Friday, January 11, 2013

Texas A&M vs. Kentucky preview



Yes, this is where I usually do a review of the previous days game, but that's not gonna happen. We won, it was a clear shot clock violation and we're done with that road trip this year. That's why I hate playing at Vandy. 

Kentucky doesn't have much time to rest between games this week. Last season Kevin Stallings was whining to anyone who would listen about Kentucky not having to play a Thursday, Saturday schedule and how it was unfair. Never mind the fact that there were a couple other teams (I don't feel like looking them up) in the SEC who also didn't have the Thursday, Saturday thing last year, but Kentukcy was the "evil"  one that Stallings focused on. Relax Mr. Stallings, we have it this year, all is right with the world again. Now in a very short turn around, Kentucky has to get prepared for the Aggies of Texas A&M. 

Texas A&M is one of the newest members of the SEC joining on July 1, 2012 after leaving the Big 12. So for those who don't know much about the Aggies, here's a little history for ya...


EST: 1871

Location: College Station Texas

Former name: The Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas (1871- 1963)

Colors: Maroon/White

Nickname: Aggies

Mascot: Reveille VIII

SEC member since July 1, 2012

Former employer of ex Kentucky headman Billy Gillispie


NOTABLE ALUMNI:

Horace S. Carswell, Jr  class of 1938
Thomas W. Fowler class of 1943
William G. Harrell class of 1943
Lloyd H Hughes class of 1943
George D. Keathley class of 1937
Turney W. Leonard class of 1942
Eli L. Whiteley class of 1941
 Why are these seven men considered "notable alumni" you ask? They all just happened to have served in WWII  and they all just happened to win a little award called The Medal of Honor. In my book, that makes them "notable alumni"  and us here at Big Blue Corner thank you. 


  Coming into tomorrow's game, A&M has had a pretty decent year so far if you only look at their record like I did 11-3 (1-0), but then you look down their schedule and they have played  literally no one. Houston, Oklahoma and Army are the only teams I recognize on their schedule, so who are their three losses you ask? They are Saint Louis, Oklahoma and Southern University, all these losses also came at home. 


  Aside from Oklahoma, thats a couple of  bad losses. Wondering how they could lose to Southern University? Here's a numbers comparison between the Cats and the Aggies...


     A&M/UK 

PPG: 66/78

RPG: 35/40

APG: 13/16

SPG:    6/8

BPG:    3/8

TPG:  13/13

FG%: 45/48

FT%: 70/64

3P%: 38/35

On paper, Kentucky is clearly the better team in this match up. A&M do however, have a couple of guys who can really score the ball Elson Turner and Ray Turner can cause some problems if left unguarded. Elson shoots the three at a 42% clip and Ray connects on nearly 60% of all his FG attempts. The Cats will have to play some tough D when it comes to these two guys, if they can keep them in check, Kentucky wins. The only thing Kentucky fans should worry about in this one is if A&Ms staff watched the Vanderbilit game last night. Because if they did, they got the recipe to defeat the Cats, play zone. Until Kentucky can show they can beat a zone, you can expect to see every team they play to use some form of it. 


  I don't think Kentucky will have much to worry about in this one, they are better at every position. If they can get the thoughts of Memorial Gym out of their minds, play the way they had been playing prior to Vandy, Kentucky win this one going away by 20-25 points. 

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