A&M is a team to watch....

[jbcarol]

Hugh Kellenberger @HKellenbergerCL  ·  8 minutes ago
FINAL: Ole Miss 69, Texas A&M 59. Stefan Moody scores a game-high 19 as Ole Miss wins its fourth in a row.

In Oxford

[jbcarol]

Joe Lunardi @ESPNLunardi  ·  5 hours ago

I'll duck now...

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/bracketology/_/iteration/220

A&M actually moved up to a 10-seed despite the road loss to Ole Miss.

[jbcarol]

Steve Walentik @Steve_Walentik  ·  2 hours ago
From today's Tribune: Aggies are a study in staying the course: Texas A&M having success in Kennedy's fourth season http://www.columbiatribune.com/sports/mu_basketball/aggies-are-a-study-in-staying-the-course/article_4f498932-31ce-5b5d-a97d-a703881dc6a1.html ...

At this point in the season three years ago, the Missouri basketball team sat in the top five of the national polls with a 20-2 record and the most potent offense in college basketball.

It feels longer than that now with the Tigers (7-15, 1-8 SEC) mired in an eight-game losing streak — the program's longest since the 1973-74 season. They have failed to reach 50 points in the past two defeats.

The Texas A&M team set to tip off against Missouri at 5 p.m. Saturday at Mizzou Arena could provide some hope that patience can be rewarded, because it was only three years ago that Aggies fans had the same fears MU supporters have now.

They watched a program that had been to six straight NCAA Tournaments endure a free fall to a 14-18 record in Coach Billy Kennedy's first season. The Aggies finished ninth in the Big 12 Conference with a 4-14 league mark. They had to look hard for progress the past two seasons, with Texas A&M going 15-21 against Southeastern Conference competition.

The Aggies (15-6, 6-3) are finally enjoying a resurgence this season. They had won six straight before Wednesday's setback at Mississippi and remain in second place in the conference standings, on track to land an invitation to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in four years...

Kennedy landed Houston transfer Danuel House in June to pair with Southern Methodist transfer Jalen Jones. Both are averaging 13.8 points and have been even better during conference play, combining for 30.3 points per game.

"I didn't think it'd be this big," Caruso said when asked about their impact. "I knew they were going to come in and play for us, but they're leading us in multiple stat categories and with energy sometimes, so they've been more than expected."

Texas A&M, which averages 67.5 points, didn't learn that House would be eligible this season until after the third game.

[jbcarol]

Brent Zwerneman @BrentZwerneman  ·  21 hours ago
Texas A&M, aiming to make NCAA tourney for first time since 2011, played 4 of its last 5 on road -- and won 4 out of 5 in that span.

[jbcarol]

Aggie Men's Hoops @AggieMensHoops  ·  2 hours ago

We've won 7 of our last 8 and we need the #12thMan to #RockREED tomorrow night at 6pm when we take on the Bulldogs!

Fans will be entertained during the intermission by the world famous Russian Bar Trio as seen on America's Got Talent.

The same sports pass that allows Texas A&M students to pull tickets for Aggie football games will give A&M students free admission to basketball all season long. All Aggie students need to do is swipe their student ID at the student entrance to Reed Arena (north entrance).

Several fans will get the chance to show their skills on the court during the Wells Fargo Crawl for Cash and Chick-Fil-A's 3-Point Shootout competitions. Shooting skills could net fans prizes valued from $5 - $400.

[jbcarol]

Brent Zwerneman @BrentZwerneman  ·  7 hours ago
Prize for upwardly-mobile Aggies following rugged road stretch: 3 straight at home, starting 6 tonight vs Georgia: http://blog.chron.com/sportsupdate/2015/02/prize-for-aggies-following-rugged-road-stretch-3-straight-sec-home-games/ ...

[DLUXHOG]

simply put..... no, they're not...

[jbcarol]

Brent Zwerneman @BrentZwerneman  ·  2 hours ago
Attendance in Reed Arena for Ga. at A&M: 6,441. A&M drew twice as many in last home game (a win over Vanderbilt on a Saturday afternoon).

Georgia defeats Texas A&M 62-53 here in Reed Arena, both teams now 7-4 in SEC play. Aggies committed nearly twice as many TOs (13 to 7).

