Texas A&M basketball may still be finding its identity under Coach Bucky McMillan, but if their dominant 95-59 win over Florida State in the Battle of the Bay is any indication, the pieces are starting to come together-and fast.
From the opening tip, the Aggies played with a level of urgency and cohesion that’s been building game by game. It’s no secret that Coach Bucky has been pushing this group to bring more intensity and finish games stronger, and this time, they delivered on both fronts.
Even more impressive? They did it without one of their top players, Rylan Griffen, sidelined for the matchup.
“We're getting better and better by the day, the more we get our guys together,” McMillan said postgame. “I thought we were going to have our first game, everybody ready to go, and dang, we are doing it without arguably one of our, maybe our best player, one of them, Rylan Griffin.”
What stood out most wasn’t just the offensive fireworks-it was the defensive grit and rebounding dominance that defined this performance. Defense and glass work have been consistent points of emphasis for McMillan, and this game showed real growth in both areas.
“We are a pressure team that gets up and pressures,” McMillan said. “But hey, we grew that lead out there. We were able to run our zone and we were good in our zone.”
That versatility-being able to apply pressure but also settle into a zone and still control the game-speaks volumes about how this team is evolving. And when it came to stepping up, Rashaun answered the call in a big way, posting a monster double-double with 17 points and 17 rebounds.
“I’m more proud of the 17 rebounds than anything else,” McMillan added.
That kind of effort on the boards not only reflects individual hustle but a collective mindset-one that’s starting to mirror the identity McMillan wants for this program: relentless, disciplined, and unselfish.
Next up, Texas A&M heads north to face the Pittsburgh Panthers in the ACC-SEC Challenge. That matchup tips off Tuesday, December 2, at 6 p.m.
CT on ESPNU. It’s another opportunity for the Aggies to test their progress against a tough opponent-and if this latest performance is any indication, they’re trending in the right direction.