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SEC: Texas A&M’s Alex Caruso The Most Underrated PG In The SEC

By DJoumbarey A. Moreau

Jan 29, 2014; Columbia, SC, USA; Texas A&M Aggies guard Alex Caruso (21) drives around South Carolina Gamecocks forward Mindaugas Kacinas (25) in the first half at The Colonial Life Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 29, 2014; Columbia, SC, USA; Texas A&M Aggies guard Alex Caruso (21) drives around South Carolina Gamecocks forward Mindaugas Kacinas (25) in the first half at The Colonial Life Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports /
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Everyone needs to stop the point guard conversations within the landscape of college basketball and understand that there are more guards within the Southeastern Conference that are genuine great players. I’m not even thinking about Kentucky’s Andrew Harrison, Ole Miss’ Jarvis Summers, Auburn’s Antoine Mason, or Georgia’s Charles Mann.

If there ever is a conversation about point guard within the SEC or even in the United States, one of the names that needs to get mentioned is the starting point guard for Texas A&M Alex Caruso. Playing for Texas A&M, Caruso doesn’t get a lot of attention but this season that’s going to change.

Caruso is now the focal point for his Texas A&M squad and he will potentially lead them to an NCAA tournament berth.

Texas A&M has a lot of potential, boast a lot of weapons and Caruso is the ringleader of the shoot outs.

Feb 26, 2014; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; Texas A&M Aggies guard Alex Caruso (21) drives past LSU Tigers forward Shavon Coleman (5) during the first half of a game at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 26, 2014; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; Texas A&M Aggies guard Alex Caruso (21) drives past LSU Tigers forward Shavon Coleman (5) during the first half of a game at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /

On the court there is no position that is more important than point guard. I absolutely love guards that are intelligent and don’t cause their team to lose games because of terrible decisions.

Caruso is the kind of guard who could apply for his master’s degree on the basketball court, because he plays at the graduate level of point guard play. During his sophomore year, Caruso was excellent at controlling the basketball and managing the tempo of games for the Aggies.

Caruso is an intelligent floor general that can make wise decisions when the basketball is in his hands.

Last season Caruso had 25 games with three or fewer turnovers. In addition, because of court vision, Caruso had 16 games with five or more assists.

In the SEC, Texas A&M didn’t have a good record. They finished 8-10 because the lack the talent to compete. However, with the maturation of Caruso’s game, it gives Texas A&M a player who potentially could make the All-SEC team and give them one of the best point guards (if not the best) within the conference.

Caruso’s play last season was one of the best at the point guard position in the SEC last season, and didn’t get any attention. He was left off of the All-SEC team, and wasn’t even thought of getting attention on the honorable mention list. Even beginning this season, Caruso was left off of the All-SEC team once again. 

In spite of his omission within the All-SEC Conference team, Caruso led the conference in assists per game, and was among the nation’s leaders in total assists.

Scoring wise, Caruso has to give more offensively because his Aggies need his scoring ability. Last season Texas A&M averaged 65.2 points a game, which left them 308th in the nation. The Aggies will need Caruso to step up and average more than nine points a game and continue to set up his teammates dishing them the basketball.

Caruso has the skill set to become a really good offensive weapon, especially on the scoring end of his game. Last season Caruso routinely got into the lane. With his 6’5″, 185-pound frame, he uses his strength to finish with contact within the paint. In fact, 47.3 of his shots were at the rim and he shot 60.4 percent.

The way that Caruso can become a better and more efficient scorer is by attempting and making more of his 2-point field goals. Last year he rarely shot jump shots and 20.5 percent of his jump shots were 2-point field goals. He shot a dismal 32.6 percent on 2-point jump shots.

Though Caruso does an excellent job of scoring in the lane, if he can improve his jump shooting percentage and take more shots, then he can become a 15-17 point scorer.

Also, next season Caruso is going to have to get better defensively. During his games he often gets caught having to guard quicker opponents, and gets caught out of place. Guards that are quicker normally cause Caruso trouble but next season if he can get better at anticipation of guards steps, he will stay in a spot that will not leave him vulnerable defensively.

However, one of the most underrated aspects of his game on defense is that Caruso understands how to play in the passing lanes. Because of his intelligence, he uses his mind to get into passing lanes to get steals and becomes a pesky off ball defender.

Last season Caruso finished the year with the second highest steals per game leader within the SEC.

Caruso is getting ready to have an awesome season playing along a freshman in point guard Avery Johnson Jr. (click this). Playing with a guard who can relieve pressure from his work load will open up the scoring opportunities that Caruso will have.

With Caruso running the show at Texas A&M, they will win 20 plus games and potentially turn themselves into one of the success stories in the SEC.

Hopefully the play of Caruso can translate into Texas A&M going to the NCAA tournament, where the rest of the nation can watch him flourish.