Everything HC Bucky McMillan said ahead of March Madness showdown
Catch the Aggies' final remarks to the press before their NCAA Tournament opener against St. Mary's.
It’s the most wonderful time of the year; March Madness kicks off in full swing Thursday afternoon, when the Texas A&M Aggies face off against the St. Mary’s Gaels in their first round matchup in Oklahoma City. Head Coach Bucky McMillan took over the program after last year’s tournament, when former HC Buzz Williams again failed to reach the Sweet 16 despite having a roster full of seniors, including future NBA player Andersson Garcia.
McMillan had a shell of a basketball program to work with, as only one player returned from Williams’s 2024-25 roster. The Aggies face an ideological battle against St. Mary’s, where the undersized Texas A&M frontcourt, led by Rashaun Agee , will be forced to guard the Gaels’ pair of 7’1 centers, Andrew McKeever and Harry Wessels.
McKeever led the WCC in offensive rebounding percentage and total rebounding percentage. The Aggies will face a pair of sophomore guards, giving the Aggies an opportunity to overwhelm the inexperienced Gaels with their signature full-court press. If Texas A&M can win the possession battle by virtue of forcing more turnovers than offensive rebounds allowed, the team will be in an excellent position to steal a game from the higher-seeded Gaels.
Below is everything the Aggies had to say ahead of their opening matchup. HC Bucky McMillan on the matchup ahead "They're well coached, solid team, and they dang sure won't be at themselves. That's what makes this time of year so great is you get to see new styles from across the country.