[jbcarol]

Brandon Zimmerman @BZSEC  ·  13 hours ago

Georgia and Florida are the only two teams Texas A&M hasn't beaten since joining the SEC. Aggies host the Gators on Saturday.

[jbcarol]

A&M's home-court advantage was invisible Wednesday against a very good, poised Georgia team that grabbed an impressive 62-53 victory.

The Bulldogs put a huge damper on the start of A&M's pivotal three-game homestand with solid play after solid play. If they needed a 3-pointer, they hit it. If they needed a rebound, they got it, even if it meant brushing aside an Aggie or two. And if an official's call or bounce of the basketball didn't go their way, they reacted but didn't overreact.

A&M is enjoying its best season by far since making six straight trips to the NCAA tournament from 2006-11. The success has come in part because of road victories at LSU and Tennessee while also protecting home court.

But Georgia exposed some of A&M's flaws, particularly when it comes to junior transfers Jalen Jones and Danuel House -- also big reasons the Aggies are battling for second place in the SEC. House took a nasty fall in the first half and had to miss 6 1/2 half minutes. Jones played only 24 minutes because of foul trouble and appeared frustrated, finishing with nine points and making little impact on the game. House played 31 minutes and had 14 points on 5-of-11 shooting.

But more telling than Jones and Houses' play was what happened when they sat. A&M's bench, which had averaged 20.5 points in the last four games while seemingly getting better and better, had but two points and missed all eight field goal attempts. Georgia plays much better defense than the teams A&M had been playing, and it showed.

The announced crowd of 6,441 included plenty of no-shows. Some 1,979 students showed up including the Corps of Cadets, which deserves props for being the only unit to arrive in force. It wasn't anything close to the atmosphere that spurred on A&M in the double-overtime loss to Kentucky, nor did it duplicate the effort of the 12,722 that helped A&M beat Vanderbilt, twice getting loud enough to help force key Vandy turnovers.

A&M had won seven of eight before Wednesday, and Georgia is set to make the NCAA tournament. The situation seemed prime for a big crowd, but if that's the kind of turnout A&M can expect, it's a good thing it wasn't coming off losing seven of eight, or they could've played the game comfortably inside the Lincoln Center.

It had to be discouraging for the players after experiencing the electricity in that building for Kentucky and Vanderbilt. Fickle basketball fans have been the norm around here for decades...

[jbcarol]

Brent Zwerneman @BrentZwerneman  ·  10 hours ago

A&M defeats LSU 68-62, the Aggies have at least nine league wins for 1st time in their 3 seasons in SEC -- w/ 5 regular season games to go.

Texas A&M bolsters NCAA tournament chances with comeback victory over LSU: http://www.chron.com/sports/aggies/article/House-s-clutch-free-throws-lead-Aggies-past-Tigers-6086553.php ...

[jbcarol]

Brent Zwerneman @BrentZwerneman  ·  Feb 18

A&M won points in paint battle again on Tuesday vs. LSU (36-22) - our feature on as much from Tues: http://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/aggies/article/Roberson-shows-A-M-inside-track-to-success-6084319.php?t=01718a725fb087cae0&cmpid=twitter-premium ... @HoustonChron

[jbcarol]

Brent Zwerneman @BrentZwerneman  ·  17 hours ago
Saturday matinee: South Carolina up next for A&M with season winding down: http://blog.chron.com/sportsupdate/2015/02/saturday-matinee-south-carolina-up-next-for-am-with-season-winding-down/ ...

A&M's players and coaches wrapped up practice in Reed Arena on Friday afternoon, in time to go climb on a bus outside the loading dock that carried them to a plane that flew them to Columbia, S.C., for an 11 a.m. Saturday contest at South Carolina.

"I told the (players) that winning has a price," A&M coach Billy Kennedy said just before hitting the arena exit. "Everybody says they want to win, but few people really have a true desire to win. We talked about that (on Friday) morning.

"That if you really want to win, you'll be ready to play (early) tomorrow. That's my challenge, and I know they're ready for it."

