Texas A&M might not have cracked the AP Top 25 this week, but don’t let that fool you-this team is making serious noise. Sitting at 16-4 and leading the SEC standings, the Aggies have quietly built one of the more compelling résumés in college basketball. And while the poll voters may be slow to catch on, others around the sport are already taking notice.
One of them is ESPN’s Joe Lunardi, the go-to voice when it comes to NCAA Tournament projections. In his latest Bracketology update, Lunardi bumped Texas A&M up a seed line, now projecting the Aggies as an 8-seed in the Big Dance. That’s a significant step forward for a team that was barely on the radar back in the preseason.
According to Lunardi’s bracket, A&M would open the tournament against NC State-coached by Will Wade-and if they get through that, they’d be staring down a potential second-round matchup with top-seeded Michigan. That’s a tall order, no doubt.
Michigan has looked every bit the powerhouse this year. But just getting to that point would be a testament to how far this Aggies squad has come under head coach Bucky McMillan.
Let’s not forget: this was a team in transition not long ago. After Buzz Williams' departure, expectations were tempered.
There was talk of rebuilding, of patience. But McMillan has accelerated the timeline in a big way.
His group plays with discipline, grit, and a growing confidence that’s starting to show up in the win column-and now, in tournament projections.
The real test is just around the corner. A&M is about to hit the toughest stretch of its schedule, with four of its next five games falling into the Quad 1 category.
That’s where the NCAA Selection Committee really starts paying attention. These are the games that separate contenders from pretenders.
If the Aggies can weather that storm-maybe even steal a couple of those matchups-they won’t just be moving up in Bracketology. They’ll force their way into the national conversation, whether the AP voters are ready or not.
For now, Texas A&M remains a team on the rise. And if they keep trending the way they are, don’t be surprised if they’re not only dancing in March-but making some real noise once they get there.