Coach on player’s dismissal: Mistakes can cost you in life
COLLEGE STATION — Texas A&M coach Billy Kennedy was driving to church Sunday morning when he learned two of his guards had been arrested by university police on charges of marijuana possession.
Following multiple missteps by J.J. Caldwell, Kennedy decided to cut the freshman guard and former Cypress Woods standout from the team. Following the first misstep of freshman guard Jay Jay Chandler of Cinco Ranch, Kennedy said he’s still gathering all of the facts to determine the length of Chandler’s suspension.
“We run a first-class program; this is only the second time we’ve dismissed a kid in seven years here for anything,” Kennedy said Monday. “It’s unfortunate, but we’ve got standards to uphold here, and that’s what we’re trying to do.”
Guard J’Mychal Reese, the son of then-assistant John Reese, was the other dismissal in December 2013. The elder Reese left the program not long after.
Caldwell had prior suspensions; Chandler did not. Kennedy addressed the obvious: that the players receive counseling and guidance from the time they step foot on campus, and especially after messing up, but at some point they have to take personal responsibility.
Character development key
“We pour into these guys about life every single day,” Kennedy said. “That’s about developing people. Unfortunately there are guys who make mistakes, and if you make too many mistakes, it costs you in life. That’s what we’re going through right now.
“We spend the bulk of our program on character development, and as long as I’m here, that’s going to be an important role in what we do.”
Caldwell and Chandler, along with another man, were arrested in the early hours of Sunday morning while sitting in a car in the school’s post-office parking lot. A university officer in a police affidavit wrote that when the driver rolled down his window, a smoke cloud poured out and the officer “could smell the strong odor of burnt marijuana coming from inside the vehicle.”
Another officer then saw a “clear bag containing a green leafy substance on the floorboard,” although all three of the men denied its ownership, according to the affidavit. Caldwell on Monday apologized via social media for his transgressions, including two previous suspensions this season, leading to his dismissal.
“I don’t want anybody feeling bad for me, because I’ve done this to myself,” Caldwell posted on Twitter, adding that he had learned “life lessons” at A&M that he intended to put to use in the future in asking for another chance at another school.
Back in Top 25
Meanwhile, the Aggies (17-8, 6-6) have climbed back to .500 with four consecutive wins in SEC play, and they leaped back into the Top 25 at No. 21 on Monday. They beat two ranked teams at the time last week in Auburn and Kentucky. The bad news has come in waves, however, after senior backup guard Duane Wilson said Monday he’s out for the season with a recurring knee injury (a partially-torn ACL that’s gotten worse).
The minutes of starting point guard T.J. Starks should increase beginning Tuesday night at Missouri with six regular-season games remaining, and Kennedy said Monday that junior Chris Collins of Friendswood will be back in the rotation with the absence of the three guards.
The Tigers (17-8, 7-5) own a four-game win streak of their own in SEC play, and they will be aiming to avenge a 60-49 loss to the Aggies on Jan. 20 in Reed Arena. While A&M’s guard play suddenly is suspect, the Aggies’ big men have dominated of late – just as they did against Missouri in the first game.
Center Tyler Davis scored 11 points and grabbed 14 rebounds, while forward Robert Williams finished with 13 points and nine rebounds in the first meeting. The Aggies now catch a Tigers team under first-year coach Cuonzo Martin that has won four straight in the SEC for the first time in six years and has already more than doubled last season’s win total (8-24).
Missouri guard Kassius Robinson has scored 49 points in the Tigers’ last two victories, so he’ll likely have the full attention of the Aggies’ top defender, Admon Gilder, one of the few guards remaining in the original rotation.