COLLEGE STATION, Texas-No. 19/20 Texas A&M opens the 2011-12 season-the 100th in program history-on Wednesday when the Aggies face Liberty in the regional round of the 2K Sports Classic benefiting Coaches vs Cancer. Tipoff at Reed Arena is set for 7:06 p.m. and the game will air on FOX Sports Southwest.
GAME 1: (#19/20) Texas A&M AGGIES (0-0) vs Liberty FLAMES (0-0)
Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2011 • 7:06 PM • TV: FOX Sports Southwest
Reed Arena (12,989) • College Station, Texas
RADIO: Texas A&M Sports Network
Dave South, Play-by-Play
Al Pulliam, Commentary
Local: WTAW-AM 1620
Satellite Radio: Sirius 92/XM 190
LIVE STATS: aggieathletics.com
LIVE AUDIO: aggieathletics.com/radioaggieland.com
THE MATCHUP
TEXAS A&M AGGIES
Record: 0-0, 0-0 Big 12
Ranking: 19th (USAT/ESPN), 20th (AP)
2010-11 Finish: 24-9, 10-6 (T-3rd)
Head Coach: Billy Kennedy (SE Louisiana ’86)
Record: 211-179 (14th year)
at Texas A&M: 0-0 (first year)
vs. Liberty: never faced
LIBERTY FLAMES
Record: 0-0, 0-0 Big South
Ranking: NR
2010-11 Finish: 19-13, 13-5 (2nd)
Head Coach: Dale Layer (Eckerd ’80)
Record: 304-222 (19th year)
at Liberty: 34-29 (third year)
vs. Texas A&M: never faced
STARTING FIVE
- Wednesday marks the start of the 100th season of basketball at Texas A&M University … the first team was fielded for the 1912-13 campaign.
- Wednesday’s season opener is part of the 2K Sports Classic benefiting Coaches vs Cancer regional round … the Aggies will continue play in the event Nov. 17-18 at New York’s Madison Square Garden.
- For the first time in league history, Texas A&M has been picked to win the Big 12 Conference men’s basketball championship … the Aggies sat atop the preseason coaches’ poll in a tie with Kansas.
- A&M has won 60 straight non-conference games at Reed Arena (dating back to start of 2005-06 season) and 73 consecutive regular-season, non-conference home games (dating back to 2003).
- Texas A&M is coming off its fifth consecutive 24-plus win season, one of only 8 schools nationally to accomplish that … the Aggies are one of 12 programs in the country that have been to 6 straight NCAA Tournaments.
MORE QUICK HITS
- The Aggies have won 10 straight season-opening games and 11 straight home openers … A&M is playing its season opener at home for the 11th consecutive year.
- November 9th matches the earliest start to a season in school history … the 2007-08 campaign also began on Nov. 9 … the Aggies will be the first Big 12 team to take the court this fall.
- Texas A&M opens the year ranked in the top 20 nationally (19th/USAT, 20th/AP) for just the fifth time in school history, but the third time in the last six years … the Aggies’ previous preseason ranked teams were: 1979-80 (14th/AP); 1980-81 (15th/AP); 2006-07 (13th/USAT, 13th/AP); and 2007-08 (14th/USAT, 16th/AP).
- Texas A&M is one of only 8 schools in the entire country that have won 24 or more games in each of the last 5 seasons (Butler, BYU, Kansas, Memphis, Pittsburgh, Texas A&M, VCU, Xavier).
- A&M is one of just 12 schools that have made the NCAA Tournament in each of the last 6 seasons (Duke, Gonzaga, Kansas, Marquette, Michigan State, Pittsburgh, Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M, Villanova, Wisconsin, Xavier).
- A&M took a 10-day tour of Switzerland and France in August, touring some of the most famous landmarks the countries have to offer and playing a four-game schedule.
100 YEARS OF AGGIE BASKETBALL
- Wednesday marks the start of the 100th season of basketball at Texas A&M University … the first team was fielded for the 1912-13 campaign.
