Texas A&M, coming off a tough loss to Missouri on the road, travels to Bud Walton Arena on Saturday to take on a very talented Arkansas team.
With the SEC standings as tight as they are right now, this game could be a key matchup in determining who gets a double bye in the conference tournament. Texas A&M is slightly behind Arkansas in that regard, but both teams have a great shot.
For the Aggies, the loss of Duane Wilson for the year due to injury will be a situation people need to monitor. That means that Texas A&M is down to one true point guard in freshman TJ Starks, who has been heating up as of late.
However, as it was a season ago, ball-handling could become an issue down the stretch for Billy Kennedy’s squad.
As for the Razorbacks, they’re still relying heavily on the senior duo of Jaylen Barford and Daryl Macon. Both players are averaging 17 or more points and 31 or more minutes this season, with freshman Daniel Gafford offering consistent production behind those two.
Let’s look at some key factors heading into this crucial SEC matchup.
X Factor: TJ Starks
The aforementioned Starks will be the key to victory for Texas A&M.
He will see extended minutes for the rest of the season due to Wilson’s absence, and the freshman will need to continue to be the point guard he has been of late. And while scoring will certainly be an important part of his game, he’ll also need to be an excellent facilitator and be able to take care of the ball in close games.
Starks will get the task of not only having to score a lot, but having to defend Macon and Barford for majority of the game.
Players to Watch
DJ Hogg (Texas A&M)
Hogg is a player that can change the outlook of a game in a hurry, as he can shoot well from the perimeter when he’s on his game.
Whether he is hitting shots from the outside will be something to watch for.
If he is, that opens up the floor significantly for players like Tyler Davis and Robert Williams to have room to operate inside.
Daniel Gafford (Arkansas)
Gafford has been on a tear recently, scoring in double figures for four consecutive games.
Arkansas is a guard dominated team, but Gafford being a consistent scoring threat inside is big for the Razorbacks’ overall spacing. It forces teams to collapse on him at times and overcommit, which opens up shooting opportunities for Macon and Barford.
The matchup between Gafford and Texas A&M’s trio of 6-10 players will be one to watch.
Prediction
Bud Walton Arena is one of the toughest places to play, not only in the SEC, but in the country.
The arena will be sold out, the crowd will be fired up, and the Arkansas players typically feed off that energy.
However, I liked how Texas A&M played at Auburn against a smaller, guard-dominated lineup. The Aggies pounded the paint and forced a lot of bad shots, which led to a big win.
Their overall length and athleticism makes me believe in the Aggies in this particular matchup.
Prediction: Texas A&M 82, Arkansas 77