What Texas A&M coach Buzz Williams said after 85-69 win over No. 6 Tennessee

COLLEGE STATION — Everything Texas A&M head coach Buzz Williams said after the Aggies beat No. 6 Tennessee 85-69 Saturday night at Reed Arena:

Saying previously that he thought Texas A&M was a better shooting team than the numbers showed, if that was the case against Tennessee

“I said that not to motivate them. I said that I do think that at some point it’ll go back to the mean. I don’t think that we’re great shooters. That’s not what I’m saying. But I don’t think we’re what the numbers have been thus far. Obviously it looks a lot better when you make shots and you make shots at the rate that we did. I thought I was a little nervous, to be honest, in the first half. They only fouled us three times. And as you know we’re very dependent on free-throw makes to skew our points per possession. We talked a little bit about it at halftime. We always want to be the first of the bonus. We want to defend without fouling, and then we want to play to get fouled. They got to the bonus really fast in the first half. We never got there. And I know we were making shots and so maybe it’s marginalized at some point. I told the guys at half time, guys, we got to hurry up and get to the bonus. We have to hurry up and get to the bonus and we have to stop fouling because they were getting, they weren’t scoring a lot of points at the free-throw line. But they got to the bonus, which forces us to now as, I mean, it’s the 15th-best offense in the country and first in the league, you’re going to foul them. They have multiple pros on the team. And so it just puts us in a corner that I thought we were better in that regard in the second half. How many (fouls)? A lot better in the second half, 16 points (at the foul line) in the second half and two in the first half.”

Texas A&M using more dribble penetration against Tennessee

“Well, you know this, it was a fast turn. We got home from Missouri at whatever it was 3 a.m. on Thursday. And our staff was phenomenal. They were way ahead of me as usual. But as we began to meet on Thursday, the offensive group, the defensive group, the special teams, they were way ahead. And we delayed our typical two day before on Thursday. And I told the kids in the locker room in Missouri, guys, I don’t know anything about Tennessee. We haven’t played them. It’s a mirror, so I have to learn it for good. So we delayed the timing on that on Thursday. I thought the staff had distilled it perfectly and we gave our guys a little bit more than we normally do. I thought they absorbed it very efficiently. We didn’t practice. So it was just kind of, let me show it. Let’s walk through it. Let’s write it down. So yesterday was our first rep of it, and from the very beginning, every breakdown deal that we were doing, they were spot on. And offensively we made some unique adjustments that we’ve never done. And defensively we did the same. So I think 15th-best offense first in the SEC, fifth-best defense, second best in the SEC. And to your question from yesterday, so much attention to (Dalton Knecht), rightfully so. But the other guys will, if they play without (Knecht), they’re more than good enough to beat us. And so we had to make unique adjustments that our staff was spot on with (and) our guys absorbed it. And then as the game was going, those adjustments were helpful and then we began to expand on it because the players were picking up on some of it. And anytime that’s happening, I think that’s a sign of great growth for your group.”

The adjustments Texas A&M made to have success against Tennessee 

“Well, I don’t want say it because we play them again. I’m not being a jerk. You understand.” 

Saying he thought Tennessee was capable of winning a national championship, then never trailing against the Vols in the win Saturday night, what that says about his team

“Honestly, I don’t mean this sarcastically at all. Last Saturday we were planning to get to .500 And it was a, a monumental effort just to win by one (against Florida). And we were off on Sunday and this particular 10-day stretch means we’re going work 10 days in a row. So we were off on Sunday, we worked Monday and Tuesday along with travel to play Wednesday. We worked Thursday and Friday to play Saturday. That means we’re working tomorrow and Monday to play Tuesday. When it shifts from Wednesday, Saturday to Tuesday and two of those three are on the road, I think that’s a lot. And I’m not complaining, that’s just part of it. But we were 4-4 going to play at Missouri. We have enough Quad 3 losses for anybody.  So now Missouri becomes a bigger game than Florida. 

