Texas A&M will try to get back on track when it heads west to take on No. 3 Gonzaga on Thursday night.
The Aggies weren’t able to hold off UC Irvine in the previous game, as the Anteaters scored on their final possession to score the upset win in College Station.
As for Mark Few’s team, they’ve been rolling early with back-to-back performances of 100-plus points.
Let’s run through what to watch for in this matchup.
Game Details
- Texas A&M (1-1) at Gonzaga (2-0)
- Location: McCarthey Athletic Center – Spokane, WA
- Game Date: Nov. 15
- Game Time: 11:30 p.m. EST
- Watch: ESPN2
Players to Watch
TJ Starks (Texas A&M)
With the availability of Admon Gilder and Wendell Mitchell still unknown due to injuries, Starks simply has to be more effective on the offensive side of the court.
He had 16 points in the opener against Savannah State, but wasn’t exactly efficient in going just 6 of 19 from the floor. The 6-2 sophomore followed that up with a 3 of 15 shooting night in the loss to UC Irvine, which puts his field-goal percentage at 26.5 percent on the year.
Starks may be trying to force a bit too much without Gilder and Mitchell on the floor, so the struggles are understandable.
However, to beat a top-five team on the road, he’ll need to produce at a much more consistent rate.
Savion Flagg (Texas A&M)
Flagg has played very well to start his sophomore season, as he’s averaging 17.5 points and 10.5 rebounds through two games.
Like most of the Aggies, he struggled from the field in the loss to UC Irvine (11 points on 5-of-15 shooting), but he’s undoubtedly still proving quality minutes for Billy Kennedy and company.
If Flagg can continue to improve his weaknesses as the season progresses, he has a chance to be one of the top playmakers on this new-look Texas A&M squad.
Rui Hachimura (Gonzaga)
It’s no surprise to see Hachimura already off to a dominant start this season.
The 6-8 junior exploded for 33 points on 13-of-18 shooting in the opener (7 of 9 from the free-throw line) while playing just 24 minutes.
He had another efficient outing against Texas Southern by posting 17 points on 7-of-11 shooting in just 20 minutes of action.
His versatility on both sides of the court is going to continue to be a huge asset for Few and company.
Josh Perkins (Gonzaga)
As a senior, Perkins is certainly the most experienced player on the roster having been a part of so many big games over the years.
He scored 19 points in the recent victory over Texas Southern, with Perkins dishing out 11 assists after compiling eight assists in the opener.
His ability to limit mistakes and make outside shots should allow him to have a big impact in this particular matchup.
Key Stats
The 3-point shooting numbers for Texas A&M right now simply aren’t pretty.
After making just 32.9 percent of their 3-point attempts last season, the Aggies are off to a rough start by making 14 of their first 66 attempts this year (21.2 percent).
Considering that Kennedy wants his team to play at a faster pace this season, the early shooting woes are certainly not ideal.
When you compare that to the Zags’ efficiency on offense (fifth in adjusted offensive efficiency through two games), the setup here isn’t encouraging when it comes to wondering if Texas A&M will have enough offense to keep up.
Game Outlook
- Spread: Gonzaga -17.5
- Over/Under: 154
- KenPom Projection: Gonzaga, 89 percent chance to win
- ESPN BPI Projection: Gonzaga 91.7 percent chance to win
It sounds like the status of Gilder and Mitchell remains uncertain, and without them on the court, it’s hard to see the Aggies providing a significant challenge to the home team.
Timetable for return of Texas A&M G Admon Gilder still uncertain as Aggies begin road stretch | @AlexMill20 https://t.co/8P2BAK9m1Z
— Ben Baby (@Ben_Baby) November 14, 2018
If you want to beat this Gonzaga team at home, you’re going to need to have a great shooting performance combined with a lot of consistency on defense.
Unfortunately for the Aggies, they’ve had neither through two games.
The Zags are more experienced and have already found a rhythm offensively, and that’s why they appear to be the confidence choice in this type of game.
Gilder and Mitchell returning to action would likely make it a closer game, but it’s impossible to pick against Gonzaga.
Season Prediction Record (straight up): 27-4
Game Prediction: Gonzaga 88, Texas A&M 65
11/15 Update: Gilder will be sidelined for this game, but the Aggies may have Mitchell back in the lineup.
Texas A&M will be without senior guard Admon Gilder, out indefinitely. He didn’t make trip. Guard Wendell Mitchell is suited up and going thru warmups, could see first action of season.
— Jim Meehan (@SRJimm) November 16, 2018
For more SEC basketball coverage, follow me on Twitter @theblakelovell.