Texas A&M coach Mark Turgeon admits the year hasn't been easy.

The Aggies are 22-8 and 8-7 in Big 12 play, which should be enough to get them into the NCAA tournament. However, Turgeon has been baffled by the lack of consistency his team has shown.

After beginning the season 15-1, Texas A&M lost three straight games. Then came a five-game winning streak before losing three more in a row.

``We lost a couple of home games that, on paper, we should have won," Turgeon said. "But I've never been around a team that has been so inconsistent. It's been hard on all of us."

The Aggies victory earlier in the week at Baylor certainly gives Turgeon cause for optimism.

``We've played well in two of the last three games," he said. "Guys are just buying into what they have to do. It's been great team defense and more deliberate on offense."

While Turgeon won't admit it, one of the issues has been that standout freshman big man DeAndre Jordan just hasn't been as advertised. The talented 7-footer is averaging 8.9 points and 6.6 rebounds, but one NBA scout told FOXSports.com they are weary because he is "soft."

Jordan has managed to get into double-figure scoring in just three of the last 14 games.

WHILE WE'RE ON THE SUBJECT OF BIG GUYS WITH POTENTIAL ...

DeAndre Jordan isn't the only one who should stick in school for another year.

Nevada 7-foot sophomore JaVale McGee could be a lottery pick down the line, but one NBA general manager said he wasn't sold just yet. ``It was a false alarm," the GM said. "He's not ready."

McGee is averaging 13.6 points and 7.1 rebounds this season and Wolf Pack coach Mark Fox doesn't anticipate losing him after this season.

``Javelle told me he wants to go to the NBA when he's ready to play," Fox said. "He wants to play in the NBA, not just be in the NBA. He's got a chance to be a dynamite player for a long time if he continues to improve."

Fox has managed to do a nice job with his team despite losing Nick Fazekas and starting point guard Ramon Sessions to the NBA.

Fox praised the leadership and attitude of Marcelus Kemp and also the play of freshman floor leader Armon Johnson. The Wolf Pack still have a shot to share the WAC regular-season title with a win at Fresno State tomorrow night.

BIG DEAL

The Big South tournament championship game features Winthrop and UNC Asheville.

If the Bulldogs win, it'll give the entire nation a chance to see 7-foot-7 junior big man Kenny George on a national stage - the NCAA tournament.

George is averaging 12.4 points, 7 rebounds and 3.5 blocks this season in 19.2 minutes.

HARGRAVE WINS NATIONAL CROWN

Congrats to Hargrave coach Kevin Keatts and his group for winning the National Prep Championship at Fordham, which featured the top eight prep school teams in the nation.

Hargrave got 26 points from Mississippi State-bound guard Dee Bost in a 75-72 victory against Findlay Prep in the championship game.

Both teams entered the contest unbeaten.

RANDOM NOTES: One name we're already hearing for the Detroit job is Tennessee assistant Tony Jones, who starred at Detroit Southwestern High and was also an AAU coach in the area. Look for Jones and fellow Vols assistant Steve Forbes to be in the mix as the coaching carousel begins to heat up. ... I always hear from coaches how difficult it is to balance family and basketball. Vanderbilt's Kevin Stallings does a terrific job. After his plane touched down recently, he showed up for one of his daughter's soccer matches clad in a suit. Stallings, a huge baseball fan, also caught his son, Jacob's, exhibition game yesterday. Jacob is one of the top high school players in the nation and is headed to play at North Carolina next year.