If you missed your chance at watching Texas A&M basketball last season, prepare to see the Maroon and White a lot more in 2023, including on national television.
According to Jon Rothstein of College Hoops Today, multiple sources have indicated that the eight-team field for the 2023 ESPN Invitational has been finalized. Florida Atlantic is reportedly finalizing an agreement to be the eighth and final team included. FanDuel previously reported that Boise State, Penn State, Virginia Tech, Iowa State, Butler, VCU, and of course Texas A&M would round out the remaining field.
The Owls may be headlining this list after coming off a Final Four appearance in the 2023 NCAA Tournament, but the Aggies are riding the high of a successful campaign as well.
Texas A&M finished with a 25-10 (15-3 SEC) record last season while appearing in their second consecutive SEC championship game. The Maroon and White punched their ticket to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2018, where they fell to the Nittany Lions in the opening round.
NEWS: Florida Atlantic is finalizing an agreement to be the eighth and final team in the 2023 ESPN Invitational in Orlando, according to multiple sources.
Rest of field:
Texas A&M
Boise State
Penn State
Virginia Tech
Iowa State
Butler
VCU https://t.co/WLA6tUfGIe— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) May 3, 2023
The Aggies scored at a clip of 72.8 points per game while holding their opponents to 66.5 points per game (71st in the country). With most of their starting rotation coming back, led by first-team All-SEC guard Wade Taylor IV, Texas A&M has already become a consensus addition to a handful of early Top 25 rankings.
Their addition to ESPN’s upcoming invitational only heightens their status as a team to watch for the coming basketball season, and the potential matchups are enticing, to say the least.
Of course, a head-to-head with Penn State could allow the Aggies to enact their revenge after falling to them in the first round of March Madness. Then there’s the possibility of the Maroon and White going at it against the Owls, fresh off a Final Four appearance.
What better way to kick off the new season than knocking off one of last season’s final four teams?
The 2023 ESPN Invitational will take place in Orlando, Florida at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex. The event will run through the Thanksgiving weekend, with the first matchups tipping off on Thanksgiving Day, while the second games will happen on Black Friday and the final games that following Sunday.
Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Pete on Twitter: @PeteThreee
[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=7]
[mm-video type=playlist id=01fvdd4pnb49trk727 player_id=01f5k5y2jb3twsvdg4 image=]