It has been a difficult first few weeks of the season for Texas A&M, but things seem to be turning in its favor.
The 25th-ranked Aggies begin a seemingly easy portion of their schedule Saturday against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in College Station.
Texas A&M's season got off to an inauspicious start with all-Big 12 selection Khris Middleton partially tearing his right meniscus in the opener. The 6-foot-7 forward is expected to be out another week or two.
The Aggies (3-1) haven't had to play without him too much with eight days between games since last week's 2K Sports Classic at Madison Square Garden. After losing their first contest to Mississippi State, which is now No. 24 in the AP poll, the Aggies defeated St. John's 58-57 in the third-place game Nov. 18.
Although coach Billy Kennedy didn't criticize the referees after the victory, he easily could have. Playing at one of the Red Storm's homes, Texas A&M didn't get many favorable calls and was outshot 38-3 from the foul line.
The Aggies will play their next five games at Reed Arena, where they can benefit from receiving home-court calls, though they probably won't need any.
After facing Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (1-2), the Aggies play a string of struggling teams in Alcorn State, Stephen F. Austin, Sam Houston State and Louisiana-Monroe.
"We're glad to be home this week to be able to put in a lot more offense, get better and get my system more in place," Kennedy said. "We've got some time to do that and that's what we're excited about at this time."
The Aggies, who don't go on the road again until facing 10th-ranked Florida on Dec. 17, won 86-65 at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi last season. Middleton had a team-high 16 points in 24 minutes.
With Middleton still rehabbing, the Aggies are led by forward Ray Turner and guard Elston Turner, no relation. Ray Turner is averaging 14.5 points and 6.3 rebounds, while Elston Turner is scoring 12.0 points per game.
Against St. John's, Ray Turner had 16 points and seven rebounds, and Elston Turner hit a 12-foot jumper with six seconds to play before grabbing the rebound off a missed free throw that could have tied the game with two seconds remaining.
"I think Ray Turner has made himself more effective around the basket," Kennedy said. "Elston is still getting a feel for what his role is going to be, but offensively he's been consistent. But we've got to get more consistent play out of some of our other guys."
Kennedy might be able to get better production from some of his other players against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, which has been outscored by an average of 22.4 points in losing all nine of its games against ranked opponents since becoming a Division I program in 1999-2000.
The Islanders, one of the lowest-scoring teams in the nation with 51.7 points per game, defeated Utah State 58-55 in overtime Tuesday. Myron Dempsey, who averages team highs of 12.3 points and 9.0 rebounds, finished with 16 points and 15 boards, while junior guard Terence Jones made three free throws in the final 17 seconds of overtime.
Jones, who finished with 14 points, scored 16 against the Aggies last season.
