victoriaadvocate
Texas A&M basketball will retain the same chaotic yet organized style that defined head coach Bucky McMillan's debut season in 2025-26. The Aggies' start-stop pace, unconventional ball movement, and frequent three-point attempts—which lifted them from preseason SEC bottom-dweller to the second round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament—will look familiar. However, the second year of McMillan's system will feature a noticeably taller and more versatile lineup.
In McMillan's first year in College Station, the Aggies posted a 22-12 record with one of the shortest teams in the Power 4. Now, A&M possesses the height needed to secure more rebounds and generate additional shot attempts. During the 2025-26 campaign, the Aggies averaged 37.3 total rebounds per game, ranking eighth in the SEC. The goal is to dominate the glass and draw fouls, forcing defenses to collapse and make difficult decisions.
"Couldn't be worse than last year," McMillan joked. "I've seen more shots blocked in warm-ups than I saw the entire season last year. We're longer, we're stronger, we'll be better at attacking the basket and finishing at the rim."
Six-foot-eleven forward Zach Clemence returns, while freshmen Jamie Vinson and Josh Irving—both 6-foot-11 bigs—can help control the boards. The centerpiece of A&M's rebounding plans is the return of Mackenzie Mgbako. The 6-foot-10, 225-pound forward had surgery to repair a fractured right foot suffered in December 2025 and missed the rest of last season. Before the injury, Mgbako appeared in seven games, averaging 10.4 points and 4.9 rebounds. "Just trying to be a force on that rebounding side," Mgbako said of his focus. "Just trying to crash as much as possible."
All-around forward Rashaun Agee has moved on to the Cleveland Cavaliers roster, but the Aggies replenished through the transfer portal with players who impressed McMillan at their previous stops. Point guard Jordan Pope transferred from Texas on Aug. 17 after averaging 13.1 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game for the Longhorns last year. Former Memphis and Kansas State guard PJ Haggerty, a Crosby native and the top player in the transfer portal, chose the Aggies after averaging 20 points per game over his previous three seasons.
A&M will be Haggerty's fifth school in as many years, but that doesn't concern McMillan. "People can have different opinions, positive or negative in the recruiting process. I tend to go with my own eyes," McMillan said. "He sees rotations and makes the right pass."
The presence of Pope and Haggerty adds variation to what A&M hopes to accomplish offensively. The Aggies were able to get up the shots McMillan asked for, but a lack of height and ability to drive the paint often made it a difficult process. The new faces give the Aggies better versatility on offense and more three-point shooting. "There was not a guy you could give it to and say go get a bucket. This team now has several guys who can beat their man," McMillan said. "The later the season goes, you have to have that."
Texas A&M opens the season at home Nov. 3 against Alabama State at Reed Arena. That game will serve as preparation for the challenging SEC slate. Conference play tips off Jan. 2 at home against Auburn and includes every team picked to finish in the top 10 of the league, with home-and-home series against Texas and Vanderbilt. "The SEC will be the best league in the history of college basketball this year, and we've got the second-hardest schedule in it," McMillan said.
Key Analysis
The Aggies' upgraded size and backcourt talent should address last season's shortcomings in rebounding and shot creation. With McMillan's fast-paced system now supported by taller, more skilled players, Texas A&M appears poised to exceed last year's tournament success and contend in a loaded SEC.
Originally reported by victoriaadvocate.