A.J. HOFFMAN
NCAA basketball report: Texas gets off to fast start; Aggies drop one
Nov 13, 2018, 7:18 am
Shaka Smart and UT are off to a good start. Jamie Squire/Getty Images
TEXAS LONGHORNS (3-0)
Last week (3-0): W- Eastern Illinois 71-59, W- Arkansas 73-71 (OT), W- UL Monroe 65-55
This week: Friday vs. Citadel
Texas’ first game of the year went about as expected, but was highlighted by the return of Andrew Jones from his leukemia treatments. He didn’t exactly fill the stat sheet, adding a single point, rebound, assist and steal in his 9 minutes of floor time, but he clearly gave the crowd and his teammates something to cheer about. Jones is still undergoing chemotherapy treatments, and his availability will be sporadic, at least early in the season. Matt Coleman led the team with 13 points. Notably absent was Kerwin Roach II, who was suspended for the first game of the season. The biggest complaint for the Horns in Game 1 was that they hit only 32% from 3-point range. They have struggled the last two seasons with outside shooting, and this doesn’t instill much hope in a turnaround. Roach made his presence felt, including behind the 3-point line, in the second game of the week for Texas. Roach led the team with 18 points, including the 3-pointer at the buzzer that sent the game to overtime. Jericho Sims and Dylan Osetkwoski added 14 and 11, respectively. They were both bolstered by six free throw makes a piece, part of what kept Texas in the game during a terrible second half scoring drought. Texas played a back and forth game with UL Monroe on Monday, eventually pulling away in the last 10 minutes for a 10 point victory. Roach led the team with 13 points, but he was amongst the many who was inefficient behind the arc, as the Horns shot just 24% from distance. Texas gets Citadel this week.
TEXAS A&M AGGIES (1-1)
Last week (1-1): W- Savannah State 98-83, L- UC Irvine 74-73
This week: Thursday @ Gonzaga, Sunday vs. Minnesota
The Aggies knew they would have to run this season, and run they did in Game 1 of the season against Savannah State. That came with positives and negatives. On the positive side, that led to Savion Flagg putting up 24 points to lead an Aggie team that had five players in double digits. The negative was the Aggies turning the ball over 24 times. Despite losing so much size from last season’s team, the Aggies were still +25 in rebounding and blocked eight shots in the victory. The second game of the week didn’t go as well for the Aggies, as they dropped a hard fought game to the UC Irvine Anteaters 74-73. A quick glance at the box score explains why they couldn’t win this game, as the Aggies shot 21% from 3-point distance and 36% from the field. Irvine shot the ball well, especially late in the game. Saint Francis transfer Josh Nebo led the Ags with 15 points. Things won’t get easier this week, as Billy Kennedy’s crew heads to the Pacific Northwest for a battle against thirrd-ranked Gonzaga and come back on Sunday for a date with Minnesota.
HOUSTON COUGARS (1-0)
Last week: W- Alabama A&M 101-54
This week: Wednesday vs. Rice, Monday (11/19) vs. Northwestern State
Armoni Brooks, last season’s AAC 6th Man of the Year, started his season with a bang. Brooks hit 6 3-pointers as part of his 24 points against Alabama A&M. Corey Davis, Jr. added 22 in a 101-54 rout. The Cougars were 61% from the field and 50% from deep in a completely lopsided game that was never in question. The Cougars get Rice on Wednesday and Northwestern State next Monday.
RICE OWLS (2-1)
Last week: W- St. Leo 80-64, L- Penn 92-76, W- Alabama A&M 73-59
This week: Wednesday @ Houston, Saturday vs. Northwestern State
The Rice Owls may have gotten two of the few wins they will get this season last week, notching an 80-64 victory over Division 2 St. Leo. Robert Martin went 6-of-6 from the field en route to his 18 points. He also added in six boards and three steals. Junior Aka Adams added 14 in the win. Game 2 of the week didn’t go nearly as well, as Penn blew the doors off of Rice in Philadelphia. Martin again led the Owls with 16 points off the bench. Sophomore Josh Parrish added 15 in the loss. The Quakers won the free throw battle by 15 points in the game. Rice never trailed against Alabama A&M, pulling away to a 73-59 rout. Adams dominated the game, scoring 22 points (including 5 3-pointers) and bringing in 7 rebounds. Rice gets Houston and Northwestern State in the coming week.