None of Kennedy's three prior teams at A&M appeared as ready to do so – and this program has more to play for heading into late February. The Aggies, who then play at No. 18 Arkansas on Tuesday, are firmly on the bubble in an attempt to make their first NCAA tournament since 2011, when only senior Kourtney Roberson was on the roster.

[jbcarol]

David Cloninger @DCTheState  ·  23 minutes ago
MEN'S FINAL: Texas A&M 62, South Carolina 52. The Gamecocks fall to 13-13, 4-10 SEC.

GoGamecocks.com @gogamecocks  ·  18 minutes ago
Housed: Transfer that considered USC buries Gamecocks http://scne.ws/8gQxDG  #gg

[jbcarol]

Brent Zwerneman @BrentZwerneman  ·  3 hours ago

Chronicle columnist Randy Harvey on A&M playing key game at Arkansas tonight: http://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/columnists/harvey/article/Fans-slow-to-notice-A-M-s-picking-up-pace-in-6097369.php?t=83dde2f96ab087cae0&cmpid=twitter-premium ... via @HoustonChron

A&M's basketball team canceled practice Monday, flying out early to get ahead of the freezing rain forecast for College Station. On Tuesday night in Fayetteville, Ark., going from one extreme to another, the Aggies will face 40 minutes of hell...

During a stretch of six consecutive seasons of NCAA Tournament appearances between 2006-11, the Aggies had several crowds of more than 13,000 - once as large as 13,717 for a game against Texas - in an arena with a capacity of 12,989. There wasn't a fire marshal brave enough to tell the "Reed Rowdies" they had to leave.

The rowdies are still raucous, but the arena is often so empty you can hear them echo.

Average attendance for seven Southeastern Conference home games in College Station this season has been 7,368. Most of the crowds would have fit into G. Rollie.

The Aggies drew 10,411 for the first conference home game, hardly a surprise because the opponent was No. 1 and still unbeaten Kentucky. The next home game against Mississippi State drew 4,804. One factor for that game was that students hadn't returned to campus from the semester break.

But even when the students came back, they weren't back for the basketball team.

The Aggies have drawn more than 10,000 for only one other conference home game. Even the LSU game last Tuesday night drew only 6,701.

Hyman actually was encouraged by that crowd because the noise filled the arena even if fans didn't...

[jbcarol]

Kate Hairopoulos @khairopoulos  ·  34 minutes ago
Arkansas' defense intimidates me, and I'm on my couch in Dallas. Hogs up 27-9 early on A&M.

[Hogsfan1981]

I don't like them but they can make some noise....teams don't just come back like that. Very impressed by them.

To bad that first half will be forgotten.

[ADavisTheGOAT]

They deserve to get into the tourney the way they played tonight. Luckily we beat a team who wanted it badly  :razorback:

[popcornhog]

I don't like them but they can make some noise....teams don't just come back like that. Very impressed by them.

To bad that first half will be forgotten.

They showed grit. No moral victories, but they can leave NWA proud.

That Danuele House kid is for real.

[BrooklynRoss]

They've got a seriously good team. House has NBA written all over him.

[Hogsfan1981]

Hogs just could not keep the same energy going.

BUT they did not fold like they would have in the past and A&M is a good team and could have won this game.

You have to respect a team that does not quit and Arkansas will see that in the tourney.

This is good for the Hogs...gives them something to look at in practice.

[LAHogfan123]

I've got to give them credit, they wanted this win badly and made a fight of it like any good team is supposed to.  House is the real deal, still don't see how the NCAA gave him a waiver to play this quickly, oh wait,,,,,,

[RazorChuck]

They were lucky to have gotten back in the game.
A&M threw up so much slop that should never have gone in.

[HSVhogfan2]

House is the TRUTH.

[alohawg]

They've got a seriously good team. House has NBA written all over him.

I told my wife after he hit that last three that he was a serious NBA talent, very smooth and talented.

[hogpc]

They earned my respect tonight!

[Corkscrew Johnson]

Our defense and rebounding got lazy in the 2nd half.  Kinda looked like us earlier in the season.  Hard to maintain the energy and focus after a monster first half like that.  It's actually a skill that is learned.  Whatever, a win is a win. 

