SHOOTING GUARDS

There is no doubt in Bibbs’ mind that senior shooting guard Amber Bland is the best player in the MEAC. She finds it shocking that she is not more recognized for what she does on the defensive end. But Bibbs also realizes that Bland has probably been denied conference player of the year honors because she is not always as assertive as she needs to be on the offensive end.

“Her defensive statistics don’t show just how good a defensive player she is,’’ said Bibbs. “She knows where to be at the right time. She’s aggressive and she will put the clamps on you. I just want her to have that same aggression on the offensive end.”

Bland reached 1,000 career points faster than any other Aggie women’s basketball player in history (59 games). But despite her ability to score, she attempted just 50 free throws. It was the fewest free throws attempted by a player who finished in the top 10 in scoring in the MEAC last season.

“Amber is loaded with so much talent,” said Bibbs. “I think sometimes Amber doesn’t know how talented she is. She gives so much so much on the court. But I told her, ‘it would be a travesty for you not to take your team to the NCAA tournament.’ I know sometimes it doesn’t happen, but she is the kind of player that can make it happen.”

Bland has a number of players who can back her up at the shooting guard position. Freshman Tierra Thomas and junior college transfer Reisha Bullock will be the top two candidates. Both newcomers are combo guards who likely be called on to score this season with the Aggies loaded at the point guard position. Thomas comes in with the reputation of being an aggressive defensive player who can score the basketball. Bullock is an athletic guard who is extremely quick and can fill up the stat sheet with her ability to rebound and distribute the basketball.

POINT GUARDS

 Ta’Wuana “Tweet” Cook, a 5-8 junior out of Fayetteville, N.C., has been the Aggies starting point guard since she stepped on campus in 2006. She has started every game she has played over her first two seasons. Cook is closing in on the Aggies all-time assists record and could end her career with more than 1,000 points, 450 assists and 450 rebounds.

Bibbs said Cook has been the heart and soul of her program because of her ability to spark runs with her speed with the basketball on the break. When the Aggies start causing turnovers and fastbreaking off those turnovers, it’s usually Cook leading those breaks.

“Tweet can do what Tweet wants to do when Tweet wants to do it,’’ said Bibbs. “She’s working on her left hand, she is going into the gym herself and that’s something we haven’t seen before. She is so talented she thought she can just show up and get it done. Now, she realizes now that she has to continue to improve because people are constantly trying to figure out how to defend her.”

When Cook came to N.C. A&T, she was the only point guard on the roster. Times have changed. The Aggies have a number of point guards who can relieve Cook. Junior Tyronnica “Wudi” Alford. The Thomasville, N.C., native started 15 games last season at the point guard position during a time when Cook was playing the shooting guard position last season.

Sophomore Taryn Russ played sparingly last season, but she hit a big shot in a win over Delaware State in Dover, Del., last season and now has a year running Bibbs’ system. Alford and Russ will receive competition from junior college transfer LaVon Woods. Bibbs describes Woods, a 5-4 sophomore, as a player who is small in stature but big in heart.