While Texas A&M embarks on an SEC title run as the No. 2 seed it’s important to remember this year’s success wasn’t a given at the start of the season. Praise is in order for the 14-man roster, and special kudos should be given to the man that helmed this season’s achievements: Buzz Williams.
According to Saturday Down South, Williams’ success at College Station has him on the precipice of being not only one of the greatest coaching minds not just in the SEC but in all of college basketball. Coming off his second AP SEC Coach of the Year Award while leading the Aggies to the second seed in the SEC Tourney, he also has A&M on the precipice of punching their ticket to the big dance. Williams is checking off the boxes that mirror some of the most successful college basketball programs in history.
As outlined by Saturday Down South, let’s review Williams’ contributions to A&M:
The goal of any non-blue-blood should always be to check these boxes:
- Hire a head coach who provides stability
- Consistently be one of the better teams in the conference
- Get better as the season progresses
- Get to the NCAA Tournament annually
So far, Williams checked all of those boxes. This year somehow one-upped last season’s progression. Well, that’s because the Aggies were a floundering disaster prior to SEC play.
Williams has a 62.5% winning percentage in his four seasons with A&M and this season highlights some of his finest work. They might be competing as the SEC’s No. 2 seed now, but the picture wasn’t so pretty after early losses to Murray State, Colorado, Boise State, and Memphis. After dropping to 6-5 following a home loss to Wofford, that could have been the nail in the coffin for the Aggies.
But that’s where the great coaches in college basketball do their best work. In the face of adversity, they buckle down and adapt. Williams’ work in turning this season around is what makes him so special.
He made sure to emphasize defense as the Aggies went on to surrender just 63 points per game since that home loss to Wofford. Instead of settling for three-pointers, he challenged his team to attack and force their opponents to stay honest in the paint. The end result: A&M became the No. 1 team in the country in free throws made and free throws attempted per game.
After upsetting top-seeded Alabama in the regular season finale, Williams has the Aggies playing the type of basketball that makes them a matchup nightmare for any opponent. It feels as if this program is right on the edge of taking that next leap, and it’s a kudos to the work Williams has done at the helm.
This is no secret to those at College Station, but it’s a welcome sight to see others finally beginning to notice.
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