Category: NCAA college basketball

Where did Texas A&M Basketball land in the AP Top 25 Poll after blowout win over Texas?

The Texas A&M basketball team leaps into the AP Top 25 Poll after big win over the Texas Longhorns

Texas A&M (12-2) started SEC play with a bang after beating the Texas Longhorns 80-60 at Reed Arena to take the first game in the Lone Star Showdown.

The first Lone Star Showdown on the basketball court since Texas joined the SEC was one to remember for Aggie fans. After an extremely close first half, during which fouls put A&M’s two top scores on the bench, the floodgates opened in the second half.

A&M went on to outscore the Longhorns 43-23 dominating at the rim and played elite defense in front of a deafening crowd at Reed Arena. The college basketball world took notice, and the Maroon & White are starting to be in conversation to compete for a SEC title.

Outside of the top 5, the rankings had a lot of movement, and this should be expected over the next few weeks as the SEC starts to beat up on each other creating conference parity in the top 25.

Below is the most recent AP Top 25 Poll after Week 9:

  1. Tennessee 14-0
  2. Auburn 13-1
  3. Iowa State 12-1
  4. Duke 12-2
  5. Alabama 12-2
  6. Kentucky 12-2
  7. Marquette 12-2
  8. Florida 13-1
  9. UConn 12-3
  10. Texas A&M 12-2
  11. Kansas 10-3
  12. Houston 10-3
  13. Illinois 11-3
  14. Mississippi State 13-1
  15. Oregon 13-2
  16. Michigan State 12-2
  17. Oklahoma 13-1
  18. Gonzaga 12-4
  19. Memphis 12-3
  20. Purdue 11-4
  21. West Virginia 11-2
  22. UCLA 11-3
  23. Ole Miss 12-2
  24. Michigan 11-3
  25. Utah State 14-1
Others receiving votes:

Pittsburgh 91, Arkansas 62, Nebraska 62, Baylor 32, Wisconsin 31, St. John’s 27, San Diego St. 26, Cincinnati 22, Clemson 19, Maryland 7, Georgia 6, St. Bonaventure 6, Texas Tech 6, Indiana 6, Missouri 5, Arizona 3, Dayton 1, Georgetown 1, Vanderbilt 1, Xavier 1.

Texas A&M will go on the road to face Oklahoma at Lloyd Noble Center on Jan. 8 at 8:00 p.m. CST. The game can be watched on SEC Network.

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 Jarrett Johnson on Twitter: @whosnextsports1.

“We’re appreciative of all their support” Texas A&M HC Buzz Williams recognizes the 12th Man in big win

“I think this will be a rarity” Texas A&M HC knows 20-point wins will not be commonplace in the SEC

Over the years, coach Buzz Williams has been criticized for consistency issues with the Texas A&M basketball team. However, this season, after a tough non-conference schedule, they have embraced who they are as a team, and it shows in every single game.

The SEC is going to be a gauntlet, and 20-point wins will be the exception rather than the rule. Buzz understands this, and while it’s great for morale, he knows his team needs to stay grounded to be successful in the long run.

“I think it’ll be rare. I wasn’t saying any of that from a motivational standpoint.”

“That’s how thin the margin is. It shows how elite the league has been going into one. I think this will be a rarity.”

He also praised one of the game’s unsung heroes, Aggie mainstay Hayden Hefner, who has made some notable plays this season and hit a few big shots in Saturday’s win.

“(Hefner) is accepting. He doesn’t have to be here. He has already graduated. He’s here because he cares.”

“He cares about our group and has a burning desire to have success. … His nature is so giving.”

Below, you can watch the entire post-game conference.

Texas A&M will go on the road to face Oklahoma at Lloyd Noble Center on Jan. 8 at 8:00 p.m. CST. The game can be watched on SEC Network.

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 Jarrett Johnson on Twitter: @whosnextsports1.

