CBB insider said the quiet part out loud of why Texas A&M is right where they are

Texas A&M basketball isn't supposed to be here. They aren't supposed to be on the top of the SEC standings right before February.

But it turns out, the race for the SEC is more wide open than we thought, and that's to Texas A&M's full advantage. College basketball insider Jon Rothstein, who hasn't been able to use the "Palpable Buzz Williams" quote this season, is eyeing an unexpected wide-open SEC.

The tough test for A&M is coming up in their next three games, but rest assured, Bucky McMillian and the Aggies are right where they want to be.

Texas A&M should use wide-open SEC to their advantage

Is he speaking indirectly about the Aggies? You have to think he is, right? Kentucky was a mess to start the season, especially after Mark Pope ripped into his team about his defensive potential and overall lack of effort.

To be the champs, you have to beat them. Now, the Aggies are far, far away from that. But if they can go through the gauntlet of Florida and beat them on Feb. 7, the Ags will be on the national map, and they almost are.

There's one graphic that preaches the same thing as Rothstein, but they still have the Gators at a wide gap to win the SEC.

Kalshi is still heavily favoring the defending champs. This graphic wouldn't have been a surprise at the beginning of the season, but Rothstein thinks it's closer than this. Vanderbilt is definitely trending in the right direction. Arkansas is making a strong case to win the conference, too. Alabama was seen as one of the more electric teams in the country, but now, they're right up there with Texas A&M.

There are only a few expectations for Texas A&M basketball, and it looks like McMillan is already defying the odds to excite fans about what's to come.