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The Texas A&M Aggies men's basketball team kicked off its 2026-27 campaign with a convincing 97-66 victory over Alabama State on Wednesday night. While the win was expected, the Aggies' first real test was thought to come on Nov. 12 against Oklahoma State. However, East Texas A&M's shocking upset of Oklahoma earlier this week served as a reminder that no high-major program is immune to a stunning defeat.
That lesson should be fresh in Texas A&M's mind as it prepares to host Northern Kentucky on Friday night. The Norse are off to a 2-0 start and will view the Aggies as the marquee opponent on their schedule. With a chance for a program-defining upset, Northern Kentucky is expected to leave everything on the floor.
Northern Kentucky's Offensive Weapon
NKU already demonstrated its potential with an overlooked 84-76 upset of UTEP in its season opener. Although the Miners are new to the Mountain West, a Horizon League win over one of the top mid-major conferences is noteworthy. More impressive, however, was the individual performance of forward Noah Pagotto, who must be at the top of Texas A&M's scouting report.
In Northern Kentucky's 102-94 win over South Dakota on Wednesday, Pagotto poured in 30 points on 11-of-15 shooting. Through two games, he has already attempted 22 free throws, showcasing his ability to score in multiple ways. The Norse have displayed an efficient offense that could trouble the Aggies if they take the matchup lightly.
Of course, even a subpar performance from Texas A&M might be enough to beat Northern Kentucky given the talent on Bucky McMillan's roster. But it's wise not to tempt fate. Defending Pagotto as a star-level player and respecting the Norse as a serious opponent should result in a comfortable Aggies win. Conversely, sleepwalking through the game would hand Northern Kentucky the advantage it seeks.
It may seem repetitive to stress this point, but upsets happen—that's what makes college basketball so special. Just ask Oklahoma, which found itself on the wrong end of one earlier this week. Texas A&M can avoid a similar fate by entering Friday's game with a championship-level mindset.