- The inaugural team was coached by F.D. Steger and won its first ever game (date unknown) over Marlin (Texas) High School, 78-8 … the first “collegiate” opponent for the program was later that season with a pair of games against Sam Houston Normal Institute (now Sam Houston State University) … the Aggies will play SHSU later this winter.
COACH BILLY KENNEDY TAKING LEAVE OF ABSENCE
- Texas A&M head coach Billy Kennedy was recently diagnosed with an early stage of Parkinson’s disease and has taken a leave of absence … Kennedy made the announcement on Oct. 27 through the statement below … associate head coach Glynn Cyprien is running the team until Kennedy’s return.
- STATEMENT FROM TEXAS A&M MEN’S HEAD BASKETBALL COACH BILLY KENNEDY: “As some of you know, I have been experiencing neck and shoulder pain for several months. While not debilitating, the pain has affected my ability to sleep with any duration or regularity. As a result of this and my schedule, I had reached a state of exhaustion and was advised by my attending physician to take some time to restore my strength and to further explore the underlying cause of my discomfort.
Through testing, it has been discovered that I am dealing with an early stage of Parkinson’s disease. At this time, I am heeding the advice of my doctors and addressing the disease and its symptoms. We have begun a long-term treatment plan and recovery. My doctors are encouraged and are telling me I will be able to come back soon.
I am very grateful for the outpouring of support and the prayers from friends, family and the Aggie Network. We have a good prognosis, be encouraged, and join with me in eager anticipation for the success that awaits us. My intention is to return to the court as soon as it is prudent. Until my return, I have great confidence in Coach (Glynn) Cyprien and the staff I have assembled to lead this great group of young men and this basketball program.”
- STATEMENT FROM BILL BYRNE, TEXAS A&M DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS: “Our foremost concern is for Coach Kennedy and his family. Billy knows he can count on us and the Aggie Network for support. I fully expect Billy to have a long and illustrious coaching career here in Aggieland when he is cleared to return to the court. Meanwhile, I have confidence in the staff Billy has hired and in our basketball team. I’m anxious to get the season started and to get Billy back on the basketball court as well.”
- STATEMENT FROM SENIOR DASH HARRIS, AGGIE BASKETBALL PLAYER: “After speaking with coach today, he knows that we’re there for him and we know that he’s there for us. He’s doing better and we’re just trying to get him back on the floor as soon as possible. He left this team in great hands. We have great leadership to a man on this team and on this staff, and everyone knows what he expects so once he comes back it’ll be a smooth ride. He looks well, he seems happy and he’s the same Coach Kennedy that he always has been. Our prayers are with him. We’re looking forward to a great season, a season with him on the sideline.”
- Those interested in sending well-wishes may do so via mail at Coach Billy Kennedy, Aggie Basketball, P.O. Box 30017, College Station, TX 77842-3017 or via email at lwahlgren@athletics.tamu.edu.
OPPONENT SNAPSHOT: LIBERTY
- Liberty University, the nation’s largest, private non-profit college, is located in Lynchburg, Virginia … the school competes in the Big South Conference, boasts an enrollment of 12,200 and was founded in 1971.
- The Flames return 4 starters and 6 letterwinners from last year’s squad that went 19-13 and finished second in the Big South at 13-5 … Liberty has been to the NCAA Tournament twice, most recently in 2004 … LU’s last postseason trip came in 2009 to the CIT where it advanced to the second round
- Dale Layer (Eckerd ’80) begins his third season as head coach at Liberty with a record of 34-29 … Layer has 304 career wins in 18 seasons.
Series History
- A&M and Liberty will be meeting for the first time on the basketball court … the Flames are one of three new opponents for the Aggies this season (joining St. John’s and Arkansas Tech) … Wednesday’s game will mark the second in A&M history against a Big South opponent, with the only other meeting a 71-51 Aggie victory over Winthrop on Jan. 2, 2007.
