A&M: Two Keys to Look For

[tylerlindsey2111]

Offensively: Can Texas get into actions quickly, thus allowing for the ball to hit multiple hands?

During the first matchup, A&M was able to use what basketball nerds refer to as "token" pressure to slow Texas down. Out of a 1-2-2 3/4 court zone look, they applied enough pressure to get Texas to eat shot clock usually beginning the offensive possession in the attacking area with anywhere from 18-22 seconds on the clock, instead of 24-27. For a team where the ball sticks a lot anyway, this creates a sense of panic and usually ends up in one ball screen, against loaded help, and hoping to make  a tough shot. A&M is far too good defensively for this to be effective. Texas must get the ball quick and advance with the pass as early as possible. Against the pressure, Texas guards were far too passive in the first matchup. You have to attack pressure to score, and while you don't want to turn it over to give up transition points, the defense has to feel the stress at some point of expanding their coverage area. Otherwise, success will remain hard to find at a sustained rate.

Defensively: Keep A&M in front of you and off the foul line.

A&M crushed Texas in the paint and at the foul line. While the Horns will never have a premier interior defense, the effort level to "guard your yard" has got to be better out of the perimeter and POA defenders. Missouri level defensive effort is a must. A&M is not a great or prolific three point shooting team (30% on 22 attempts per game), and they love playing grind it out games. If Texas can wall off the paint, it should lead to success defensively as well as allow them to run a bit in transition. Could we see some zone from Texas? Would not be out of the realm of possibilities if I was guessing.

 

These are just two things I am interested in looking for in the matchup. Huge game, arguably a must win for Texas. What are you guys interested in seeing? Hook'em!

[bierce]

A&M is neither a pretty offensive team nor a good one.  It can't shoot 3s.  It doesn't shoot 2s well.  It masks its offensive deficiencies by being terrific at offensive rebounding and getting to the line, and those things can really mask deficiencies, but it makes the game ugly.  You can also give A&M credit for having a low turnover percentage in conference play, but Mississippi forced A&M into 20 turnovers Wednesday night.  Of course, that is the sort of thing Beard's, I mean Mark Adams's teams do.  So, in sum, A&M wins by having a lot more chances to shoot than its opponents.  In its two conference losses, A&M did not have the rebounding advantage.  Oklahoma almost beat it, but that was a case of OU shooting lights out.

What I remember most about the game @ Reed was that while we did a pretty good job of keeping A&M off of the offensive glass (not that it missed many shots from inside the arc), A&M so owned the paint in the second half that we lost by 20 on a night A&M shot about 10% from the arc.  Shedrick and Kent were extremely timid on the few possessions they had the ball inside.   Kaluma was on the bench in foul trouble when A&M went to a zone late in the first half and erased our early lead.  It was a tighter zone than the one Syracuse played to be sure, but we made almost no effort to get the ball inside the zone for kickouts the way we did with Kaluma in Brooklyn.  

Pharrel Payne has been nearly unstoppable in conference--shooting 80% from the field and taking half again as many fta as fga.  50% career ft shooter, but 64% in conference this year.

[MarkInAustin]

Not having seen Aggie play, you two have given me a roadmap for this game.

 

Thanks.

[alrightalrightalright]

You nailed it, we were dominated in the paint last game. Keep them in front of you and off the foul line. Attack quickly in transition.

Hook 'Em!

[Jordan91]

Defense rebounding is what I am looking for and how quickly they can get out in transition. Texas needs all the easy baskets it can get. Teams that apply pressure typically don’t like pressure. Yea it’s only token pressure, but I am interested in seeing if Texas try’s it. 

[Jordan91]

1 hour ago, MarkInAustin said:

Not having seen Aggie play, you two have given me a roadmap for this game.

 

Thanks.

Dont sleep on Wade. His shooting percentages aren’t great, but he is a really good guard. If he gets hot then lookout. 

[Jordan91]

Interested in seeing Tre on offense too. He’s struggled scoring in SEC play. His scoring has dropped significantly in the second half of games too. I would like to see more post ups and mid range shots. 

[bierce]

1 hour ago, Jordan91 said:

Dont sleep on Wade. His shooting percentages aren’t great, but he is a really good guard. If he gets hot then lookout. 

He spent most of the game against Mississippi foolishly driving into trouble. 

[Jordan91]

45 minutes ago, bierce said:

He spent most of the game against Mississippi foolishly driving into trouble. 

And I would love for that to continue. Just saying he’s capable of playing really well. 

[bierce]

3 hours ago, Jordan91 said:

And I would love for that to continue. Just saying he’s capable of playing really well. 

He definitely shot incredibly well today.