Texas A&M basketball fans got their first look at the new era under Bucky McMillan during his official introduction at Reed Arena on April 7th. With roughly 500 fans present, McMillan didn't mince words about his ambitious plans for the team, setting the stage for an exciting transformation.
"Our goal is to be one of the top-scoring teams in the country, and at some point, we will certainly lead the country in scoring," he proclaimed, igniting cheers from the crowd. His vision for the Aggies?
Full-court pressure, relentless pace, and a barrage of threes – a high-octane brand of basketball that's certain to thrill the student section.
For McMillan, big-time transitions aren't new. He stepped onto the NCAA Division 1 stage in 2020, trading his highly successful high school coaching career for the head coach position at Samford University.
At Mountain Brook High School, his tenure was marked by five state championships over 12 years, constructing a powerhouse program. Bringing "BuckyBall" to college hoops, he swiftly turned around Samford's fortunes.
Over four seasons, Samford notched four consecutive 20-win campaigns, captured two Southern Conference regular-season championships, a SoCon tournament title, and secured their first NCAA tournament berth in over two decades.
Samford's numbers paint a compelling picture of McMillan's offensive prowess. In 2024, they ranked 14th nationally in scoring offense, 7th in three-pointers made, 11th in three-point attempts, and 27th in assists.
Compare these figures with Texas A&M under Buzz Williams, and the disparity is stark. Despite leading the nation in offensive rebounding, Williams' Aggies struggled elsewhere offensively, landing near the bottom of the SEC in scoring, field goal percentage, three-point shooting, and assists.
Now, with the transfer portal deadline looming on April 22nd, McMillan and his team face a sprint to assemble an SEC-ready roster. The Aggies might just be starting with a clean slate – only one player currently holds a spot on the roster. But if McMillan's past is any indication, Texas A&M fans can confidently expect a fast-paced, thrilling ride as they embrace this new chapter.
