Texas A&M opens the season with a fresh look and a lot of buzz, but Tuesday’s matchup with Alabama State is also the first real test of how quickly Bucky McMillan’s rebuilt roster can click.
The Aggies are coming off a 22-12 season and a second-round NCAA Tournament appearance in McMillan’s first year, and now they enter Year 2 picked ninth in the Southeastern Conference preseason poll. There’s no shortage of new firepower in College Station, either. Texas A&M is expected to lean on guard PJ Haggerty, the Kansas State transfer who put up 23.4 points per game last season.
The backcourt overhaul doesn’t stop there. Jordan Pope arrives from Texas after averaging 13.1 points per game in 2025-26, while Tyshawn Archie comes in from McNeese after scoring 14.3 points a night and knocking down 65 3-pointers.
"We have more attackers, guys who can get to the free throw line, guys that can get to the charge circle and get fouled," McMillan said. "We've got a good team this year. Last year, we were very close."
Texas A&M also expects a boost from a bigger front line, with Mackenzie Mgbako back after missing all but seven games last season because of a broken foot.
Alabama State arrives for its opener trying to turn the page after a 10-22 season that ended with a first-round SWAC tournament loss to Alcorn State. The Hornets are under first-year coach Chris Wright, who was hired in April 2026 after a dominant NAIA run at Langston University.
The program has also brought in a notable new voice off the court, hiring NBA legend and Hall of Famer Dominique Wilkins as general manager.
"To be at a place like Alabama State University is exciting; it's a new challenge," Wilkins said in a statement. "The programs are trending upward, so it's an exciting time to join them and accelerate the growth."
On the floor, Alabama State’s main threat is guard Mike James, who transferred from Mississippi Valley State after averaging 21.4 points last season. The Hornets were picked seventh in the 12-team SWAC preseason poll.
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Instead, Oregon already made its own change after offensive struggles, and Texas A&M has been forced to live with the same uneasy question about Wiggins. The Aggies have had enough time to see whether the internal promotion can lift the unit, and the lack of progress has put his ability to improve the offense under the spotlight in a way that is getting harder to ignore. [Read more 🡒]
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Texas A&M Is Feeling The Cost Of Lost Pass Rush Talent
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Rylan Kennedy has also surfaced quickly at Florida State, where he has become a presence in sacks and pressures. For Texas A&M, that leaves less margin for error up front and more pressure on the next wave of defenders to replace snaps, disruption and finishing ability. The Aggies can survive losing one productive edge threat, but losing several at once changes the shape of the defense and raises the stakes for how the pass rush holds up over the long haul. [Read more 🡒]