Most Texas A&M basketball fans, even the hardcore supporters, viewed this first year under Bucky McMillan as a transitional one. What fans hoped to see was some bright moments and reasons to believe in the promise of several of the players, but that would likely come in the midst of an overall losing record against some of the toughest competition in the nation.
What they've seen instead is a team that has the ability to compete against the top level of the SEC to a degree that no one expected. What makes it even more amazing is that the Aggies' best player, Indiana transfer Mackenzie Mgbako, has not been a factor all year.
If this is life with Bucky Ball, then you've got a heck of a lot of Aggie fans wondering what took so long. The new head man for the program has vaulted this piecemeal group into contention for the conference and the NCAA tournament in just year one, coming so much quicker than anyone thought possible.
Texas A&M's start under Bucky McMillan is beginning to turn heads around America
Famed college basketball reporter Jon Rothstein is beginning to give McMillan his due, as he tweeted out the following after Texas A&M's massive victory over South Carolina today:
Things you didn’t think you’d tweet: Texas A&M is 16-4 after losing Mackenzie Mgbako to a season-ending injury.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) January 24, 2026
This is truly a feat after everything that transpired this offseason. Texas A&M was down to one player on their roster, a player who was and is still waiting his turn to become a contributor, and Bucky McMillan rebuilt things from the ground up.
Combine that with their top NBA prospect in Mgbako being unable to contribute so far this year, and the Aggies are doing things that no one thought possible in the preseason. It would be hard to overstate how shocking it would be for a well-informed fan to find this out in the preseason— but McMillan appears to make a habit of defying expectations.