After soaring to a number five national ranking, the Texas A&M basketball team is in a nose dive.
Texas A&M basketball started the season with an 11 – 1 record to earn a top five ranking.
Go to the head of the class, Aggies.
Since then, Texas A&M has lost five straight SEC games.
Go to the corner, Aggies. And have your momma call me.
To explain the inexplicable, reasonable voices point to injuries and suspensions. They have been significant.
Coaches are staying wary of the Aggies as well. “Everyone in our league knows how good they are,” Kentucky coach John Calipari said Phillip Heilman of the Florida Times-Union.
Maybe, but the season is already half over.
Is it effort?
Against Tennessee Saturday, inside play set off alarms. Texas A&M was out rebounded by Tennessee 38-29. The Volunteers led in both offensive and defensive rebounds.
Are the Aggies playing lazy? Carter Karels of Dallas.com thinks so.
At half, UT has 7 offensive rebounds and forced 13 turnovers. Texas A&M has played a lot of lazy basketball. Here's an example:
— Carter Karels (@CarterKarels) January 13, 2018
Three-pointer goes up, no one boxes out. Ags complacently relying on talent/athleticism has recently cost them. No one is playing inspired. pic.twitter.com/zLVw9YzeC4
Tennessee grabbed 14 offensive rebounds and forced 17 turnovers. Texas A&M turned the ball over ten times by half way through the first half.
Suspensions and injuries may have had a lingering effect against Tennessee as well. Still, the 17 turnovers committed by the Aggies despite having a full roster against the Volunteers is another alarm.