Opinion
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Will the Aggies Conquer or Capitulate at Reed Arena Against Tennessee?

As the Texas A&M Aggies gear up to host the Tennessee Volunteers at Reed Arena, fans are buzzing with anticipation for what promises to be a thrilling encounter. The upcoming game, scheduled for February 10th, will see the Aggies looking to capitalize on their home-court advantage and continue their impressive form.


Feb 21, 2023; College Station, Texas, USA;  Tennessee Volunteers guard Zakai Zeigler (5) drives to the basket as Texas A&M Aggies guard Andre Gordon (20) defends during the first half at Reed Arena. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports

The Aggies have been on a roll lately, as evidenced by their commanding 79-52 victory over Houston Christian's Huskies on December 22nd. That night at Reed Arena was a showcase of Texas A&M's dominance in multiple facets of the game. With an astounding 49 rebounds and an assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.14, they outplayed and outmaneuvered their opponents with ease.


However, it wasn't just about brute force; finesse played its part too. The team converted 74 percent from the free-throw line and racked up points in paint (26), second-chance points (20), and points off turnovers (25). These statistics not only reflect TXAM's physicality but also their sharp execution under pressure.


Feb 21, 2023; College Station, Texas, USA; Texas A&M Aggies guard Dexter Dennis (0) drives to the basket during the second half against the Tennessee Volunteers at Reed Arena. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports

In contrast, when facing off against fourth-ranked Houston Cougars on December 15th in a neutral setting at Toyota Center, TXAM fell short by four points in a closely contested battle that ended with a scoreline of 70-66 in favor of Houston. Despite this setback, there were positives to take away – like maintaining an almost equal field goal percentage as that of Cougars' (38 percent compared to Cougars' 43 percent) and fighting hard for every rebound resulting in equal total rebounds for both teams (37).


The resilience shown by TXAM against Memphis Tigers on December 9th is another testament to their character. Although they lost narrowly with a scoreline of 81-75 at Reed Arena again, they displayed tenacity by making more than half of their two-point attempts (61 percent) and stealing possession from Memphis Tigers thirteen times throughout the game.


Feb 21, 2023; College Station, Texas, USA;  Texas A&M Aggies guard Dexter Dennis (0) shoots against the Tennessee Volunteers during the second half at Reed Arena. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports

Looking ahead to face Tennessee Volunteers – it’s clear that if Texas A&M can leverage its strengths such as rebounding prowess and converting opportunities into points especially from turnovers while minimizing errors – they stand a good chance against any opponent.


The Volunteers should not be underestimated though; any lapse in concentration or execution could tilt the balance towards them. It will be crucial for TXAM players like Quenton Jackson who has been pivotal this season both defensively with steals and offensively scoring crucial baskets -to step up once again.


With all eyes set towards February 10th showdown starting at 7:00 PM Central Time at Reed Arena where fans can catch live action broadcasted on ESPN Networks - one thing is certain: The Texas A&M Aggies are poised not just to compete but potentially conquer if they play true to form witnessed across recent games.

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