2K SPORTS CLASSIC BENEFITING COACHES VS CANCER
- Wednesday’s game is part of the Regional rounds of the 17th annual 2K Sports Classic benefiting Coaches vs Cancer … Texas A&M is participating in the event for the first time in school history.
- The Aggies will join St. John’s, Arizona and Mississippi State at famed Madison Square Garden in New York City for the championship rounds on Nov. 17 and 18 … A&M will face MSU in the first semifinal (Nov. 17, 6 p.m. CT) while St. John’s and Arizona will play in the nightcap (8:30 p.m. CT) … the consolation (3:30 p.m. CT) and championship (6 p.m. CT) games will take place the following day … all four games will air live nationally on ESPN2.
- The trip to The Garden will be Texas A&M’s first since winning the 2007 Preseason NIT.
- Other schools in the 14-team field are Akron, Duquesne, Eastern Kentucky, Lehigh, UDC, Valparaiso, William & Mary, Hiram and Indiana-Kokomo.
MORE ON BILLY KENNEDY
- Billy Kennedy was named the 21st coach in Texas A&M men’s basketball history on May 16, 2011 … Kennedy is a native of New Orleans and enters his 14th season as a head coach.
- The 47-year-old Kennedy, the reigning two-time Ohio Valley Conference Coach of the Year, comes to Aggieland after five seasons at the helm at Murray State University in Kentucky … there, he guided the Racers to a winning record in each year of his tenure … in the last two seasons, his team posted a combined 54-14 record, back-to-back Ohio Valley Conference championships and consecutive trips to the postseason.
- His teams have won 6 conference titles and made 4 trips to the postseason and has posted 7 straight winning seasons as a head coach.
- Over his last seven years as a head coach, Kennedy’s teams have averaged 21 wins per season, earned four conference titles and made three trips to the postseason–two to the NCAA Tournament and one in the NIT.
- Kennedy is making a return trip to College Station, as he was an assistant on the 1990-91 team under Kermit Davis.
CHAMPIONSHIP-CALIBER STAFF
- Billy Kennedy has put together a veteran staff in his first season in Aggieland … the group has a combined 89 years of collegiate coaching experience.
- Over the last decade, the group has been a part of 18 conference titles and 22 postseasons (15 NCAA, 7 NIT) … in 2010-11, each staff member won a championship at his respective school and as a group averaged 25 wins on the year.
RARIFIED AIR
- The Aggies are one of only 4 Big 12 schools to post winning conference records in each of the last 3 seasons … in fact, when looking at the “Super 6” conferences, it puts A&M in some pretty elite company … only 18 of the 73 teams who have competed in those leagues over the last 3 years have accomplished that feat:
Big 12 4 A&M, Kansas, Kansas State, Texas
Big East 4 Louisville, Pitt, Syracuse, West Virginia
ACC 3 Clemson, Duke, Florida State
Big Ten 3 Ohio State, Purdue, Wisconsin
SEC 2 Florida, Mississippi State
Pac-10 2 Cal, Washington
BIG 12 FAVORITES
- For the first time in league history, Texas A&M has been picked to win the Big 12 Conference men’s basketball championship … the Aggies sat atop the preseason coaches’ poll in a tie with Kansas.
- The previous high for an A&M team was second, in the 2006-07 season.
