Texas A&M may have found a little extra depth in Josh Irving just as it could need it.
The freshman forward has taken advantage of his early minutes, and his role may grow even more after Cade Phillips went down with a right knee injury in Monday’s win over Louisiana-Monroe. Texas A&M now heads into its matchup with Oklahoma State with the possibility that Irving will be asked to do more.
Irving’s first three games have shown a steady climb. He opened with two points and two rebounds in seven minutes against Alabama State, then followed that with four points, two rebounds and a block in 10 minutes against Northern Kentucky. Against Louisiana-Monroe, the 6-foot-11 freshman turned in his best outing yet, scoring eight points on a perfect 3-of-3 shooting, grabbing five rebounds and blocking a shot in 13 minutes during the Aggies’ 108-67 victory.
Across those three appearances, Irving is averaging 4.7 points, three rebounds and one block in 10 minutes per game. He has also blocked a shot in every outing, an early sign that he can provide some rim protection.
After the win, head coach Bucky McMillan pointed to the value of the younger players who got extended run.
"It was good to see guys like Josh and Neiko get double-digit minutes and make the most out of those minutes."
Phillips’ injury came in the second half when an opposing player rolled into his leg while both were going after a loose ball. The Tennessee transfer left the game, and his availability is still up in the air.
"Right now, the prognosis is not bad, but he’ll have it imaged tomorrow and we’ll know for sure."
If Phillips is sidelined, Irving’s early efficiency and activity around the rim could make him a more important piece in the rotation. His production has come in lopsided wins so far, but Texas A&M may need that same energy against a tougher opponent in Oklahoma State.
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