Texas A&M basketball was eliminated by a much better Houston Cougars team, who have a mission to get back to the NCAA National Championship. Houston was clearly the better team, but that doesn't mean Texas A&M should be kicked to the curb.
The Aggies had no expectations in Bucky McMillan's first season and went to the Round of 32. It was an ugly loss, but it was to a Houston team that has had championship aspirations for the last six seasons.
ESPN college basketball analyst Seth Greenberg gave Texas A&M fans some hope that the Aggies can help compete financially at the higher level.
Texas A&M basketball can compete at the highest level financially
In an SEC basketball spending report, Texas A&M spent $14.3 million in expenses for the 2025 fiscal year, ranking ninth in the conference. This is more than what Greenberg says a team needs to compete at the highest level.
""If you're trying to compete at the very highest level, you need $12 million, maybe more, to compete at the very highest level to build your roster, the way you want to build your roster, to build your depth, to compete with the other teams." "Seth Greenberg
According to the expenses report, Kentucky paid nearly $20 million and got knocked out of the Round of 32. The players have to be the right fit for the program, too. You can't just throw something on the wall and expect it to stick.
McMillan has already shown why he's the perfect coach for the Aggies. A&M didn't necessarily have the most talented bunch, but they were a group that worked the best together. "Bucky Ball" is a system where you do not have to be the most talented, but the most conditioned.
Of course, the players have to be good enough, too, but McMillan's style of ball for sure doesn't fit everyone. It won't take him long to figure out which players work his scheme.
It was also McMillan's first year, and he killed it in the transfer portal. A great first year of experience can only mean the Aggies getting more serious in basketball for years to come.