Colleges

'Mr. Clutch' rising to new heights

Senior Acie Law IV has been a calm leader during a resurgence at No. 3 seed Texas A&M.

By Brian Landman
Published March 20, 2007

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Texas A&M star Acie Law IV seemingly has always had a fear of heights.

"Roller coasters, the top of big buildings, stuff like that," he said with a hint of a shudder, even while sitting comfortably on the ground floor of Rupp Arena last weekend. "I'm really afraid of that."

Funny, but Law is hardly unnerved by the rarefied air he finds himself in these days. For the first time since 1980, the Aggies 27-6, the No. 3 seed in the South Region, have advanced to the Sweet 16, where they will meet No. 2 seed Memphis (32-3) on Thursday in San Antonio.

And make no mistake: Law has dragged his team on the climb.

Remember, folks, the Aggies were 7-21 overall and 0-16 in the Big 12 four seasons ago, Law's freshman year.

The senior point guard leads the Aggies in scoring (18.2 points a game, on 50.6 percent shooting from the field, 46.3 percent from 3-point range), assists (5.1), steals (1.2) and minutes (33.8).

He's earned first-team All-America honors from multiple groups and is a finalist for the Naismith Trophy as the nation's top player along with North Carolina's Tyler Hansbrough, Texas' Kevin Durant and Wisconsin's Alando Tucker.

"He's a fantastic player," Aggies coach Billy Gillispie said. "Not too many guys who are considered to be great players play great every time. But there's been very few times this year, especially once conference started, that he didn't play great."

'I want the ball'

Law has almost unfailingly raised his game to new heights in the waning minutes of the tightest of games on the grandest of stages to earn the moniker "Mr. Clutch."

- He hit a 3-pointer with 24 seconds left to give his team the lead and then sealed a 69-66 win at Kansas with a pair of free throws Feb. 3.

- He sank a 3-pointer over a leaping Durant with one second left to force overtime at Texas on Feb. 28. He hit another 3 to send the game into a second overtime, but the Longhorns pulled it out.

- Against Louisville on Saturday, he was 6-of-6 from the line in the final 3:45 and finished with 26 points to help the Aggies eke out a 72-69 win.

"He does so many amazing things," Aggies forward Joseph Jones said. "When we need a basket, we know we can go to him."

It isn't just that Law, a left-hander from Dallas, has mad skills (a shot with no backspin that looks like a Phil Niekro knuckleball, notwithstanding). He's unafraid to fail.

"You've got to believe in yourself, and, if you get in that situation, you can make a play," Law said, adding that can be seen as being strong-willed, hard-headed or a little of both. "I believe in myself. My teammates and my coaches believe in me. That goes a long way in helping you with your confidence and not being afraid to miss. That's the biggest key. If you miss that shot, the media and everybody is going to say, 'You're not clutch; you're not making that play.' I can live with whatever comes my way, and I want the ball in those situations."

Leader in deeds, words

Louisville coach Rick Pitino had seen Law on television before, but Thursday afforded him the chance to watch him in person as the Aggies played Penn.

"He's a great, great basketball player," Pitino said. "He reminds me of the guy who played at Connecticut last year at point (Marcus Williams), only a little quicker, a little better shooter."

But from his seat behind the Aggies' bench, Pitino learned something you don't glean from TV. After the Quakers, down by 13 at halftime, had rallied to take a 39-37 lead, he saw Law soothe and inspire his teammates during a timeout.

"He said, 'Relax. I'm taking over. No problem,' " Pitino said.

Sure enough, the Aggies scored the next 10 points in 3:35 to take control. Law closed that run with a pair of drives.

"Everything's not going to go your way each and every time down the floor," said Law, who's soft-spoken and reserved by nature. "I just like to tell my guys, 'Keep a cool head. ... We're all right. We're all right.' "

"Acie's really grown as a leader. That's the thing I'm the most proud of," Gillispie said. "When your best player has that calmness about him, it really helps the guys from being rattled or staying rattled. ... I can't tell you how much that means."

Brian Landman can be reached at landman@sptimes.com or (813) 226-3347.

[Last modified March 20, 2007, 01:20:45]