Texas A&M Eyes Upset Of No. 1 Kansas

Sports News - February 15th, 2010 - Written By John Ritter

Even on it's best days, Texas A&M has found it impossible to topple Kansas.

And now, as the Aggies finally crack the top-25 for the first time this season, they will need to come up with a rare win if they want to compete for a conference title. Texas A&M serves as the last real road block as the Jayhawks brace for their sixth-straight regular season conference title -- unprecedented since the 20s. The two conference heavy-weights meet in College Station on Monday in a game that will go a long way in determining the season.

Kansas is a 6 1/2-point favorite in the College Basketball Odds, according to SportsBetting.com, with a 140-point over/under.

The Jayhawks have dominated the series, only losing once in 2007, and has beaten Texas A&M in 14 of the last 15 meetings. The Aggies haven't lost at home all year, but that means little to a Kansas team that has never lost at College Station.

If they Jayhawks can win again, they will pad their current three-game lead over the Aggies and Kansas State with six left to play. They will also take another step in finishing unbeaten in Big 12 play, something that hasn't been accomplished since 2002.

Kansas has been rolling lately, winning 10-straight games since losing to Tennessee in January. Nobody has been hotter throughout the conference schedule than Marcus Morris, who is averaging 17.1 points since the upset by the Volunteers. But he's not the only trouble for Texas A&M. Four players average double-digit points, including probable lottery pick Cole Aldrich, who paces the team with 10.1 boards from the post.

The Aggies got into the polls after salvaging a 67-65 win against Texas Tech on late free throws. They have won five-straight, and eight of the last seven, including a big win against then-24th-ranked Baylor.

They blew out Texas A&M last year by 20, holding the Aggies to 32.7-percent from the floor and no player reached double-digit points. The conference's fourth-leading scorer, senior Donald Sloan, only averages 6.3 points against Kansas.

That probably won't improve against the Jayhawks no. 1-ranked defense in terms of opponents' shooting percentage. They only allow a 36.5 conversion rate, and keep opponents below 63 points. Only one opponent has crossed 70 points since Jan. 20. The Aggies has only scored 70 against Kansas twice since 2002.

The Jayhawks have kept seven of their last 10 road games under.

Texas A&M has beaten three ranked teams this year, but have yet to beat a no. 1 team in four tries.