Heeding Agee's 'sage' wisdom would be wise as Ags travel to Auburn

Texas A&M basketball coach Bucky McMillan recently suggested Aggies star forward Rashaun Agee is wise beyond his years.

“Agee’s probably 50 years old,” McMillan said after A&M opened Southeastern Conference play with a 75-72 victory over LSU. “His eyes have seen it all. He’s got veteran eyes, so he usually sees the game before it happens. And he has the loudest voice.”

Though Agee is far younger than 50, the Aggies (11-3, 1-0) would be wise to heed his sage advice as they face Auburn (9-5, 0-1) on Tuesday at 8 p.m. CT in a Southeastern Conference basketball road trip.

“Every game is always its own individual game,” Agee said. “We got to understand that. In SEC play, it can always go either way. Going into Auburn … it’s a hard place to win.”

To Agee’s point, Auburn is 6-0 on its home court, so putting together back-to-back SEC victories will be no easy chore.

McMillan acknowledged the Tigers are not only dangerous at home, but Auburn has additional motivation stemming from a 104-100 overtime loss to Georgia on Saturday.

“They’re good, really good at home. I think their students are back in,” McMillan said. “Very solid team. Run man. Run zone. Big, athletic, good one-on-one players.

“Obviously, they’re going to be hungry after losing a close one.”

Auburn surely will be seeking redemption for that loss. But that loss also shows the Tigers are vulnerable.

This isn’t the same team that reached the Final Four last season. Indeed, guard Tahaad Pettiford is the only player on this year’s roster who played in the Tigers’ 79-73 semifinal loss to national champion Florida.

Don’t interpret that to mean Auburn is without talent, though. The Tigers are among the nation’s top 40 in scoring with an 86.9-point average.

Four players average in double figures, including forward Keyshawn Hall (20.1), Pettiford (15.1), Texas Tech transfer Kevin Overton (12.9) and guard Elyjah Freeman (10.4).

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At 6-foot-7 and 240 pounds, forward Keyshawn Hall is averaging 7.9 rebounds per game to go along with 20.1 points.

Of course, A&M has its threats, too.

Agee, who had a double-double vs. LSU, averages 13 points and a team-high 8.4 rebounds.

Rubén Dominguez, who had two key treys vs. LSU, leads the Aggies with a 13.6 scoring average and has connected 49 times from 3-point range.

Guards Marcus Hill and Rylan Griffen are also averaging in double figures.

Behind them and a productive bench, the Aggies average 94.7 points to rank fifth in the nation in scoring.

A&M is also second in the nation in assists (21.4) and 10th in 3-pointers per game (11.4).

However, A&M struggled behind the arc in the victory over LSU, connecting on eight of 28 attempts.

The Aggies compensated by surprisingly out-rebounding LSU, 38-30, and grabbing 15 offensive boards. They also shot more free throws.

A&M just found a way. Agee, the “old” sage, said the Aggies have to find a way again.

“We’ve got to come in with a winning mindset and an on-the-road mindset and understand road wins are hard to come by,” he said. “But we can do it.”