AGGIE OUTLOOK
How the Aggies’ fourth straight loss surprisingly delivers hope
Nov 2, 2022, 11:05 am
Let's look at some positives. Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images.
Jimbo Fisher
The Aggies broke their streak of scoring less than 25 points. The Aggies had excellent quarterback play. Devon Achane had over 120 yards of total offense. A&M had a 100-yard receiver. All of these factors are usually key to the Jimbo Fisher-led Aggies winning games. However, on Saturday, the often trustworthy Wrecking Crew, or the Ags’ defense, let the over 101,000 packed into Kyle Field down.
The Rebels gashed the Aggies for 390 yards rushing, scoring 31 points and adding to Head Coach Jimbo Fisher’s longest losing streak during his tenure at Texas A&M. Quinshon Judkins rushed for over 200 yards alone as the Maroon and White could never seem to catch up offensively. One thing was different for Texas A&M on Saturday however, for the third time this season, A&M had a new starting quarterback. This time, it was the 5-star true freshman Connor Weigman. Yet another member of the historic 2022 recruiting class, he, like many others has had an instant impact on the field in his first start. Weigman was 28-44, 338 passing yards with 4 touchdowns and no interceptions. No Texas A&M freshman QB has done that since 2013, when Johnny Manziel threw for 300-plus yards, 3 or more touchdown passes and no turnovers. If Connor Weigman is starting his career already in that company, then it is not surprising why so many Aggies are so optimistic even after another loss.
One of the three storylines I wanted to keep my eye on coming into this season was quarterback play. Quite frankly the season up to this point has yet to see any good QB play from anyone wearing Maroon and White. Then enter Connor Weigman, who might single handily take A&M from a 4-5 win team to a 6-7 bowl-eligible team. If Weigman can provide decisive and confident play from here on out and the A&M defense plays to their regular standard, I think Texas A&M can somehow pull out a bowl game appearance. That was a wild statement just a week ago and provides some hope to a fan base who is reeling for it.
Now the Aggies will welcome in the Florida Gators who are coming off a decent showing against the #1 ranked Georgia Bulldogs. Florida provides a similar challenge that Ole Miss gave the Aggies, that being the ability to run the ball well. If the Gators can utilize Anthony Richardson on the ground and not have to use his arm, the Gators should be in good shape against the Aggies. If the Ags can get back on track defensively Saturday morning, I think Connor Weigman has provided a spark offensively and could only get better from here for Texas A&M. The Aggies snap the four-game skid with a 35-27 win over the Gators to improve to 4-5.
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Astros keep doing this, and it’s getting hard to ignore
Jun 25, 2025, 10:01 pm
While the rolling Astros have a week of possible World Series preview matchups against the Phillies and Cubs, it’s the Rockets who made the biggest local sports headline with their acquisition of Kevin Durant. What a move! Of course there is risk involved in trading for a guy soon to turn 37 years old and who carries an injury history, but balancing risk vs. reward is a part of the game. This is a fabulous move for the Rockets. It’s understood that there are dissenters to this view. Everyone is entitled to an opinion, including people with the wrong opinion! Let’s dig in.
The Rockets had a wonderful season in winning 52 games before their disappointing first-round playoff loss to the Warriors, but like everyone else in the Western Conference, they were nowhere close to Oklahoma City’s caliber. While they finished second in the West, the Rockets only finished four games ahead of the play-in. That letting the stew simmer with further growth among their young players would yield true championship contention was no given for 2025-26 or beyond.
Kevin Durant is one of the 10 greatest offensive players the NBA has ever seen. Among his current contemporaries only Stephen Curry and Nikola Jokic make that list. For instance, Durant offensively has clearly been better than the late and legendary Kobe Bryant. To view it from a Houston perspective, Durant has been an indisputably greater offensive force than the amazing Hakeem Olajuwon. But this is not a nostalgia trip in which the Rockets are trading for a guy based on what he used to be. While Durant could hit the wall at any point, living in fear that it’s about to happen is no way to live because KD, approaching his 18th NBA season, is still an elite offensive player.
As to the durability concern, Durant played more games (62) this past season than did Fred VanVleet, Jabari Smith, and Tari Eason. The season before he played more games (75) than did VanVleet, Dillon Brooks, and Alperen Sengun. In each of the last two seasons Durant averaged more minutes per game (36.9) than any Rocket. That was stupid and/or desperate of the Suns, the Rockets will be smarter. Not that the workload eroded Durant’s production or efficiency. Over the two seasons he averaged almost 27 points per game while shooting 52 percent from the floor, 42 percent from behind the three-point line, and 85 percent from the free throw line. Awesomeness. The Rockets made the leap to being a very good team despite a frankly crummy half-court offense. The Rockets ranked 21st among the 30 NBA teams in three-point percentage, and dead last in free throw percentage. Amen Thompson has an array of skills and looks poised to be a unique star. Alas, Thompson has no credible jump shot. VanVleet is not a creator, Smith has limited handle. Adding Durant directly addresses the Rockets’ most glaring weakness.
The price the Rockets paid was in the big picture, minimal, unless you think Jalen Green is going to become a bonafide star. Green is still just 23 years old and spectacular athletically, but nothing he has done over four pro seasons suggests he’s on the cusp of greatness. In no season has Green even shot the league average from the floor or from three. His defense has never been as good as it should be given his athleticism. Compared to some other two-guards who made the NBA move one year removed from high school, four seasons into his career Green is waaaaaay behind where Shae Gilgeous-Alexander, Anthony Edwards, and Devin Booker were four seasons in, and now well behind his draft classmate Cade Cunningham. Dillon Brooks was a solid pro in two seasons here and shot a career-best from three in 2024-2025, but he’s being replaced by Kevin Durant! In terms of the draft pick capital sent to Phoenix, five second round picks are essentially meaningless. The Rockets have multiple extra first round picks in the coming years. As for the sole first-rounder dealt away, whichever player the Rockets would have taken 10th Wednesday night would have been rather unlikely to crack the playing rotation.
VanVleet signs extension
Re-signing Fred VanVleet to a two-year, 50 million dollar guarantee is sensible. In a vacuum, VanVleet was substantially overpaid at the over 40 mil he made per season the last two. He’s a middle-of-the-pack starting point guard. But his professionalism and headiness brought major value to the Rockets’ kiddie corps while their payroll was otherwise very low. Ideally, Reed Sheppard makes a leap to look like an NBA lead guard in his second season, after a pretty much zippo of a rookie campaign. Sheppard is supposed to be a lights-out shooter. For the Rockets to max out, they need two sharpshooters on the court to balance Thompson’s presence.
For Astro-centric conversation, join Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and me for the Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast which drops each Monday afternoon, with an additional episode now on Thursday. Click here to catch!
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