Texas A&M basketball ranked highly in way-too-early top 25 poll

Texas A&M basketball ranked 11th in way-too-early top 25 poll; Are the Aggies dark horse conference contenders?

Texas A&M basketball really pulled things together near the end of last season after a very precarious stretch. The Ags cobbled together quite the win streak to move themselves into the tournament field, and nearly upset the #1 seed Houston Cougars to move to the Sweet 16.

Despite the heartbreak of the tournament, the Aggies are well-positioned moving into next year. They lose one big contributor in Tyrece "Boots" Radford, but most of their other main pieces from last year's campaign return. Notably, Andersson Garcia, Wade Taylor, Jace Carter, and Henry Coleman will all be back.

With that team and talent returning, and the display that the Aggies put on at the end of the year to garner national notice, it's looking like Texas A&M basketball could begin the year with high regard around the country. The first sign of that is their placement in this way-too-early top 25 poll from ESPN, where the Aggies are ranked 11th.

That mark is good for second in the SEC, behind only Alabama (6th). There are plenty of other SEC squads in this top 25, however.

Breathing down the Aggies' neck at 12 is the Auburn Tigers. Bruce Pearl's squad returns several key players as well, including Johni Broome. Florida comes in at 15th, Arkansas at 19th, and Tennessee at 20th. The Hogs will be a big storyline given John Calipari's arrival in Fayetteville, and the Volunteers will need to rehaul what has been a steady group in Knoxville.

The rival Texas Longhorns are ranked 21st. The folks down in Austin are undergoing a lineup makeover just like the UT to the east, relying on transfers to come together for the better part of their starting five.

No Kentucky is interesting but makes sense. Even so, the SEC will be a gauntlet like always. Can Buzz capitalize on the talent he brings back to make a run for the conference crown? We'll have to see.