We're already seeing the madness come early in college basketball this season.
From upsets to court storms, including one where Texas A&M was a victim, this season has wasted no time bringing the heat.
Texas A&M has moved from No. 22 to No. 17 in the AP poll after beating Wake Forest and Texas Tech.
There are only three teams currently in the AP poll that are undefeated, and all three of them are in the SEC. This tells us that the battle for the last dance has already begun.
Texas A&M basketball will have a gauntlet to go through, and the beginning of that is just about to start.
Texas A&M basketball about to get real March experience fast
For the Aggies to be one of the premier teams in the SEC, they're going to have to earn their spot.
They've done their job working to get four straight non-conference wins, but now, it's about to get real.
Texas A&M with upcoming dates against No. 1, 2, 5, 7, 9, 11 and 13 (x2) 🤯🤯🤯 https://t.co/bvIGjdTz2t
— Billy Liucci (@billyliucci) December 10, 2024
Look at the left half of that list. Those will be opponents for Texas A&M coming up shortly.
The Purdue game cannot be stressed enough as possibly biggest early test for the Aggies this season. The Boilermaker bigs against the Aggie bigs might be the difference to favor the Aggies in that one. Of course, don't forget the potential shootout we might see with Braden Smith against Wade Taylor IV along the perimeter.
The SEC opponents won't come until the 2025 calendar year. Auburn looks to be one of the best teams in the country led by rebounding machine Johni Broome. Tennessee, who just took the No. 1 spot in the country, has their core intact led by Zakai Zeigler, a guard who's coming off an SEC Defensive Player of the Year award.
Alabama still has Mark Sears, a First-team All-SEC player, who will be watched closely this season as one of the best players in the country. As for Florida, Oklahoma and Kentucky, they're off to a great start, but as we all know well, playing on opposing SEC courts isn't easy for anybody.
Texas A&M has shown they will be ready for such a challenge once 2025 hits, and it'll be the same challenging hurdle for teams like Auburn, Tennessee and Kentucky.