Texas A&M rolled to a 108-67 win over UL Monroe on Monday night, but the bigger postgame storyline centered on Cade Phillips and his right knee.
The Aggies moved to 3-0 and kept their early-season scoring surge rolling, topping 100 points for the second straight game under second-year coach Bucky McMillan. Texas A&M shot 52.1% from the floor, went 23-for-29 at the free-throw line and still had room to clean up the perimeter work after hitting just 29% from three.
PJ Haggerty paced the Aggies with 22 points, while Jordan Pope added 19. Jalen Shelley chipped in nine rebounds and four assists, giving Texas A&M another steady all-around effort from the transfer group.
Tyshawn Archie also made his presence felt off the bench, finishing with 12 points and punctuating the night with a second-half dunk that stood out in a game full of scoring. He continues to look like the strongest candidate for the sixth-man role as SEC play approaches.
Then came the injury concern. Phillips, the Tennessee transfer, went down after a hard foul and was later seen with an ice pack on his knee. McMillan said after the game that Phillips will get imaging on Tuesday and will “obviously” be questionable for Thursday’s matchup against Oklahoma State.
“He’ll obviously be questionable Thursday (against Oklahoma State) as we move forward.”
Through three games, Phillips has given Texas A&M a physical presence inside, bringing energy and force in the paint while the Aggies have worked through scoring lulls. If he can’t go Thursday, junior forward Jamie Vinson would be in line to start.
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For a program that has sold itself on momentum, one decommitment can quickly turn into a broader question about how much more work is needed to keep the class together and protect the roster plan. Texas A&M still has the kind of profile that can attract top-end talent, but the current record puts added pressure on the staff to steady the season and reassure recruits that the long-term vision remains intact. The bigger issue now is not just replacing one lost commitment, but preventing the kind of recruiting drift that can follow when the results stop matching the message. [Read more 🡒]