Wednesday, January 29, 1986/The Battalion/Page 15
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Photo by ANTHONY S. CASPER
forward Winston Crite (21) is leading the Aggies in rebound-
7.5 a game, heading into tonight’s game with Arkansas.
By CHAREAN WILLIAMS
Assistant Sports Editor
Put the Texas A&M basketball
team in G. Rollie White Coliseum,
and the Aggies are virtually unbeata
ble (8-0 this season) — a la the Hous
ton Rockets.
And the Aggies have even copied
the Rockets with their own version
of the “Twin Towers.”
While A&M guard Don Marbury
is leading the Southwest Conference
in scoring, the Ags wouldn’t be lead
ing the conference without the play
of their inside men.
Center Jimmie Gilbert and for
ward Winston Crite have been the
catalysts for the Aggies this season,
combining to average 25-points and
14 rebounds a game.
“The coaches are looking inside
more this season,” Crite said. “I
think they want a more complete
game than we had last year.”
Indeed, what a difference a year
makes.
One year ago, Gilbert was being
criticized for his lack of aggressive
ness, his poor shooting touch and his
“brick” free throws.
Now, almost everyone in the con
ference wants to stay away from the
Aggies’ 6-foot-9 center —- especially
the folks in Lubbock.
A week ago against Texas Tech,
Gilbert had a thrilling last-second
three-point play that gave A&M a
58-57 upset over the Red Raiders.
“I think I’ve improved a lot (since
last year),” said Gilbert, who is aver
aging 12 points and 6.7 rebounds a
game. “I’ve gotten the ball a lot more
than last year.
“This season, we’re lacking that
one great outside shooter like we
had in Kenny Brown last year.
Mike’s (Clifford) more of a passer.
That gives us more of an Opportu
nity to get the ball.”
As for Crite, the present season
got off to a shaky start. He severely
sprained his ankle in preseason
practice and missed the first game.
“I was worried (about my ankle)
for a long time,” Crite said. “I didn’t
think it would be the same again. I
think I’m almost 100 percent now.”
Although the ankle still gives him
some pain occasionally, it hasn’t
slowed him down. Crite is averaging
12.7 points and 7.5 rebounds per
game and has blocked 27 shots.
“I’ve improved (from last sea
son),” he said. “It hasn’t showed in
the stats, but I have definitely im
proved individual-wise.”
On the court, Gilbert and Crite
are just alike.
Whether it’s going up for the
slam, snagging the ball off the
boards or rejecting a shot, the Ag
gies can count on either Gilbert or
Crite to be in the vicinity.
But off the court, they are any
thing but twins.
Gilbert, who is quiet, reserved and
straightforward, stayed within, 30
miles of his hometown to play colle
giate basketball. Crite, who is witty,
open and talkative, traveled more
than 1,500 miles to play for the Ags.
“I wanted to stay close to home
(Huntsville),” Gilbert said. “I was re
cruited by other schools, but I came
here and saw the traditions and fans
and knew this is where I wanted to
ptay.”
Crite came to A&M from
Bakersfield, Calif. His recruiting
story is “a long and complicated
one.”
“I drove to LA, jumped on a plane
and here I am,” Crite joked.
Actually, A&M football coaches
were in Bakersfield scouting even
tual signee Rick McLeod of oppos
ing East High School, when they
spotted Crite.
“I knew I wanted to get away from
home,” he said. “If I stayed in Cali
fornia, I knew I was in trouble.”
Although their routes to A&M
were different, together, the two are
becoming troublemakers.
Arkansas (10-8 overall, 2-5 in
SWC) will be the next to get a shot at
stopping the “Twin Towers” and
ending A&M’s home winning streak.
The Ags host the Razorbacks at 7:30
tonight in G. Rollie White.
“I don’t think they’re a last-place
team,” , Gilbert said. “They have
some good athletes. The chemistry
just isn’t there right now. They’re
hurting without (Joe) Kleine (who is
now playing for,the NBA’s Sacra
mento Kings). They have the quick
ness, the shooters, the rebounders —
they just don’t have the experience
yet.”
And what does the rest of the sea
son hold for the first-place Aggies?
“We’re in excellent shape,” Crite
said. “We have to continue to play
team ball. We haven’t won anything
yet.”
But Gilbert, who is in his final sea
son at A&M, has higher hopes than
just winning the SWC.
“The Final Four,” Gilbert
nodded, “that’s what I’d like. We or
dered our tickets already —just in
case we miss it.”
Photo by ANTHONY S. CASPER
A&M center Jimmie Gilbert (30) has become an inside force for the
Aggies. Gilbert is averaging 12.0 points and 6.7 rebounds a game.
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