[Danny J]

Yeah...I have said it for 3 weeks now. They are a legit sweet 16 caliber team. They finally have all their players healthy and eligible since Jones is back and they are really playing well. We played as good a first half as is possible for this team to play and they cut that to 2 in the second half.

[Rawker]

Hogs just could not keep the same energy going.

BUT they did not fold like they would have in the past and A&M is a good team and could have won this game.

You have to respect a team that does not quit and Arkansas will see that in the tourney.

This is good for the Hogs...gives them something to look at in practice.

Indeed.  And for all the people that love to freak out about the bad half....I would contend that they played a ridiculously awesome half in response to a great night and a great turnout, and gave enough for the W.  Caruso is fantastic, House is great, Roberson is big, and Robinson is scrappy as Hell, and they got fired up....that's college basketball.  I'll take that W by one.

[Hoggish1]

I felt this would happen because they were not going away.  But we didn't fold!

[ishankem]

Rebounding is only reason this was even close.
If hogs had rebounded at all, it would have been a hog blow-out

[BrooklynRoss]

I told my wife after he hit that last three that he was a serious NBA talent, very smooth and talented.

6'7" two guard with a sweet 3-point stroke and a slash game? Yeah, I want him working for the Knicks.

[Breems]

Two teams essentially swapped their best efforts and focus levels at half-time.

Hoping A&M loses another game (@Florida hopefully) so that the #2 seed is safe with us. Otherwise, I look forward to watching them in the Big Dance with us.

[Kevin]

Rebound,!what is this you speak of?

[Letsroll1200]

We gave up too many second chance points. Credit to A&M for hitting the boards. Mike was 0-7 and we still won the game.

[micali]

Yeah...I have said it for 3 weeks now. They are a legit sweet 16 caliber team. They finally have all their players healthy and eligible since Jones is back and they are really playing well. We played as good a first half as is possible for this team to play and they cut that to 2 in the second half.

A$M a sweet 16? What? You serious Clark?

[Hogsfan1981]

A&M had a lot to gain. We needed that first half to get up on them. I thought the game would be a close one so the first just gave us bonus breathing room.

[alohawg]

6'7" two guard with a sweet 3-point stroke and a slash game? Yeah, I want him working for the Knicks.

He looks like a Laker to me, but what do I know.

[Atlhogfan1]

Once they slowed the game in the second half to where they could spread us out in the halfcourt, they were good.  In their first few possessions of the game, they had a couple of backdoor cut opportunities but the Hogs were playing with energy to cause turnovers. 

[heatmiser]

Rebounding is only reason this was even close.
If hogs had rebounded at all, it would have been a hog blow-out

If A&M hadn't scored, we would have blown them out. #obvious

[BrooklynRoss]

He looks like a Laker to me, but what do I know.

Hahahaha, plus one you nasty Laker fan.

[Danny J]

A$M a sweet 16? What? You serious Clark?

Dead serious. They are a very good team. How many teams in the country can overcome what they did to cut the lead late to 1 point? There probably isn't 15 teams in the country who could have done that.

[RyanLR]

The Hogs kinda cruised through that second half, no biggie as long as you get the win. A&M impressed me with their fight until the end.

[TeufelHog]

Yep, no quit in those Aggies tonight.  You must give them credit.  Says a lot about their coach/staff as well.

[Atlhogfan1]

Any team with a player like House is dangerous in the postseason.  They just have to get to the NCAAT first. 

[Hogsfan1981]

[ishankem]

If A&M hadn't scored, we would have blown them out. #obvious

If hogs had hit defensive glass, atm wouldn't have scored a ton of put backs either, #obvious

[TheArkansasTraveller]

$crew giving credit to Aggies for the comeback.  Give credit for the Hogs taking a 1 pt. game and closing it out!   :razorback:

[johnfanman]

A and M always had respect. We just lost some with the second half that we earned with the first half. Dominating A and M would of scared Kentucky and made conversation for that game at a fever pitch. Oh well. Just prove ourselves at Rupp.

[Hogsfan1981]

A and M always had respect. We just lost some with the second half that we earned with the first half. Dominating A and M would of scared Kentucky and made conversation for that game at a fever pitch. Oh well. Just prove ourselves at Rupp.

I hope Kentucky looks over us a little. We still beat a very good team.