppg); 2nd in blocks; 36% from 3; leads team in steals and TOs;
C 6-8 So. Henry Coleman: Duke transfer (played against WF last year; don't remember him); leading rebounder; no threat from 3
Bench:
G 6-2 Jr. Andre Gordon: 3 year starter until Wade Taylor took over his spot in February; 38% from 3; active defensively
G/F 6-6 So. Hayden Hefner: 33% from 3; A&M started rolling when Hefner was added to the rotation
G 6-2 So. Hassan Darrra: 29% from 3; 6 ppg and 2 rpg
F 6-8 Sr. Ethan Henderson: started 14 games; minutes dwindling; leads team in blocks; doesn't shoot the 3
The Projection: KP projects a 76-73 Aggie win; Torvik projects 74-72 Aggies. WF is 17-2 at home this year, and 8-7 on the road or on a neutral court. Hard to believe: Wednesday's game at A&M's Reed Arena will be WF first road game in 4 weeks. The last one was the Clemson debacle. Deacs must be ready to play its best game in unfamiliar/angry surroundings. Like this past Saturday, the key will be TOs. WF had a +4 TO rate in Saturday's win; yes, VCU had more TOs than WF on Saturday. Helps WF to have played VCU this past Saturday as both opponents apply max ball pressure. If WF can limit TOs, WF has a huge edge inside as WF has a height edge at every spot on the floor. Also, the reffs will be big in this game as A&M looks to get its points inside and at the line on offense and A&M pushes the limits on D when trying to force TOs. Should be a fun game; would love WF if the Deacs were hosting, but winning at A&M won't be easy.
Here's the rundown on Buzz Williams' squad:
2021-22 Season: 25-12 #48. The Aggie season can be divided into 3 segments:
Started the season hot: 15-2 with wins over #39 Notre Dame (by 6) and #18 Arkansas (by 5)
Mid-season swoon: losing 8 straight and 9 of 10 between January 19 and February 19, including ugly home losses to #99 S. Carolina and #140 Mizzou.
Closed on a roll: currently on a 9-1 run with wins over #30 Bama by 16, #13 Auburn by 5, #18 Arkansas by 18. In the NIT, A&M has beaten #262 Alcorn State by 12 and #81 Oregon by 15.
WF and A&M played 3 common opponents: both beat ND and Oregon State; both lost to LSU (A&M lost to LSU twice)
Analytics: KP rates the Aggies as the #64 team on offense and the #39 team on defense. Offensively, A&M pounds on offensive glass (#20 in the nation; #3 in SEC in offensive rebounding %) and draws fouls (#48 in FT rate). A&M has been a poor shooting team for most of the season #215 in 3 PT % and only 27% of their offense comes from 3s (#273), but A&M was smoking from deep during their SEC Tourney run (over 50% in each of their first 3 SECT games). Defensively, A&M applies max ball pressure as the Aggies are #3 in the nation in steal rate, and #9 in the country in TO rate (yikes for WF fans). Even though A&M excels at grabbing offensive boards, the Aggies struggle to rebound on defense (#345 in opponents' offensive rebound rate). A&M plays a moderate to slow tempo (66.5 possessions per game #211); in Saturday's Oregon game, Aggies were limited to 61 possessions. A&M is deep; #24 in bench minutes.
Roster:
In the win over the Ducks, the Aggies started:
G 6-0 Fr. Wade Taylor: On Feb. 22, Taylor started his 2nd game of the season, since then, A&M is 9-1; 2nd in assists; 28% from 3;
G 6-2 Jr. Tyrece Radford: Felon; transferred from VT; 42% from 3; 2nd in boards -- an incredible rebounder for his size
G/F 6-4 Fr. Manny Obaseki: also began starting on February 22; 28% from 3; 2nd double figure game of the season in the NIT win over Oregon
F 6-5 Sr. Quenton Jackson: leading scorer (14.5 ppg); 2nd in blocks; 36% from 3; leads team in steals and TOs;
C 6-8 So. Henry Coleman: Duke transfer (played against WF last year; don't remember him); leading rebounder; no threat from 3
Bench:
G 6-2 Jr. Andre Gordon: 3 year starter until Wade Taylor took over his spot in February; 38% from 3; active defensively
G/F 6-6 So. Hayden Hefner: 33% from 3; A&M started rolling when Hefner was added to the rotation
G 6-2 So. Hassan Darrra: 29% from 3; 6 ppg and 2 rpg
F 6-8 Sr. Ethan Henderson: started 14 games; minutes dwindling; leads team in blocks; doesn't shoot the 3
The Projection: KP projects a 76-73 Aggie win; Torvik projects 74-72 Aggies. WF is 17-2 at home this year, and 8-7 on the road or on a neutral court. Hard to believe: Wednesday's game at A&M's Reed Arena will be WF first road game in 4 weeks. The last one was the Clemson debacle. Deacs must be ready to play its best game in unfamiliar/angry surroundings. Like this past Saturday, the key will be TOs. WF had a +4 TO rate in Saturday's win; yes, VCU had more TOs than WF on Saturday. Helps WF to have played VCU this past Saturday as both opponents apply max ball pressure. If WF can limit TOs, WF has a huge edge inside as WF has a height edge at every spot on the floor. Also, the reffs will be big in this game as A&M looks to get its points inside and at the line on offense and A&M pushes the limits on D when trying to force TOs. Should be a fun game; would love WF if the Deacs were hosting, but winning at A&M won't be easy.
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