2008 Texas A&M Aggies Basketball Preview

The Texas A&M Aggies (25-11 overall, 8-8 Big 12) finished sixth in their conference and, as they had the two seasons prior, went to the NCAA Tournament. In the tourney, they beat BYU 67-62 in the first round and were then defeated by UCLA 51-49. Last season was head coach Mark Turgeon’s first, and he did a good job filling holes. This year there are even more holes to fill. How will he meet that challenge?

Junior forward Bryan Davis (22.8 PPG, 8.7 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 1.3 APG, 53.2 FG%, 51.2 FT%) is a big-bodied player who can bang and put points on the board. Coach Turgeon expects Davis to score, rebound and lead. He brings a fine work ethic to the court and the potential to be an All-Big 12 player. Junior forward/center Chinemelu Elonu (9.3 MPG, 2.7 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 0.2 APG, 53.0 FG%, 51.2 FT%) has potential but is still unproven. At six-foot-ten and 235 pounds, he’s seems capable of being a big-time player. Freshman forward David Loubeau offers scoring chops and athleticism. The big man will see serious minutes and could become a starter quickly.

Junior guard Donald Sloan (30.4 MPG, 9.5 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 3.4 APG, 41.8 FG%, 67.3 FT%) and senior guard/forward Josh Carter (28.9 MPG, 12.2 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 1.4 APG, 42.1 FG%, 82.1 FT%) will anchor the backcourt. Although not a true point guard, Sloan proved to be a capable leader last season. Freshman point man Dashan Harris brings excellent speed to the court and will likely start. In 2007-2008, Carter led the club in scoring, but his three-point accuracy dropped dramatically from the prior year. Sophomores B.J. Holmes and Nathan Walkup bring fine three-point shots to the floor, and they should help with point production.

This team has a fine foundation. The big question is will some of the newer guys be able to step-up, offering minutes, points and defense? Once again, the NCAA Tournament is certainly within this team’s reach. In the conference, the Aggies should finish in the upper-half of the pack.