2011-12 BIG 12 PRESEASON COACHES’ POLL
Team (1st Place Votes) Points
1. Kansas (5) 73
Texas A&M (2) 73
3. Baylor (2) 63
4. Missouri (1) 61
5. Texas 51
6. Kansas State 39
7. Oklahoma State 33
8. Iowa State 27
9. Oklahoma 15
Texas Tech 15
- The Aggies have met or exceeded the preseason poll’s prognostications in 6 of the last 7 seasons … a look at A&M’s history in the poll and eventual league finish:
A&M’s PRESEASON BIG 12 POLL HISTORY
Year Preseason Rank Finish Year Preseason Rank Finish
2011-12 t1st ?? 2003-04 9th 12th
2010-11 6th t3rd 2002-03 12th t12th
2009-10 5th t2nd 2001-02 11th 12th
2008-09 5th t4th 2000-01 10th t12th
2007-08 3rd 6th 1999-00 11th t8th
2006-07 2nd 2nd 1998-99 t11th t10th
2005-06 7th 4th 1997-98 11th 12th
2004-05 11th 7th 1996-97 10th t10th
WHAT’S BACK
- Texas A&M returns 3 starters and 10 letterwinners from a 2010-11 team that went 24-9, finished third in the Big 12 at 10-6 and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the sixth straight season.
- The 2011-12 Aggie roster will feature 25 games of NCAA Tournament experience, with Dash Harris (5), David Loubeau (5) and Elston Turner (5) leading the way.
- A&M will bring back 60 percent or more statistically in 7 of 8 major categories …
WHAT’S RETURNING IN 2011-12
Category Total Back Pct.
Starts 165 99 60.0
Minutes 6,699 4,436 66.2
Points 2,254 1,517 67.3
Rebounds 1,194 864 72.4
Assists 444 268 60.3
Blocks 51 43 84.1
3-Point FGs 181 73 40.3
Free Throws 557 400 71.8
WHAT’S NEW
- Texas A&M welcomes in a three-member freshman class, all hailing from the Dallas/Ft Worth area-guard Jamal Branch (Arlington), guard Jordan Green (Flower Mound) and forward Grant Jolly (Southlake) … in addition, the Aggies have one transfer-senior Zach Kinsley (Baton Rouge, La./Univ of New Orleans)-who is eligible to play this fall.
EMERGING BIG 12 POWER
- Texas A&M opened the 2009 Big 12 campaign with a 3-7 record … from that point on (starting with an 81-66 win over Texas on Feb. 16 of that year), the Aggies have posted a 27-11 Big 12 record (6-0 to close 2009, 11-5 in 2010 and 10-6 in 2011) … it’s the second-best record over that span among conference teams, trailing only Kansas (34-4).
- The Aggies posted back-to-back 10-plus win seasons in Big 12 play for just the second time ever (2006-2007) … it is only the second time in the last 25 years that an A&M team has accomplished that feat … prior to ’06-07, the last time an Aggie squad recorded consecutive double-digit win seasons in conference play was in 1985 (10) and 1986 (12).
- 2011 was A&M’s third consecutive winning season in Big 12 play, the first time the Aggies have accomplished that feat in the Big 12 era … A&M finished 9-7 in 2009 and 11-5 last year … it marked the first time since the late 60s (1967-70) that a Texas A&M team finished above .500 in league action for three straight seasons.
- The Aggies have won 49 Big 12 games since the start of the 2007 league season … prior to that, A&M had totaled only 43 victories in the first 10 years of Big 12 play.
NCAA TOURNAMENT: MAKE THAT SIX STRAIGHT
- Texas A&M is coming off its sixth straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament and 12th overall … prior to this streak, A&M had never played in consecutive NCAA Tournaments and had not been to the NCAAs since 1987 … 6 of the Aggies’ 12 appearances, and 6 of their 9 NCAA wins, have come since 2006.
- A&M is one of just 12 schools that have made the NCAA Tournament in each of the last 6 seasons … the Aggies join Duke, Gonzaga, Kansas, Marquette, Michigan State, Pittsburgh, Tennessee, Texas, Villanova, Wisconsin and Xavier in that elite field.
RACKING UP THE Ws
- Texas A&M is coming off a 24-9 season … the Aggies reached the 24-win mark for the fifth straight year and for only the seventh time in the program’s 99-year history.
- Only three A&M teams totaled more wins than the 2010-11 Aggie squad: 2006-07 (27), 1979-80 (26) and 2007-08 (25).
