Derrick Roland plans on suiting up for Texas A&M's Senior Night.
It will be the first time since Roland broke his right leg in two places Dec. 22 and was ruled out for the season that the senior guard will put on his Aggie No. 3 uniform and walk onto the court at Reed Arena.
It's unfortunate that A&M, Roland and men's basketball coach Mark Turgeon can't take it a step or two further. Just imagine what would it mean to Roland, his teammates and especially the fans -- the ones that Turgeon has praised so often this season -- to see D-Ro go through the layup drill with the Aggies on Wednesday before their game against Oklahoma State.
Roland has made great progress, and if the way he gets around while watching practice is any indication, he could roll in a few uncontested layups in front of more than 13,000 screaming fans before the game.
"I probably could," Roland said. "I haven't thought about it. It would be something for me to do."
The ultimate celebration, though, would be to give Roland one final start with best friend Donald Sloan and fellow senior Bryan Davis, who he has also known for years. It would be start No. 43 for Roland, who is part of a class that, with 96 wins, is just three shy of establishing the school record set by last year's seniors for most wins at A&M in a four-year run.
I understand the arguments for not having Roland out there for the tip-off, the biggest being that every possession can mean so much in a Big 12 game. But Turgeon has discussed over and over how Roland's attitude, the way he remained positive and focused on the team rather than himself, is the reason the Aggies are 9-5 in conference play and battling for a bye in the Big 12 Tournament.
Many -- myself included -- thought 8-8 in the rugged Big 12 would be a mark to shoot for once Roland, the Aggies' shut-down defender who was averaging a career-best 10.5 points a game, fell to the floor in Seattle.
So isn't all that worth one possession?
Put senior Chris Chapman out there as well and have him commit a foul after the jump. Get one final ovation for Roland, the young man who unselfishly turned his injury into a lesson about team.
It won't happen, though, if Turgeon's Monday press conference is any indication.
"What I say to every senior [is] that Senior Night is not about them," Turgeon said. "The five minutes before the game is [about them], but the game is about the team and that they need to play within themselves."
With what's on the line these days in NCAA basketball, it's difficult to take issue with Turgeon's view. After all, the same fans that want nothing more than to see Roland get his just reward are the same ones concerned about byes, seedings and records.
In a perfect world, I'm sure Turgeon would love to start Roland. And it's not as if he hasn't already done something similar when he talked to Nebraska coach Doc Sadler about allowing the Aggies to announce Roland as an honorary starter the first night he returned to Reed after the injury.
Fortunately for Turgeon, he doesn't need to be concerned about pacifying Roland.
"If I'm able to walk out there and walk back off that will be fun," Roland said. "It will mean a lot. If this is my last game or not, I want to let the fans know I appreciate everything and I gave everything I had every night I played in this building."
*
NOTES -- There has been some speculation -- more like wishful thinking -- that the Aggies can get a medical hardship for Roland. Turgeon and Roland said they will talk about the future soon. Roland played in 12 games this season, which will be a few more than the 30 percent cutoff for a medical redshirt. ... Turgeon didn't appear very optimistic that 5-foot-11 junior guard B.J. Holmes would play on Wednesday after hurting his foot while taking a charge against Texas' J'Covan Brown late in Saturday's game. ... The A&M senior class has a record of 64-8 (.889) at Reed. ... Oklahoma State is facing its fourth straight ranked opponent. The Cowboys are 2-1 in those games, losing at Texas and winning at home against Baylor and Kansas. ... Going into the final two games of the Big 12 season, OSU (8-6) is in sixth place in the league standings along with Texas and only one game out of third place, which was occupied by A&M, Baylor and Missouri. Texas, Missouri and Baylor have already won games this week.
TEXAS A&M MEN
• Wednesday’s game: Oklahoma St. (20-8, 8-6 Big 12) at No. 23 Texas A&M (20-8, 9-5), 8 p.m.
• TV/radio: ESPN2, Ch. 28/WTAW, 1620 AM
LINEUPS
TEXAS A&M (20-8, 9-5)
PLAYERPOS.HT.WT.CL.PPGRPG
Dash HarrisG6-1175So.4.9*3.3
Donald SloanG6-3205Sr.18.13.6
Khris MiddletonF6-7215Fr.6.03.7
David LoubeauF6-8230So.9.04.9
Bryan DavisF6-9250Sr.10.08.0
OKLAHOMA STATE (20-8, 8-6)
PLAYERPOS.HT.WT.CL.PPGRPG
Keiton PageG5-9170So.10.8*2.4
Fred GulleyG6-2175Fr.1.52.5
James AndersonG6-6210Jr.22.66.1
Obi MuoneloG6-5220Sr.13.55.3
Matt PilgrimF6-8235Jr.8.16.8
*assists per game
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