FILE – Texas A&M forward Henry Coleman III, 15, dunked against Alabama late in the NCAA college basketball game in Tuscaloosa, Alabama on Wednesday, March 2, 2022. Season. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt, File)
APs
Coach Buzz Williams is still targeting his first NCAA Tournament appearance as he begins his fourth season with Texas A&M.
In case anyone is wondering, I would like to thank the tournament committee for recognizing it as a snub for the Aggies after failing to secure an NCAA bid despite reaching the SEC tournament finals last season. I don’t regret calling you.
“No matter what Twitter says, I will always do that, regardless of what other people think,” he said. I don’t think you’re worthy of being a leader if you have to stand up for them, regardless of the fanfare and ferocity of what happened.”
The Aggies settled for the NIT instead, reaching the title game before losing 73–72 to Xavier with a last-second shot.
Williams has had plenty of NCAA tournament success, entering the tournament in his last three seasons at Virginia Tech and leading Marquette to March Madness for five consecutive seasons from 2009-13.
After last year’s late-season success, the Aggies are confident this will finally be the year they return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2018 when Billy Kennedy was their coach.
Texas A&M guard Tyrese Radford said, “The chances are much bigger this year, because we know what we’re capable of.”
They have to do it without last year’s top scorer Quenton Jackson, who left early to pursue a professional basketball career. It has been a stellar show from beginning to end as the have won 11 of their last 13 games.
“We will miss him for who he is,” Williams said. Definitely not to be missed.”
Williams doesn’t expect a single player to replace Jackson, but believes it will be a more committee approach.
“I don’t know if there’s someone on the current roster who’s going to do what[Jackson]did at the end of his career right away, but I think there’s someone who can do a little piece,” Williams said. said.
they are back
Jackson is gone, but the Aggies have several returning players who made significant contributions to the team last year.
Forward Henry Coleman was the team’s top scorer last season, averaging 11 points per game, joined by Radford (10.9). The two led the team in rebounding last season when both players won his 6.2 games.
“This team is hungry,” Coleman said. “We are ready to work. Everyone acknowledges what happened last year. increase.
new face
The Aggies have added three players who are expected to contribute quickly with the transfers of Dexter Dennis, Julius Marble and KK Robinson.
Dennis, a 6-and-a-half-foot guard, led the group last season after being named the American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year at Wichita State. Dennis averaged 8.4 points and 5 rebounds with 24 blocks and he had 24 steals.
The 6-9 forward Marble averaged 6.4 points and 3.4 rebounds as a reserve last year at Michigan State. Robinson, another guard, joined the Aggies after his two seasons of limited playing time with Arkansas.
“We brought in people who were ready and willing to work,” Coleman said. We’re ready to work, and I’m thrilled they’re here.”
schedule staff
The Aggies start the season on November 7 at home against Louisiana Monroe. The non-conference slate includes visits to DePaul and Memphis, as well as visits from Oregon. They start playing his SEC on January 4th in Florida.
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This story was originally published October 20, 2022 at 1:59 PM.