- The Aggies recorded their seventh-consecutive 20-win season … before this stretch, which began in 2004-05, A&M had six in its entire history (1974-75, 1975-76, 1978-79, 1979- 80, 1981-82 and 1985-86).
- A&M, Kansas and Texas are the only Big 12 schools that have won at least 20 games in each of the last 7 seasons.
- Texas A&M has won nearly 75 percent of its games since the start of the 2006-07 season (124-45, .734) … the Aggies are 167-63 (.726) since the start of the ’04-05 campaign.
REED ARENA DOMINANCE
- The Aggies have won 60 straight non-conference games at Reed Arena … the streak dates back to the start of the 2005-06 season and includes wins over Arizona, Alabama, LSU and Washington, among others … the last home non-conference loss for the Aggies was to St. Joseph’s (58-51) in the 2005 NIT quarterfinals … A&M is 92-9 all-time in non-conference games at Reed (.911).
- Texas A&M has won 73 consecutive regular-season non-conference home games … the last non-conference team to beat the Aggies at Reed Arena was Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (82-80) in 2003.
- The Aggies are the only Big 12 team to win at least 15 home games for the last seven consecutive seasons.
- A&M has won 33 of its last 36 home games, including 16 of its last 19 in Big 12 play … the Aggies are 46-5 at home since the start of the 2008-09 season with an 19-5 mark in conference games … those losses have come to Kansas (#1), Texas (#3), Oklahoma (#5), Baylor and Kansas State.
- The Aggies are 80-8 (.909) at home since the start of the 2006-07 season and are 112-14 (.889) since the start of the 2004-05 campaign.
- A&M has won 28 of its last 29 home games against unranked opponents (12 of last 13 in Big 12 play).
- A&M is 154-56 (.733) in 13 seasons at Reed Arena … the Aggies were 41-41 the first six years at Reed and are 113-15 since.
- Texas A&M has averaged crowds of 9,000 or better for five straight seasons (averaged 9,000 in 2010-11).
2011-12 SCHEDULE: A LOOK AHEAD
- Texas A&M will play a minimum of 11 games against NCAA Tournament teams this season and host 19 games at Reed Arena.
- The Aggies will play at least three games against teams that advanced to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament this past March in Florida and Kansas-and that’s not counting a potential matchup with another Elite Eight squad in Arizona.
- A minimum of 21 of A&M’s games this year will come against teams with .500 or better records last season.
- Texas A&M will battle Florida in the MetroPCS Orange Bowl Classic on Saturday, Dec. 17 at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, Fla. (home of the NHL’s Florida Panthers) … the game will tip at 1:30 p.m. (CT) and will be the second of a doubleheader, which also features Miami and FAU (11 a.m. CT).
AGGIES’ SUMMER FEATURES EUROPEAN TOUR
- Texas A&M coach Billy Kennedy got an early start to his tenure in Aggieland with a 10-day tour of Europe in August. In what was the program’s first foreign excursion since 2003, the team spent time in Switzerland (Lucerne and Bern) and France (Paris).
- A&M played 4 games-a pair against the Swiss National Team and two more against AMW Elite, which is a group comprised of players that participate in the French pro leagues (LNB A and B) … the Aggies dropped both games to the Swiss (62-51 and 85-73) before sweeping AMW (90-61 and 80-78) to finish 2-2.
- The Aggies averaged 73.5 points per game and dominated their opponents on the boards (46 to 34) … leading scorers were Elston Turner (13.8 ppg), Khris Middleton (12.0), David Loubeau (11.3) and Kourtney Roberson (8.0) … leading rebounders were Loubeau (9.3 rpg) and Roberson (7.0).
- Among the off-the-court highlights included a Lake Lucerne Boat Cruise, a trip up Mount Pilatus, a ropes course at Outdoor Interlaken, a cruise on the River Seine and a night-time ascent of the Eiffel Tower … complete coverage of the tour, including blogs, videos, photos and much more, can be found on the men’s basketball page at aggieathletics.com.