A major reason Texas A&M is 6-0 in league play is its team defense. In last week’s SI power rankings, Luke Winn wrote about the best overall defenses with high defensive turnover rates. Texas A&M just missed the cut, but moved past Wichita State and Arkansas Little Rock this week by forcing a turnover on 39.8 percent of LSU’s possessions on Tuesday night. According to Winn’s fancy charts, that gives A&M the 11th best defensive turnover percentage by a top 20 overall defense in the last eleven years, trumped this season only by West Virginia. Given the historical significance of those numbers and its consistency all year, it might be time to start giving Texas A&M credit for one of the most efficient and high-pressure defenses in the nation outside of Morgantown.
Alex Caruso is the SEC’s leader in steals at 2.3 steals per game (d1nation.com).
The Aggies boast the SEC’s best adjusted defensive efficiency rating at 91.5 (9th in the nation) and defensive turnover percentage at 24.0 percent (5th in the nation), according to KenPom. In an effort to determine how the Aggies forced all of those turnovers, I charted all of the 19 turnovers A&M’s defense came up with against LSU on Tuesday night. It shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone that senior guard Alex Caruso was involved in more than his fair share of the Tigers’ giveaways.
Last week, RTC’s own Greg Mitchell wrote that Caruso is crucial to the Aggie’s success, noting his deflections and steals as a major reason for A&M’s winning streak. Of the 19 turnovers A&M forced against LSU, Caruso was directly involved in four of those, stepping into the passing lane and intercepting the ball on two plays, drawing a moving screen at the top of the key, and stripping LSU freshman Ben Simmons on a double team in the post in the fourth play.
Alex Caruso causing turnovers with his activeness on defense.
Caruso’s backcourt mate, senior transfer Anthony Collins, caused another two turnovers giving the Aggies starting backcourt credit for causing six of the 19 giveaways in the game. In the top frame, a double team in the post allows Collins the chance to step into the passing lane and start a fast break. In the bottom frame, Collins takes the charge at the top of the key.
The other senior A&M guard giving LSU trouble.
It certainly looks as though the SEC is Texas A&M’s to lose, and as noted in that post, it is not just an easy schedule that gives A&M the advantage. Right now, it certainly appears that the Aggies are the best team in the conference, with a top-tier defense that is forcing turnovers at a historically significant rate. If this continues, the Aggies success may not just end with winning the SEC regular season crown.