BAYLOR BEARS (2-1)
Last week: L- Texas Southern 72-69, W- Southern 80-53, W- Prairie View 91-80
This week: Thursday vs. Nicholls
Texas Southern is a good team, but Baylor couldn’t have thought they would be starting the season 0-1. Baylor had gone 56-0 against SWAC teams before this one, but TSU wasn’t worried about history. King McClure led the Bears with 23 points. The Bears struggled mightily at the free throw line, shooting a pathetic 27%. The Bears got in the win column against Southern a couple days later. Southern led about five minutes into the second half, but Baylor pulled away and never looked back. They forced 21 turnovers in the win. Devonte Bandoo led the charge for the Bears with 25 points. The Bears got another win against Prairie View on Monday, 91-80. Freshman Jared Butler led Baylor with 22 points, and McClure added 21 in the win. The Bears had their own turnover problems in this one, giving it away 16 times on the night. The Bears play just one game this week, a home tilt with Nicholls.
TCU HORNED FROGS (2-0)
Last week: W- CS Bakersfield 66-61, W- Oral Roberts 79-62
This week: Thursday vs. Fresno St.
CS Bakersfield gave the Frogs all they could handle in the season opener. TCU trailed by double digits for a good portion of the first half. Desmond Bane took over at halftime, though, and the Frogs escaped with a victory. Bane had 14 points and 10 rebounds in the win. Alex Robinson had 12 points and 9 assists in the game. TCU shot only 19% from distance in the win. TCU had an easier time against Oral Roberts, but the main contributors were the same. Bane and Robinson combined for 45 points in the win. The Frogs played stout defense, and were able to get their 3-point percentage up to 47%. TCU has Fresno State at home this week.
TEXAS TECH RED RAIDERS (2-0)
Last week: W- Incarnate Word 87-37, W- Mississippi Valley St. 84-52
This week: Tuesday vs. Southeast Louisiana, Monday (11/19) vs. USC
One team who you can’t accuse of starting slow is Texas Tech, as their average margin of victory in the first week was 41 points. Jarrett Culver scored 16 points in the season opener against Incarnate Word. Defensively, Tech dominated. They allowed just 7 points on 3 of 30 shooting in the 2nd half. Tech used 13 players in the win, showing some of their depth, presumed to be a strength this season. Davide Moretti led the way for the Raiders in their 84-52 win over Mississippi Valley State, scoring a career high 17 points, including 5 of 7 from distance. Jarrett Culver also added 12 points for the Raiders. Tech gets Southeast Louisiana and USC in the week ahead.
SMU MUSTANGS (1-1)
Last week: W- Northwestern State 69-58, L- Southern Miss 74-64
This week: Wednesday vs. Western Carolina, Saturday vs. Lipscomb
SMU didn’t look as sharp as they would have hoped in the first game, but they escaped with an 11 point win over Northwestern State. The Mustangs shot 39% from the field and just 25% from 3 in the win. Jimmy Whitt, Jr. was one of the bright spots for the offense, scoring 19 points with 6 rebounds and 5 assists. They couldn’t get away with sloppy in their next game, as the Southern Miss Golden Eagles downed SMU 74-64. Ethan Chargoise scored 25 points in 32 minutes. Whitt, so great in the previous game, only added 2 points in the loss. The Ponies will look to rebound this week with matchups against Western Carolina and Lipscomb.
LSU TIGERS (2-0)
Last week: W- Southeastern Louisiana 94-63, W- UNC Greensboro 97-91
This week: Tuesday vs. Memphis, Friday vs. Louisiana Tech
To the dismay of the SEC, LSU’s recruiting class looks as good as advertised. All four Tiger freshmen were in double digits in the season debut against Southeastern Louisiana, led by Nad Reid’s 17. Marlon Taylor added 15 in the 94-63 win. The Tigers were inefficient from behind the arc, shooting only 25%, but they dominated on the defensive end, forcing 20 turnovers in the game. The Tigers had a tougher time against UNC Greensboro, holding on late for a six-point victory. Reid and Tremont Waters combined for 50 points in the win. The Tigers shot 50% from the 3-point line, but Greensboro was able to hang by hitting 19 3-pointers of their own. The Tigers will look to build on their fast start, with matchups against Memphis and Louisiana Tech this week.
