What Texas A&M basketball is building right now stands out as one of the most impressive changes the school has ever experienced. Without wasting time on any drawn-out plan, Bucky McMillan has already started shaping the team with players he believes in.
He has quickly surrounded himself with the type of talent that fits his style and expectations. That responsibility is no small matter. It once rested on the shoulders of Wade Taylor IV, the school’s top scorer ever. Taylor IV gave everything on the court for the Aggies.
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He had the confidence to shoot from deep at any moment and brought energy that lifted the whole team. Another notable addition to the mix is Zhuric Phelps. He used to face the Aggies while playing for SMU, but later made the move to Aggieland to join their roster.
A Familiar Matchup Returns on the Non-Conference Schedule
This season, Texas A&M and SMU are getting ready to meet once again on the basketball court. It will be the third time in the last four seasons that these two schools face off.
The game is part of a packed non-conference schedule for the Aggies, which also features matchups against UCF, Oklahoma State, Pittsburgh, and Florida State.
SMU’s program has been making small but steady progress in recent years. They reached the second round of the NIT Tournament last season, showing that they’re not far off from taking the next step.
Although Texas A&M has won both of its recent meetings with the Mustangs, this time might feel different with McMillan in charge of a newly shaped team.
The Aggies will face a tough challenge once conference play begins in the SEC, and McMillan will experience that pressure for the first time. But those who follow the Aggies closely have reasons to trust him. Across the country, he has been seen as one of the most successful coaches working outside the Power Four programs.
This season, games outside of SEC matchups will be just as important for measuring where McMillan’s team stands. These early non-conference contests will help show how well they can handle what lies ahead once the tougher league games begin.
