"I want them to play well all the time"

That's a simple and obvious statement Texas A&M men's basketball coach Mark Turgeon made about his team after the Aggies latest win, a 57-52 victory over 5-7 McNeese State on Saturday.

All coaches want what Turgeon wants -- those that are perfectionists expect it -- but just as obvious is the fact that attaining perfection or even playing well all the time is unfeasible.

There are legitimate reasons why Turgeon wants more from his team. Even though the Aggies are going to finish with a better nonconference record than most had predicted, there have been stretches during games that make you wonder how this team is 13-1 going into its final tuneup Monday before Big 12 play.

In its 13 wins the Aggies have gone through seven droughts, lasting anywhere from six to 10 minutes, in which they have been outscored by at least 10 points. Five of those have come against teams that have little to no chance of making the NCAA Tournament. And that doesn't include falling behind UNC Wilmington 8-3 or Jackson State 23-20, or scoring just one point against Stephen F. Austin during a six-minute stretch.

Basketball can be a game of runs, but to consistently have the stretches the Aggies have endured is one of Turgeon's biggest concerns.

To explain the lapses, Turgeon has said his team lacks the "killer instinct" and that it often plays down to its competition or only as well as it has to to win.

Despite being 13-1, winning nine straight and going unbeaten in all nine of their home games, the Aggies have walked into too many postgame press conferences with glum looks on their faces and subdued tones to their voices. They've won, but they know they haven't played up to their capability.

They aren't truly getting to enjoy their victories, which is almost a shame. Instead, the players and Turgeon are left to try to explain why they got off to a slow start, were unable to extend a lead after having a team on the ropes or didn't dominate an overmatched opponent.

Many big-name schools like A&M schedule plenty of guaranteed games -- guaranteed wins for you, guaranteed money for the opponent. Unlike last year when A&M dominated those games, often times on just physical superiority, there have been very few sure things this season. That has curbed the enthusiasm over a near-perfect record.

It could be worse. Some teams (i.e. Syracuse and Louisville) have lost those types of games, so it's good to keep a glass-is-half-full attitude.

Turgeon is ecstatic with his team's record, but with the Big 12 schedule starting in less than a week the Aggies will soon have to start playing well "all the time" more often. If not, those droughts will start catching up with them.

Richard Croome's e-mail address is richard.croome@theeagle.com.

TEXAS A&M MEN

* Monday's game: North Dakota (8-5) at Texas A&M (13-1), 7 p.m.

* TV/Radio: FSN, Ch. 25/WTAW, 1620 AM

A&M-NORTH DAKOTA LINEUPS

TEXAS A&M (13-1)

NAMEPOS.HTCL.PPGRPG

Donald SloanG6-3Jr.11.4*3.4

Derrick RolandG6-4Jr.5.32.2

Josh CarterF6-7Sr.13.64.2

Bryan DavisF6-9Jr.11.16.7

Chinemelu ElonuC6-10Jr.9.26.6

NORTH DAKOTA (8-5)

NAMEPOS.HTCL.PPGRPG

Darius JosephG6-2Sr.8.5*4.2

Daniel HarkinsG6-3Sr.14.03.6

O.J. HarrisonF6-5Sr.10.54.4

Travis MertensF6-5Jr.8.86.6

Derek BenterC6-8So.4.53.3

*assists per game