Most Popular
SportsMap Emails
Are Awesome
Listen Live
With the Astros now officially ten games under .500 for the season, manager Joe Espada is taking a lot of heat from the fanbase for the team's struggles.
While we don't agree with the sentiment, we even hear fans clamoring for the return of Dusty Baker and Martin Maldonado, thinking the Astros wouldn't be in this mess if they were still here.
Which is ridiculous. First of all, Maldonado has been awful for the White Sox, hitting .048 (even worse than Jose Abreu's .065). And for those of you that think his work with the pitching staff justifies his pathetic offense. Let me say this: Where was Maldy's game calling genius for Hunter Brown, Cristian Javier, and Framber Valdez last year? All of them regressed significantly.
And as far as Baker is concerned, we have no idea how much a difference he would make, we can only speculate. Baker would also be dealing with a pitching staff ravaged with injuries. And let's not forget, Baker was the guy that refused to move Jose Abreu down in the batting order, even though he would finish the regular season with the ninth-worst OPS in baseball.
The reality of the situation is managers can only do so much in baseball. Which leads us to something else that needs to be considered. Is Espada being handcuffed by the front office? Espada and GM Dana Brown both said recently that Jon Singleton was going to get more at-bats while they give Abreu time off to try to figure things out. Yet, there Abreu was in the lineup again in the opening game of the Cubs series.
It makes us wonder how much power does Espada truly have? The Astros have some other options at first base. Yainer Diaz may only have eight games played at the position, but how much worse could he be than Abreu defensively? Abreu already has four errors, and Diaz is obviously a way better hitter. Victor Caratini isn't considered a plus offensive player, but his .276 batting average makes him look like Babe Ruth compared to Abreu. Let him catch more often and play Diaz at first. Starting Diaz at first more often could also lengthen his career long-term.
Maybe that's too wild of a move. Okay, fine. How about playing Mauricio Dubon at first base? I understand he doesn't have much experience at that position, but what's the downside of trying him there? If he can play shortstop, he can play first base. He's driving in runs at a higher rate (11 RBIs) than everyone on the team outside of Kyle Tucker and Yordan Alvarez. And he's producing like that as part-time player right now.
The other criticism we see of Espada is his use of Jon Singleton to pinch hit late in games. Let's be real, though, who else does Espada have on the roster to go to? Batting Abreu late in games in which you're trailing should be considered malpractice. Espada can only use who he has to work with. This all really stems from the Astros poor farm system.
They don't have anyone else to turn to. The draft picks the club lost from the sign-stealing scandal are really hurting them right now. First and second rounders from 2020 and 2021 should be helping you in 2024 at the big league level.
Maybe they go to Astros prospect Joey Loperfido soon, but after a hot start he has only two hits in his last six games.
Finally, we have to talk about what seems like a committee making baseball decisions. Lost in a committee is accountability. Who gets the blame for making poor decisions?
As time continues to pass it looks like moving on from former GM James Click was a massive mistake. He's the guy that didn't sign Abreu, but did trade Myles Straw (recently DFA'd) for Yainer Diaz and Phil Maton. He also built an elite bullpen without breaking the bank, and helped the club win a World Series in 2022.
The reality of the situation is Dusty Baker and James Click are not walking back through that door. And all good runs come to an end at some point. Is this what we're witnessing?
Don't miss the video above as we hit on all the points discussed and much more!
Catch Stone Cold 'Stros (an Astros podcast) with Charlie Pallilo, Brandon Strange, and Josh Jordan. We drop two episodes every week on SportsMapHouston's YouTube channel. You can also listen on Apple Podcast, Spotifyor wherever you get your podcasts.