• BlueGoldAg
    1.3k
    It's time to put the rough preseason behind and begin the chase for the Big West Conference crown. The Ags jump into the fray tonight when they travel to SoCal to play the team that many think is the odds on favorite, UC Irvine, at 7 pm. The Anteaters are talented and deep and, as is typical of Russell Turner's teams, they play very disciplined basketball and are a solid defensive team.

    Making a run at the title will be no easy task for the Aggies this year as they have struggled to play consistently good basketball and have had serious problems putting the ball through the hoop. There's bad news and good news reportedly for the Ags injury wise going into tonight's game: the bad news is that AJ John has not been cleared to play and the good news is that the rest of the team is healthy including Stefan Gonzalez who has been out a lot lately.

    Most of the Aggie woes this year are due to a precipitous drop off in offense and most notably in 3 point shooting. Our inability to shoot well from the perimeter has forced the Ags to change strategies and try and pound the ball inside to Matt Neufeld and Garrison Goode and for our guards to try and score off dribble penetration in the lane.

    The Big West teams will have seen the film and it's likely that we'll see teams clogging up the middle in an effort to make the Ags shoot from the outside. So we'll need for some shots to start dropping from distance in order to stretch the floor and help open up the middle.

    As is the case with all Jim Les' teams, the Ags must play rock solid defense to keep us within striking distance. We just don't have the offensive weapons and consistency to be able to make big runs when we fall behind. We need to be the best defensive team in the conference to be able to compete with the best Big West teams like Irvine and Santa Barbara.

    A "new season" begins tonight at 7 pm and the game will be televised live on ESPN 3:

    http://www.espn.com/watch/_/id/3475561/uc-davis-vs-uc-irvine

    Go Ags!
  • DrMike
    743
    11 point underdogs tonight. that's a pretty big spread, but warranted based on preseason.
  • Oldbanduhalum
    599
    Don't know if this means much, but you can see John (#25) in this tweet from Scott Marsh at UCI. Not saying he'll make an immediate difference upon his return, but it would be nice to have another experienced big guy available. Not sure why he'd make the trip if he wasn't close to coming back.

  • BlueGoldAg
    1.3k
    I sure hope AJ can go tonight. He's had a rough time with injuries over his career. I'm sure he's chomping at the bit to play especially since this is his last season.
  • DrMike
    743
    i kind of like his line vs. Indiana:

    Minutes 34
    FG 5-10
    3PT 4-9
    Pts 14
  • Oldbanduhalum
    599
    That was definitely his best offensive game. We know he has the ability, intelligence and energy to be a big part of a winning team, it's just a matter of getting him back into game shape as quickly as possible.

    Since John has been out, Neufeld has step into the starting lineup and done pretty well (he plays a different game then John, of course). Neufeld's issue is that he gets into foul trouble easily, fouling out in 2 of the last 3 games. Even if John just gives us 15 mins of good defense and rebounding, that would be a big help.
  • SoCalAggie
    60
    Could this be an uglier game? We look aweful right now...
  • agalum
    335
    Tuned in late, but offensive rebounds looking weak.
  • BlueGoldAg
    1.3k
    This is a game between two very good defensive teams. I thought the Ags defense overall was excellent in the first half. Irvine is solid defensively and we're having trouble with their size. We just can't shoot from the outside and we turned the ball over 9 times. That hurts.

    The writer who said he didn't think the Ags would break 50 points may be right in his prediction.
  • madcityscott
    7
    I missed the first half. Did AJ play at all?

    Shooting looks rough.
  • madcityscott
    7
    And just as I typed that, en fuego.
  • Toke69
    328
    AJ has seen some playing time but has missed all his shots as of near the middle of the second half.
  • BlueGoldAg
    1.3k
    Great comeback by the Ags to tie the game. TJ just put the team on his back and Mooney drained a couple of 3's.
  • madcityscott
    7
    Apparently Les instructed them to attack the rim.
  • BlueGoldAg
    1.3k
    We have to attack the rim since we don't shoot well from the outside.

    Down 5 with 3:47 to go. Joe Mooney hitting 3's from NBA range. We need that!
  • madcityscott
    7
    Neufeld is having a strong game. Seems like he’s improving every game.
  • BlueGoldAg
    1.3k
    61-61 going to OT. Ags scrapping like crazy! Time for this team to get a good win. Go Ags!
  • madcityscott
    7
    Tied at the end of regulation. TJ had a good look with time running out but just missed.
  • Zander
    193
    Aggie basketball is back in the most Aggie basketball way possible
  • BlueGoldAg
    1.3k
    Ags lose 71-69 in OT. Great effort by the Ags but I really did not like that last possession by the Ags when TJ just dribbled the clock down and then missed a long jumper. That's not his bread and butter. Drive the ball and either get a close shot or foul or kick it out for a 3.
  • Oldbanduhalum
    599
    Well I hate moral victories but at least we looked like Aggie basketball again. Good to see John back but missed gonzo. A win at beach would soften this loss
  • movielover
    536
    Great effort.

    Did I see Dr Harry Edwards in the crowd, or his look alike?
  • BlueGoldAg
    1.3k
    I will say this: TJ Shorts II is the best PG ever to wear an Aggie uniform and I've watched the Ags since 1972. He's absolutely incredible.
  • Oldbanduhalum
    599
    I just did a quick run by the UCI and BW boards, and there was clearly a lot of praise for TJ. He has the physical tools to take over a game, but it's his sheer will to win that makes him a step better. Not that the other players (on both teams) don't also want to win, but TJ has that certain something that only the great ones have. I just wish we got the chance to watch him for 4 years instead of 2.
  • BlueGoldAg
    1.3k
    I was thinking the same thing last night. His determination and work ethic are as good as it gets. He's set the standard for future Aggie PG's. It's a pure joy to watch him play the game.
  • movielover
    536
    Angelo Rivers was great but not a big scorer.
  • BlueGoldAg
    1.3k
    Rivers was an excellent player but he did not play against the kind of competition that Shorts has.
  • movielover
    536
    Did you see Audwin Thomas play? If yes, please describe.
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