Despite disappointing loss, Texas A&M basketball can redeem themselves very soon

It's not been a great few days for Texas A&M fans.

After a loss to South Carolina on the gridiron, Aggie fans had to experience the first court storm of college basketball this year.

The Aggies were the on the losing end of that to UCF.

Aggie fans should be optimisic, however. They have a chance to forget that night and get it right very soon.

Texas A&M basketball can redeem themselves vs Purdue

Gig' Em. Boiler Up, Hammer Down.

One is heard more often during the football season, and the other phrase we hear during basketball season.

Regardless of their meltdown against UCF, the Aggies are still a true basketball team this year.

The Aggies have a chance to showcase themselves on national TV against the Purdue Boilermakers, who were defeated in the 2024 NCAA National Championship game against UConn.

Obviously, there's no Zach Edey to worry about anymore for any college basketball team. This will still be a tough matchup for both sides.

That's the key word: matchups.

Braden Smith and Wade Taylor IV will be the main matchup in this one. Smith, the junior, is improving each and every year as a Boilermaker, he just broke a record for most assists for a Boilermaker in a season opener.

For Taylor IV, he's looking to add onto his badge of First-team All-SEC in the 2023-24 season. He shot 36% from deep, and he's going to be one of the greatest college players in the universe this season.

The big man matchup will be something to watch as well with Andersson Garcia facing Daniel Jacobsen. Jacobsen is expected to be a sensational freshman who's supposed to fill the shoes of Edey. Jacobsen, at 7-foot-4, started out sloppy, but when the Boliers had their 16-point lead cut to three against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Jacobsen finished with some clutch buckets and had a tremendous block.

Jacobsen finished with 13 points, seven rebounds and three rejections. Purdue head coach Matt Painter says his talent is something to build on.

For Garcia, he'll have to use his skill and experience to test a guy like Jacobsen and make his lack of college experience pay. Garcia is coming off an All-SEC Defensive Team in the 2023-24 season. His hustle is something that can't be denied.

The Aggies will also have to be physical against one of the streakiest shooters in Fletcher Loyer. Loyer completed a season shooting 44% from 3-point range, much better shooting the basketball compared to his freshman season.

The Aggies will have their hands full against the Boilermakers, but if they're able to complete this win in essentially a road game playing in Indianapolis, this will correct any embarrassment from the UCF game, and the rest of their successful season should follow after that.