Everything HC Buzz Williams and Zhuric Phelps said after Texas A&M's 87-55 win over East Texas A&M
Texas A&M (1-1) finally looked like the No. 13-ranked basketball team in the country after blowing out newly named East Texas A&M 87-55 on Friday night, just four days after falling to UCF on the road to open the year.
From start to finish, the Aggies were completely dominant on both ends of the court, shooting 55.7% from the field, including 33% from beyond the arc, while recording 41 rebounds, six blocks, and 11 steals on the night.
However, nothing matched the performance of senior guard Zhuric Phelps, who made his debut on Friday night to the tune of 18 points and five rebounds. From the moment he touched the court, it was clear that replacing former veteran guard Tyrece Radford's production wouldn't be an impossible task, as Phelps scored nearly all his point in the paint, looking strong and efficient inside.
Coming into the season, the added depth was seen throughout the night, as 12 players logged minutes, including freshman center Chris McDermott. Even more impressive, senior guard Hayden Hefner had one of his best games, scoring 13 points and shooting 3-5 from beyond the arc.
Texas A&M guard depth was the night's story, with star Wade Taylor IV producing 10 points and six assists, paired with Phelps' 18 points and Manny Obaseki's 14 points. This group will make or break the team throughout conference play.
After earning the first win over the year, head coach Buzz Williams, Zhuric Phelps, and Manny Obaseki took questions from the media. Here's what all three had to say.
Zhuric Phelps on his first game as a Texas A&M Aggie
"It felt really good. Playing with these guys… getting here in the summer, getting able to play at Reed, it was amazing."
Phelps on what it was like playing against his brother, Evan Phelps
"It's a great feeling. Shoutout my dad. Without him, me and (my brother) don't get here."
Manny Obaseki praises Zhuric Phelp's skillset
"Z (Zhuric Phelps) is one of the best ball-handling and playmaking guards I have played with."
"Wade (Taylor IV) was still himself… That shows how deep and talented we are."
Phelps on what it feels like to officially be an Aggie
"It's amazing. These guys have pushed me so much since I got here… It's like family here."
Phelps on A&M's impressive defense
"That's our foundation. Playing aggressively, forcing turnovers, that's staying true to ourselves."
Head coach Buzz Williams on what he liked from the win
"I thought we did a lot of really good things… One of the things I have learned is we need to give just as much energy and emotion to the growth of our team as the opponent."
Williams on Zhuric Phelps' debut
"He is a really talented player… We are glad he is out there. We are going to try to keep him at 16 to 18 minutes."
Williams on the Aggies' response after losing to UCF on Monday
"Their maturity was excellent… Our growth rate has to be fast relative to the schedule we play. In truth, we will have to respond in real-time."
Wade Taylor has become an elite distributor
"(Wade) likes the choices available as a quarterback. He is probably more aware of their impact. In an unselfish way, it helps his impact."
This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Everything HC Buzz Williams and Zhuric Phelps said after Texas A&M's 87-55 win over East Texas A&M
