The last time Texas basketball squared off against Texas A&M, "Bucky Ball" was the talk of the town. Named after the Aggies' first-year coach Bucky McMillan, this style of play is all about relentless pressure, high energy, and a deep rotation. It's a system that has Aggies fans buzzing and opponents scrambling.
Early on, Texas A&M took the SEC by storm, jumping to the top with a 7-1 record, including a tight 74-70 victory over Texas back in January. Texas guard Chendall Weaver reflected on that game, noting, “We learned that they're a hard-playing team. But if we just take care of the ball and make the simple plays, we'll be alright.”
However, the Aggies have hit a rough patch lately, going 2-5 in their last seven outings. They've eked out wins against Oklahoma and Ole Miss, two teams not in the NCAA Tournament conversation.
For Texas (17-11, 8-7) to push the Aggies (19-9, 9-6) further down the standings in their rematch, Longhorns coach Sean Miller emphasizes the need to handle A&M's disruptive defense more effectively. In their previous encounter, Texas managed only 41.5% shooting.
“Their pressure, whether full court or half court, really makes you play their game,” Miller explained. “No matter who you are, they force you to adapt.”
Both teams have a lot on the line as they eye postseason play. Texas A&M is tied for fifth in the SEC with Missouri, Vanderbilt, and Kentucky, just a game ahead of Texas in ninth place. The upcoming SEC Tournament in Nashville offers a first-round bye to the top eight teams, raising the stakes even higher.
With similar NCAA Tournament projections, a win could be crucial for either team. ESPN's Joe Lunardi currently has both squads as the last two teams avoiding the First Four.
While Miller is focused on the immediate challenges, he acknowledged after a recent loss to Florida, “We’re good enough to not only make it but to be a tough out. Our scoring ability speaks for itself, but our defense needs to step up. We don’t have to be the best, but we’ve got to be better, and that’s on us, especially me, to make it happen in these final games.”
In their last matchup, Texas struggled defensively, particularly in the second half, as A&M shot a scorching 60%. Despite a late push from Dailyn Swain and Jordan Pope, who each scored 17 points, the Longhorns fell short.
“We struggled to defend them,” Miller noted. “They executed well, and we need to improve this time.”
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