Kevin Sherrington

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Hearing Mark Turgeon's postgame comments over the last couple of years brings to mind an old joke about a revival meeting.

When a preacher asks for testimonies from his congregation, each confession elicits a chorus of hallelujahs. Volume rising, spirits climbing, emotions swell until a wayward soul gets up to talk about his affection for a goat.

"Ooooooooo," the preacher says in the hush that follows. "I don't believe I'd have told that."

Since taking over the men's basketball program at Texas A&M last season, Turgeon has confessed a thought or 20 that he wishes he hadn't. In a weak moment 14 months ago, he told us that his predecessor, Billy Gillispie, would reap the credit if the Aggies won. If they lost, which they did, and more often than he would have liked, he'd get the blame.

He also called it a bad year to have so many "tall guys." It was a good point if you're in charge of packing the clown car at the circus, but it's a curious complaint coming from a basketball coach.

Even after Turgeon expressed regret for those statements, you had to think he wasn't prepared for the demands of the job.

And his prospects weren't exactly looking up after the Aggies started Big 12 play 3-7 this year, either.

But a funny thing happened in the last month, leading into the Big 12 tournament in Oklahoma City.

The Aggies not only have won six games in a row, but, barring a flop Wednesday against Texas Tech, they've probably played their way into the NCAA Tournament.

What got into them? Plenty. They've rebounded, played defense and shown more poise. Key starters – Josh Carter and Donald Sloan, in particular – stepped up. Bench players accepted roles. When Carter sprained his ankle against Missouri last week, Turgeon got 39 bench points in an upset of the 12th-ranked Tigers.

Turgeon's boss, Bill Byrne, called the first half of the Missouri game, in which the Aggies took a 22-point lead, "the best half of Aggie basketball I've ever seen."

Better than Billyball?

"Mark had a great game plan going into that game," Byrne said. "It was as impressive as anything I've seen."

Not that Byrne was surprised. When Roy Williams recommended Turgeon years ago, Byrne put him on his short list.

He seemed like the right hire after Gillispie left town for Kentucky. For starters, he talked DeAndre Jordan into staying in College Station.

Still, Turgeon's first season was a mixed bag at best. The Aggies won 25 games and advanced to the second round of the NCAAs. But more was expected of an experienced team coming off a Sweet 16 appearance. When CBS' Jay Bilas said Turgeon had done "a magnificent job," it sounded like a make-up call for a beaten-down buddy.

Byrne certainly heard different perspectives from his Aggie faithful last year.

And now?

AP

Coach Mark Turgeon saw his men's basketball team at Texas A&M upset Missouri on Saturday.

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"The feedback is how genuine he is," Byrne said. "Honest, almost to a fault."

Case in point: After the 72-68 loss last month to Baylor, one of only two wins by the Bears in their last 12 games, Turgeon called out Bryan Davis for allowing Curtis Jerrells' winning layup.

But Turgeon said something else after the loss that his players have taken to heart. The timing was critical. Turgeon called it "a low point." Carter was so distraught, the senior from Lake Highlands cried.

Looking around the room, Turgeon told his players he would pray for them.

And as for the weight of that loss to Baylor?

"We're gonna leave this in the locker room," Derrick Roland told his teammates.

Recalling Roland's words on Monday, Turgeon said, "It was the best thing that's been said all year."

Well, it was in the top two, anyway. Turgeon's promise was the other, and that, brothers and sisters, is no joke.