By Chris Shepperd
I love Aggie women’s basketball. There, I said it. No innuendo here. I think they are fantastic. But all personal feelings aside, they are flat out good.
With such a deep team that includes four freshmen, five sophomores, four juniors and only three seniors, this Aggie basketball team, #8 in the nation, has the luxury of playing up in the face of opponents and not backing down. This years recruiting class included last years Junior College National Player of the Year Danielle Adams. Adams is averaging 15.4 points a game and 4.9 rebounds for the Aggies.
The ladies have been able to take care of business both on the road and at home, out of conference, in conference, against ranked opponents and unranked opponents. With the only loss on the year coming on the road against a tough TCU squad by two points, the Aggies have compiled a 14-1 record (2-0 in the Big XII). They are 5-0 against ranked teams, beating them by an average of 18 points a game.
With quality wins over Duke, California, Arizona State, Texas and Iowa State, these girls have done everything asked of them by head coach Gary Blair. Shoot, these girls have done more than anyone could have hoped for or expected at this point in the season. Nobody honestly thought they would be this good this fast after graduating so much talent in the likes of Danielle Gant, LaToya Micheaux and arguably the best women’s basketball player to ever wear maroon and white, Takia Starks. No one knew who would step up and take control. No one really knew if Sydney Colson could lead this team and become the new floor general.
The ladies have left no doubt. They are here to win. No matter what it takes or who they have to go through. I just wish more people were taking notice.
This is where you normally read a rant about how the fans are terrible and need to show more support. Well I could agree with that in part. But the fans aren’t entirely terrible. The 4,700 fans that are showing up are outstanding Aggies and are really giving the ladies a home court advantage. It is the other 7,000 empty seats that bother me. Where is the rest of the 12th man?
Women’s basketball IS NOT boring. If you honestly believe that, then you obviously haven’t come out and watched this team against a top opponent. These girls are flat out entertaining. With full court pressure and a press that can put fear in even the best of teams, this squad will bring it for a full 40 minutes.
This team has scored over 100 points twice, over 90 an additional three times and less that 60 only once this season. That is a lot of scoring. On the flip side of that, the defense has held its opponent to under 50 points three times this season and under 60 another six times. So they bring it full tilt on both ends of the floor.
And they manage to do this playing in the toughest conference in the nation.
“Is the Big 12 the best conference in the country? Yes, from top-to-bottom, but we will never be given the credit until one of us knocks off Connecticut, Stanford or Tennessee in the Final Four, or two of us reach the Final Four in the same year,” Blair said in his blog.
The Aggies have their sights set on the top teams in the nation. These ladies are legit and deserve all the support we can manage to give them. So come out and watch arguably one of the best teams in the nation on the hardwood, your Fightin’ Texas Aggie Women’s basketball team.
I don’t think Phil Lynott would mind if I tweak his lyrics just a bit: “Guess who just got back today? Those wild-eyed girls that’ve been away. Haven’t changed, haven’t much to say. But man I still think them cats are crazy.” You all know the words…. “The girls are back in town!”