Missed SEC program stays atop convention with highway win

[ad_1] The Texas A&M Aggies could also be getting nearer to receiving the nationwide respect they deserve.

On Saturday, Texas A&M defeated the Georgia Bulldogs (16-6, 4-5 in SEC) on the highway, 92-77, for its third consecutive double-digit convention win. The Aggies jumped out to a 22-2 lead out of the gate and held on after the Bulldogs trimmed the result in two by ending the sport on a 23-10 run.

Regardless of main the SEC at 7-1 and standing at 17-4 total, Texas A&M has been conspicuously absent from the Related Press high 25 ballot all season.

That ought to quickly change.

Texas A&M places SEC on discover with blowout convention highway win over Georgia Texas A&M's solely convention loss is an 87-82 double-overtime loss at Tennessee (14-6, 4-3 in SEC). It is received 4 in a row — tied for the SEC's longest win streak with the Auburn Tigers, which it defeated, 90-88, on the highway earlier this month — by a mean of 15.5 factors.

Bucky McMillan, employed through the offseason after 5 seasons at Samford following Buzz Williams' departure for Maryland, has completed a wonderful job changing almost his whole roster. Per KenPom, Texas A&M ranks No. 339 in Division I in minutes continuity (0.6 p.c), however McMillan has shortly developed one of many nation's high offenses.

The Aggies entered Saturday sixth within the nation in scoring (91.8 factors per recreation), with 5 lively gamers averaging not less than 10 factors per recreation. They're led by Rashaun Agee, initially a member of the 2019 recruiting class in his seventh yr of eligibility, who's averaging 13.7 factors per recreation.

He is one in every of a number of energy convention transfers making an impression, having joined Texas A&M from USC. Senior guard Rylan Griffen, who's taking pictures 44.6 p.c on three-point makes an attempt, transferred from Kansas after starting his collegiate profession within the SEC at Alabama.

Backup guard Pop Isaacs spent first first two seasons at Texas A&M and junior yr at Creighton earlier than heading to Faculty Station this offseason. Guard Marcus Hill went the junior faculty route out of highschool however spent the 2024-25 season at NC State, the place he began 25 video games and appeared in 31 total.

Guard Ruben Dominguez, 22, is a part of the category of former abroad execs impacting the school recreation, having beforehand performed in Spain, most not too long ago for Bilbao in Liga ACB through the 2024-25 season.

The veteran core has been key to Texas A&M's robust begin, and its wealth of energy convention (or skilled) expertise will give it an opportunity of withstanding a tricky upcoming slate.

Three of the Aggies' subsequent 4 video games are towards ranked opponents, together with two (No. 23 Alabama Crimson Tide, No. 18 Vanderbilt Commodores) on the highway and the defending nationwide champion No. 19 Florida Gators at dwelling.

Texas A&M can show its detractors fallacious with assertion wins over the subsequent two weeks. However after Saturday, these numbers ought to be dwindling.