Aggies hoping to keep rolling
Tourney talk suddenly swirls around squad
COLLEGE STATION — A month ago in the midst of an eight-game losing streak, Texas A&M fans figured Saturday’s regular season finale might simply be a melancholy night to bid four seniors adieu in Reed Arena.
Thanks to a surprising three-game win streak, however, Saturday night’s showdown has morphed into much more: a chance to keep making a case to squeeze into the 68-team NCAA Tournament.
“Right now, we’re just living in the moment,” A&M guard Tyrece Radford said.
Following Saturday’s pivotal moment, the Aggies likely need at least a couple of more memorable moments in the SEC tournament, which starts Wednesday in Tampa, Fla. One of the seniors being honored Saturday, guard Quenton Jackson, said the Aggies’ recent surge might have surprised others, but he’s not among the wide-eyed.
“I don’t go into any game feeling like I’m going to lose,” Jackson said. “My mindset is to not back down from any man — I just try to implement that and (pass it on) to my teammates.”
Jackson led the Aggies with 28 points in their 87-71 upset of No. 25 Alabama this past Wednesday in Tuscaloosa, Ala. He was asked if he was surprised A&M won with the double-digit difference.
“I went into the game thinking we were going to win by 40, if I’m being honest,” Jackson said with a wry smile.
With a win on Saturday the Aggies (19-11, 8-9 SEC) will have prevailed in five of their last games to close out the regular season, and, at minimum, likely will wrap up a berth in the 32-team National Invitation Tournament (NIT).
Mississippi State (17-13, 8-9) is coming off an 81-68 home loss to No. 5 Auburn — the rare double-digit setback in an overtime contest, when the Bulldogs unraveled over the final five minutes.
A&M third-year coach Buzz Williams said one thing has stayed steady this season through all the streaks, good and bad — A&M started SEC play 4-0 before the eight-game slide.
“What hasn’t changed,” he said, “is the resiliency of our group.”
The Aggies are trying to make the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2018 under then-coach Billy Kennedy. A&M had an outside shot at an NCAA berth at this time two years ago, but the rest of the season was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Radford and his teammates know the NCAA Tournament suddenly is within reach. They also know the Bulldogs possess a similar dream.
“We’ve just got to focus on what’s next,” Radford said.