RISING FROM THE DEPTHS Aggies determined to prove the doubters wrong in the Big 12 By Rusty Burson

Junior Bernard King averaged 18 points a game as a sophomore in 2000-2001.

IRVING – Two by two, players from each Big 12 school entered the ballroom of the Marriott Las Colinas, made their way to the table up front and fielded numerous questions from reporters representing every state and many of the big cities within the Big 12 region.

Kansas brought all-conference candidates Drew Gooden and Jeff Boschee to media day; Oklahoma State standouts Maurice Baker and Fredrik Jonzen were on hand; player of the year candidate Kareem Rush led the Missouri contingent; and so forth.

For the most part, the players had plenty of questions to address. But in the lobby just prior to Texas A&M’s time in the spotlight, Aggies’ head coach Melvin Watkins warned his two players not to be offended by a lack of A&M interest from the media.

"You’ve got to win some games the previous season before they are gonna ask you much of anything," Watkins told Andy Leatherman and Keith Bean. "That’s just the way it works."

If it works out as planned this season, perhaps next year the Aggies will be quizzed continuously at media day. After all, A&M finally appears to be capable on the court of answering the most pressing questions. For example:

• Do the Aggies have enough pieces to make a run at the upper half of the Big 12 standings?

• Does A&M have enough depth to compete in this league?

• Is there star potential on this roster?

• And, with the addition of a couple transfers, is the point guard position finally in capable hands?

The answer to all the questions is, quite possibly, "yes."

Watkins, now entering his fourth season as the Texas A&M head coach, isn’t going overboard with his optimism about the season. He isn’t making bold predictions about the postseason; he isn’t focused on a particular number of wins; and he isn’t making any promises.

But Watkins senses his team is about to turn a significant corner. And – perhaps more importantly – he senses his players are thinking that way, too.

"I can sense it in practice," Watkins said just prior to the Aggies’ opening exhibition game of the 2001-02 season. "The problem is that in this conference you can be a lot better and not see it in terms of your record. We have five teams in this conference ranked in the Top 25.

Jesse King could be one of the most athletic players in the conference.

"But right now I can see our players are working awfully hard to prove to people that we are better than 11th or 12th in this conference."

Based on most preseason polls, that’s where the Aggies are projected. And, for the most part, that’s where A&M has been for quite some time.

The Aggies last won an outright conference title in 1980 and last shared a league crown in 1986.

Texas A&M has now endured seven straight losing seasons, including 11 of the last 12; hasn’t been to the NCAA Tournament since 1987; and hasn’t ever won a game at the Big 12 tournament (0-5 all-time).

The Aggies last year finished the season with 20 losses for the third time in the last four years, bringing A&M’s record over the last five seasons to 46-93.

Considering all those numbers, it’s not surprising that the Aggies are once again projected near the cellar of the Big 12. Even the A&M players understand it.

"I don’t take it personally," sophomore forward Tomas Ress said of the preseason magazine projections. "They have to write something, and we didn’t do good last year or in previous years. I think if I were a reporter, I would write the same things.

"But they don’t know what’s coming. There’s a big hurricane here about to sweep over (the Big 12). We just need a couple of good breaks, and then I think we can have a breakthrough year."

Many observers close to the program agree.

A&M has potential star power in Ress, shooting guard Bernard King and forwards Nick Anderson and Jesse King. The Aggies have impressive size with Andy Slocum, Nolan Butterfras and Keith Bean. And in transfers Michael Gardener and Bradley Jackson, the point guard position, which has been a weakness ever since the departure of Clifton Cook, has been significantly upgraded.

Gardener is a lightning-quick slasher who averaged 13.4 points and 7.7 assists last season as a redshirt freshman at Garden City (Kan.) Community College. Jackson averaged 4.5 points and 4.6 assists per game last year and posted a 3-to-1 assists-to-turnovers ratio as a sophomore at the College of Southern Idaho.

With all the pieces in place, the Aggies could be something special – and certainly enjoyable to watch.

"It’s the most talented team I’ve seen at A&M since I left (in 1990)," said former A&M coach Shelby Metcalf, the winningest head coach in school and Southwest Conference history. "I’m really excited for Melvin. If they work hard and improve, they could really surprise some people."

Nick Anderson became one of the hottest freshmen in the Big 12 last year.

The pleasant surprises are probably dependant on the Aggies catching a few breaks instead of enduring them. A&M has been depleted in recent years by a rash of injuries, including last year’s devastating outbreak.

A&M lost three projected frontcourt starters (Ress, Slocum and Aaron Jack) to injuries early in the 2000-01 season and never really recovered. The injuries turned a promising season into another frustrating one.

But in the absence of those players and in the process of struggling to a 10-20 record last year, the Aggies displayed signs of a brighter future.

Anderson, for example, was the Big 12’s best freshman in the second half of the season, averaging 14.4 points in the last nine games and scoring in double figures in nine of the last 10 contests.

Bernard King scored in double figures in each of his final 20 regular season games, averaging 18.0 points per game for the season. King finished third in the Big 12 in scoring and was one of only two players in the conference to finish in the top 15 in scoring, assists, steals and 3-point field goals.

After dismal struggles from the field throughout much of last season, the Aggies also improved dramatically down the stretch. A&M shot 45.0 percent from the field in the final 10 games after making just 35.5 percent in the first eight Big 12 games.

And after a nine-game losing streak to begin Big 12 play last year, the Aggies went 4-4 in the final eight games of the regular season.

Baby steps, yes. But with so many injuries to overcome, the finish to last year was encouraging, to say the least. And with virtually everyone of importance back this year, the Aggies appear ready to make some significant strides in 2001-02.

"We are a lot closer to where we want to be," Watkins said. "I think last year we had a chance to show that things were closer to where we wanted to be, but with the injuries it never happened that way. I think we could have had a breakout year last season if we had everybody healthy. This may be the year for it to happen.

"I think our kids are due. They’ve worked awfully hard and paid a big price, and they haven’t seen the rewards of hard work. I’d like to see the kids reap the benefits of hard work. We want to see these kids see the things we’ve said could happen actually happen."

The lone senior on the squad, reserve guard Andy Leatherman, is confident it will happen. The talent is vastly improved, Leatherman says, and the expectations are higher than ever.

"I’ve seen a lot of things change, and seen a lot of players come in and come out since I’ve been here," Leatherman said. "I’ve seen the whole mentality of program totally change and totally turn around. I’m happy to have the opportunity that I have had, and I’m excited to see what we’re going to do this year.

"I’m also excited to see this team develop and get better and to know that I’ve had a role in that and played some part in the growth of the program. We expect more this year, and I think we’re going to be able to accomplish much more."