Texas A&M enters the SEC Tournament riding momentum under Bucky McMillan as the Aggies prepare for Oklahoma with NCAA Tournament hopes rising.
The Texas A&M Aggies basketball team enters the SEC Tournament with momentum, confidence, and a likely NCAA Tournament bid within reach after finishing the regular season 21-10 overall and 11-7 in SEC play during Bucky McMillan’s first season in College Station.
Texas A&M closed the year strong with impressive victories over Kentucky and LSU, locking in the No. 6 seed in the SEC Tournament and strengthening its March Madness resume.
Now the Aggies turn their attention to a late-night showdown against the Oklahoma Sooners, who arrive desperate for wins after defeating South Carolina in the opening round.
For Oklahoma, Thursday’s game could determine its postseason fate. For Texas A&M, the stakes are slightly different.
The Aggies appear safely positioned for an at-large NCAA Tournament bid, though a deep SEC Tournament run could still improve their March Madness seeding.
The Aggies’ journey to this point hasn’t been smooth.
Texas A&M opened SEC play in impressive fashion, jumping out to a 7-1 conference record before hitting turbulence late in the season.
February proved challenging as the Aggies stumbled through a 2-6 stretch, including a four-game losing streak that briefly placed their NCAA Tournament hopes in doubt.
But resilience has defined McMillan’s first roster, a group largely constructed through the transfer portal.
Early in the season, the Aggies faced adversity when star forward Mackenzie Mgbako departed the program. The situation forced others to step forward, most notably senior forward Rashaun Agee, who emerged as the team’s leader in both points and rebounds per game.
McMillan credits his players for refusing to let early struggles derail their season.
“With the way we started the season, I don’t know if people thought we’d get an NIT invite,” McMillan said. “The first four games were a little rocky. But we really got it going, man, and I’m really proud of this group.”
Another key player heading into the SEC Tournament is Rylan Griffen, who has caught fire offensively at the perfect time. The senior guard scored 45 points and knocked down nine 3-pointers over the final two regular-season games, providing a major scoring boost.
McMillan believes Griffen’s hot shooting could be a difference-maker in Nashville.
If the Aggies maintain their recent form and continue building chemistry under McMillan’s fast-paced system, Texas A&M may not just be heading to the NCAA Tournament ... it could become one of the more dangerous teams in the field.