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POWER in the Paint Howdy Ags! When was the last time you had a frontcourt capable of dominating a basketball game from the opening tip? Rudy Woods, Rynn Wright, Claude Riley, Vernon Smith……Oh wait, I'm sorry, you don't remember that far back do you? No problem, neither can I, at least not clearly. Here's the short: The year was 1980; the team was the last at A&M to advance to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen. The Ags knocked off powerhouse North Carolina in double-overtime and ended the season losing a heartbreaker to eventual national champion Louisville, also in overtime, 66-55. Joseph Jones, Antanas Kavaliauskas, Bryan Davis, Chinemelu Elonu, Martellus Bennett and Marlon Pomey……. You get the point. A&M should once again have POWER in the paint. It's not ironic, either, that this is the first time since that 1980 team where the Aggies are ranked in virtually every poll to start the season. Most publications have the Ags inside the top 15, some the top 10. Add talent to a superior level of effort and you have the ingredients of an instant winner….. Aggie fans have grown to admire the grit and determination exhibited by the A&M football team this fall. Not to take anything away from the accomplishments of Stephen McGee and the leadership of the Aggies, but we first witnessed that foundation for success with the A&M basketball team last season. Aggie basketball, under the leadership of head coach Billy Gillispie, has done a complete 360. That turnaround was made possible because this current group of A&M players realized that a blue-collar, in your face attitude - especially defensively - were necessary for success. That type of character, however, did not materialize over night. "We handled 0-16, that adversity of losing," said Acie Law IV, the Aggie point guard who led the team in scoring at 16.1 points per game in '05. Hard work, dedication and the will to succeed helped create the mindset that we all admire today. As they worked through the difficult times, they grew together as a team, became a family, and in turn developed a determined commitment not seen on any A&M team in recent memory. The fruits of their labor was certainly visible at the end of last year, but should pay even bigger dividends as the team continues to grow and move forward. As you might expect, they won't be satisfied with just turning the corner, either. "We haven't hung any banners anywhere," head coach Billy Gillispie said at Big 12 media day. "That's always the goal." "Actually, our expectation is to win the national championship," point guard Acie Law said in the recent 12th Man magazine. "We want more, much more." "We're determined to out-work and out-hustle everyone we play." That folks is the type of drive, leadership and attitude that championship teams are made of. The Ags will set out on the path to achieve their goals tonight against Midwestern State at Reed Arena (8:00PM) in their first exhibition game of the season. There are a few new faces making their Aggie debut tonight and they'll add to what is already a championship collection of players. 6' 10" redshirt freshman Chinemelu Elonu, a shot-blocking terror, and 6' 9" 245 pound Brian Davis - one of the nation's best recruits - are newcomers who should help bolster what is already considered a strong Aggie presence in the paint. With a few games, this should be the strongest and deepest A&M front-court in some time. The maturation of 6' 10" Antanas Kavaliuskas helped the Aggies reach heights last year that even the most optimistic Aggie couldn't have envisioned. 6' 8" 225 pound senior Marlon Pompey, a defensive force, and 6' 7" 245 pound Martellus Bennett - still participating in football at the moment - give the Aggies more options down low. Add those to the rock, center Joseph Jones, and you have what should be the best A&M front-court since that 1980 Sweet 16 participant. Guards, like running backs in football, reap the benefits of having an intimidating front-line. Four more highly recruited players will make their first appearance in an A&M uniform tonight as well. The Seagoville duo - Donald Sloan and Derrick Roland - along with guards Byran Beasley and Bryson Graham are all players who could potentially make an impact. 2006-07 should an exciting year for A&M basketball. It appears as if everything is in place - character, chemistry, leadership, POWER in the paint and expections.... Says Acie Law, "We accept the challenge, and we expect to be even better than anyone else expects us to be." Let's do it!! Texas A&M Roster Texas A&M Basketball Schedule |