Ignored Texas A&M 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 prime 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 superb job changing practically his complete roster. Per KenPom, Texas A&M ranks No. 339 in Division I in minutes continuity (0.6 %), however McMillan has shortly developed one of many nation's prime offenses.

The Aggies entered Saturday sixth within the nation in scoring (91.8 factors per sport), with 5 energetic gamers averaging a minimum of 10 factors per sport. They're led by Rashaun Agee, initially a member of the 2019 recruiting class in his seventh 12 months of eligibility, who's averaging 13.7 factors per sport.

He is considered one of a number of energy convention transfers making an affect, having joined Texas A&M from USC. Senior guard Rylan Griffen, who's taking pictures 44.6 % 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 12 months at Creighton earlier than heading to School 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 faculty sport, having beforehand performed in Spain, most just lately for Bilbao in Liga ACB through the 2024-25 season.

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

Three of the Aggies' subsequent 4 video games are in opposition to 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 residence.

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