Texas A&M is making noise in the SEC, and after a dominant 92-69 win over South Carolina at Reed Arena-and with No. 16 Florida falling to Auburn-the Aggies now find themselves alone at the top of the conference standings at 6-1. Not bad for a team that, less than a year ago, was still figuring out how to play together.
The architect behind this rapid rise? Bucky McMillan.
In just his first season in College Station, McMillan has taken a group of mostly unfamiliar faces and molded them into a team that looks like a legitimate NCAA Tournament contender. It’s not just the record that stands out-it’s how they’re winning.
A&M’s success is built on two cornerstones: relentless defense and lights-out perimeter shooting. And when those two elements click, this team is a nightmare to deal with.
Just look at the numbers-nine different Aggies are shooting over 33% from three-point range. That’s not just depth; that’s firepower.
And leading the charge is Rylan Griffen, who’s been scorching from deep, hitting at a 45.3% clip among players with at least 30 attempts. When Griffen is locked in, the court opens up in a big way.
But it’s not just about volume-it’s about who they’re doing it against. Mississippi State and South Carolina aren’t exactly pushovers on defense.
Both teams typically hold opponents to under 30% from three and don’t allow more than seven makes per game. Against those two?
The Aggies dropped 26 threes at a 40% clip. That’s not just a hot streak-that’s a system working exactly the way it’s designed.
McMillan’s offense is built on spacing, ball movement, and confidence. It’s not just about finding the open shooter-it’s about knowing that guy is going to knock it down.
And on the other end, the defense has been just as sharp, forcing teams into tough looks and capitalizing on mistakes. It’s a two-way identity that’s starting to take shape at just the right time.
The SEC picture is wide open this season, and Texas A&M is taking full advantage. Four more wins could all but punch their ticket to the NCAA Tournament-a scenario that seemed like a long shot back in April when McMillan first took the reins.
Now, the Aggies get a rare breather in the middle of the week before heading to Athens on January 31 to face Georgia. That game kicks off a brutal stretch in their SEC slate, and we’re about to find out just how real this team is.
But through seven conference games, one thing is clear: Texas A&M isn’t sneaking up on anyone anymore. They’re here, they’re dangerous, and they’re playing with the kind of swagger that makes them a team no one wants to face right now.