Cessna: Aggie women lacking last year's intangibles

  • By ROBERT CESSNA

  • Posted: Sunday, January 8, 2012 7:00 a.m.
  • Text size: A A A


Texas A&M's defense of its national championship starts in earnest at 2 p.m. Sunday against the Oklahoma Sooners at Reed Arena.


The Aggies, who have been the toast of women's college basketball since beating Notre Dame in April, are coming off a 71-69 overtime loss at Kansas State, which was a tough way to start Big 12 play. Now with Oklahoma, Texas and Iowa State ahead in the next week -- plus unbeaten Baylor and Texas Tech not far behind -- Texas A&M needs to get its act together.


The problem with being the national champion is there's only one place to go -- down.


When head coach Gary Blair was hired there was only one place the program could go, and that was up. And for eight seasons A&M did just that. Oh, there were some tough losses, especially in the NCAA Tournament, but the program kept moving forward, eventually leading to the national championship victory over the Irish.


It's been a great nine months since. But unless A&M repeats, this season will be somewhat of a downer. The good thing is no matter what happens, the Aggies have established themselves among the nation's elite. Winning a national title is a little bit like a car warranty -- even after the novelty of the newness wears off, you're covered for several years.


Now what happens this season could strengthen the program's national image, but it also could put an added burden on future teams. This was expected to be a team that could end the season at the Final Four, but after the loss to KSU it also could be a team that might have a tough time winning its first two tournament games.


The Aggies didn't play like champions in Mahattan, Kan. A&M squandered a five-point lead in regulation with 3 minutes left. And even after KSU closed with a 10-5 run, the Aggies had the last possession, but couldn't score. Then, with the game tied in overtime and 29 seconds left, the Aggies turned the ball over and allowed Kansas State to drive for the winning basket.


In the past, especially last season, the Aggies would have found a way to win that game.


It's not that A&M doesn't have the talent to win close games, and win a lot of them. Guard Sydney Carter, wing Tyra White and forward Adaora Elonu have a combined 234 starts. The Aggies aren't defending champs without them, but now what will their senior legacy be?


A&M, thus far, is struggling to replace the intangibles provided by last year's seniors -- Danielle Adams, Sydney Colson and Maryann Baker. Adams was an All-American and a scoring a machine, but she also had a knack for embracing pressure. Colson also had a flair for the dramatics, not always in a positive way, but she played with confidence that permeated throughout the team. Baker was only a sixth man, but she thought and played like she was just as good as Colson, if not better. The trio provided the leadership and chemistry that often are overlooked until you don't have them.


Well, now is when the Aggies need those intangibles.


Carter certainly is a bona-fide All-American when it comes to leadership, but she's been injured, and she can't do it all. White and Elonu have to be more consistent. The mild-mannered White was a leader at last year's Final Foul.


Now is the time for those three to step forward, but as was the case with Adams, Colson and Baker, they can't do it alone.


Sophomore post Kelsey Bone was the nation's second-best recruit coming out of high school behind Baylor All-American Brittany Griner. Bone needs to continue to improve, especially on the defensive end. And all those other players from A&M's many highly-ranked recruiting classes, including junior point guard Adrienne Pratcher, need to start winning their own games and not keep living off last season.


Thus far, A&M is playing much like it did four or five seasons ago. That was great when the Aggies were on their way up, but it's not acceptable now because the bar as been raised.


*


A&M has won five straight against OU and seven of the last eight.


Oklahoma is coming off an 80-51 victory over Iowa State. OU, which starts three guards, held the perimeter-minded Cyclones to 35.3-percent shooting with 17 turnovers.


"Defensively we really sped Iowa State up," OU head coach Sherri Coale said.


OU guard Aaryn Ellenberg had 21 points and post Joanna McFarland added 19.


"They really ratched up their defensive pressure," ISU head coach Bill Fennelly said. "They got in our head."

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