Texas A&M might be riding a two-game skid, but don’t let the losses fool you-this team is still very much in the thick of the NCAA Tournament conversation. And according to ESPN’s Joe Lunardi, the Aggies are holding strong in the latest bracketology projections, currently slotted as a No. 8 seed. That’s a far cry from where many had them back in the preseason, when they were hovering around the “last four in” or even flirting with the “first four out.”
The Aggies’ recent losses-while not ideal-aren’t exactly damaging in the eyes of the committee. The defeat to Alabama, in particular, could end up looking better over time, especially now that Charles Bediako has been ruled ineligible for the Crimson Tide.
That changes the complexion of Alabama’s roster and could elevate the value of A&M’s performance in that matchup. The Florida loss stings more, no doubt, but it’s not a season-ender.
Far from it.
Lunardi’s latest projections have Texas A&M facing SMU in a first-round rematch in San Diego. That’s a game the Aggies would have every reason to be confident about.
But here’s the rub: as an 8-seed, a win in the opening round almost certainly sets up a showdown with a No. 1 seed-potentially Arizona, UConn, or Michigan. That’s where the road gets steep.
Those are heavyweight programs, and the margin for error shrinks dramatically.
There’s still a path for A&M to climb into a more favorable seed-say, a 7-seed-but it’s going to take a serious push, likely through the SEC Tournament. And that’s no cakewalk. The SEC is deep this year, and the Aggies will need to navigate a gauntlet of tough matchups to improve their standing.
Still, it’s worth stepping back and appreciating how far this group has come. At the start of the season, expectations were modest at best.
Many had them pegged near the bottom of the SEC-12th, to be exact. Fast forward to February, and they were in the mix for first place in the conference.
That’s a testament to the fight and resilience of this squad.
Sure, the Florida loss was a missed opportunity-one that could’ve propelled them into the Top 25. But the bigger picture remains encouraging.
This team has already outperformed the projections, and with a few more key wins, they could set themselves up for a deeper run in March than anyone anticipated. The road ahead is tough, but the Aggies have shown they’re tougher.