“And it took literally all of us to have a chance to win against Florida by one. And we did some good things I thought at Missouri, even though it would be discounted outside of our group, you’re supposed to win. Yeah, but there’s nothing is supposed to happen. You have to make it happen. And then we get home Thursday morning and you’re like, hey, (Tennessee is) a two seed right now. They’re fifth in the NET. They’re fifth in KenPom. You could argue that they’re a No. 1 seed. They have the player of the year on the team. They have a current Hall of Fame coach and I’m not sure that (Knecht) is the best prospect on their team. And we’ll have to be perfect just to have a chance to win by one. So I don’t think that. We don’t have time to think of those thoughts because we’re so consumed. Just like when we wake up in the morning, the game on Tuesday is actually bigger than the game that we just played, even though that was so fun and we’re very thankful. So eat some pizza tonight and then wake up early tomorrow and we have to figure out how we can win on Tuesday.”

If he allows himself or his team to think what a win over Tennessee means for Texas A&M’s NCAA Tournament resume

“No. We’ve had this conversation. Not being a jerk. We’ve had this conversation. Well, I guess we didn’t have it the first year because we were in Nashville when the tournament got canceled. We didn’t have it in our second year because you guys were on Zoom and we didn’t play in February. And then when we were 4-8 in conference play in year three, nobody was even talking about the NIT. And then whenever we played (Tennessee) last year, we were 12-2 when they were 11th in the country and we were still a No. 7 seed. And so I have literally said no to every possible distraction because I just think you’re on a hamster wheel and it doesn’t solve anything.”

Andersson Garcia having 17 rebounds against Tennessee 

“He’s the (Dominican Republic) Dennis Rodman. I’ve said it before. That’s what I wrote to him today on my game-day note. I will never take for granted the opportunity of a lifetime to coach him. I’ll never take it for granted. What he does has nothing to do with who his head coach is and not to take away the importance of rebounding that our staff gives to it. What he’s doing has nothing to do with what we’re talking about with rebounding. It’s just the reason why our defense is doing better is because we’re finishing the possession with the rebound, Andy’s rebound. And the reason why our offense has a chance is because we are doing a better job of shooting predictable shots and we get an offensive rebound, Andy (gets it), and then we can manipulate the game pace wise as fast as that was. So nine times we shot it and missed it and he got it. And our offensive rebound percentage was below our average. So if (Garcia) doesn’t get nine, our team gets five, we we’re not winning. 

“(Solomon Washington) is growing up at a rate faster than most. Solo’s on the same trajectory (Wade Taylor) was on in the fourth semester of his college career. (Taylor) should have his jersey retired at senior day. We shouldn’t wait. What Andy is doing, I think Andy leads the SEC in rebounding, leads the nation in offensive rebounding. And if he keeps doing this sort of deal, like he’s averaging distinctly more rebounds than points, (Henry Coleman) back healthy. You can hear his voice from wherever you sit. That means he’s rolling. And (Tyrece Radford) …  played good. We won. I mean it’s just, I don’t want to take any of it for granted.”

Tyrece Radford scoring 20 or more points again and nothing has changed for him

That’s my guy. That’s my guy. I think he processed all that transpired as maturely as any good human being can. And I think he processed all that transpired as positively as anyone with incredible competitive character can. There was some shenanigans going on in Columbia (Missouri) early and I was like, ah, that’s great. Rod goes, that’s not great. I go, no, that’s great because Boots will hear it. We’re good, baby. That’s Boots.”

The environment at Reed Arena during the Tennessee game

“Just grateful for the students. Grateful for those not in the end zones. Brad told me that it was above capacity. I’m not sure how that’s allowed, but whatever that means, if we’re hiding the true number, we really appreciate the environment. I always come out for 8-10 minutes an hour before the game to take a picture with my family and there were students already in the upper level. And I thought the last six or eight minutes you could kind of feel it reverberate.”