‘I thought they out-toughed us’ — Cori Close on UCLA win over Michigan

Cori Close watched her UCLA team beat Michigan by 16. She wasn’t satisfied. This is the mentality of a team which needs to set the highest standard.

At 14-0, there’s not much to complain about for the No. 1-ranked UCLA women’s basketball team, which began 2025 with an 86-70 win over Michigan on New Year’s Day at home. However, Bruins head coach Cori Close declared the Wolverines as the tougher team in Wednesday’s game.

“I thought they out-toughed us tonight,” Close said of Michigan in the postgame press conference. “We may have more talent pieces and may have won the game but they won the toughness, togetherness battle.”

Close was also complimentary toward Michigan head coach Kim Barnes Arico, who Close has known since the two were at Florida State and St. John’s, with Close saying that Barnes Arico’s teams always bring the toughness they played with on Wednesday. 

Michigan held its own against the terrific rebounding UCLA squad, bringing down 32 boards compared to the Bruins’ 37. The Wolverines forced 15 UCLA turnovers.

“I told our team we didn’t win enough teamwork plays, transition D, 50-50s, rebounding, executing the scouting report, bench energy,” Close listed. “It wasn’t one of our better games. We have an immense amount of talent but we have to decide whether we want to win individual games or we want to become a championship team. That’s a decision we have to make right away.”

UCLA has yet to reach that threshold as a program. While the Bruins feature a loaded roster, they haven’t appeared in the Elite Eight since 2018 and have not won an NCAA national championship or made the Final Four. Throughout their wins this year, Close has remained vocal about their shortcomings and how to become a championship team. They still have to clean things up.

‘Conference is what it’s all about,’ Texas A&M PG Wade Taylor IV is ready for start of SEC

“I’m excited. Conference is always a great time. You get to see who is who. You get to really fight with your brothers every day,” he said.

Texas A&M senior point guard Wade Taylor IV recently moved into second all-time in scoring, asserting himself as one of the best Aggies men’s basketball players in history.

“It’s a blessing. I’m thankful to be here. I’m thankful for my coaches and teammates,” Taylor said Saturday night. “Hopefully, we can keep it going.”

Texas A&M has won seven games in a row and stands at 11-2 overall, entering the beginning of SEC play this weekend by hosting the Texas Longhorns on Saturday night.

“I’m excited. Conference is always a great time. You get to see who is who,” Taylor foretold. “You get to really fight with your brothers every day.

“Conference is what it’s all about.”

The Aggies beat No. 21 Creighton, Rutgers, Wake Forest, Texas Tech, No. 11 Purdue, Houston Christian University and Abilene Christian University during the current winning streak.

Texas A&M hosts the bitter rival Longhorns on Saturday night at Reed Arena with tip off scheduled for 7 p.m.

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‘We’ve played a hard schedule,’ coach Buzz Williams reflects on 1st half of 2024-25 season

“I do not think that we’re the best team with the most talent or the best coaches. I do think we’ve played a hard schedule,” Williams said.

Head coach Buzz Williams is ready for what awaits the Texas A&M men’s basketball team in 2025.

“I do not think that we’re the best team with the most talent or the best coaches. I do think we’ve played a hard schedule, and I do think that has forced us to grow and mature,” Williams explained this week. “What I’ve really grown to admire is who they are, how their parents raised them, how consistent they are.

“I think the preparation that was required in the last nine weeks could only be done with experience. Hopefully, that was good preparation for what the next nine weeks will be.”

Senior point guard Wade Taylor IV serves as a coach on the court for Williams, who is a big fan of his floor general’s entire clan.

“They’re great people and it’s a family reunion at every game,” Williams said. “There’s not a better person than ‘Four.’ He plays with great joy.”

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Shaun on Twitter: @Shaun_Holkko.

Second half collapse leads to 91-54 blowout loss to No. 1 UCLA

Nebraska remains in Los Angeles for its next game, facing off against USC on New Year’s Day.

On Sunday night, the Nebraska Cornhuskers traveled to Los Angeles for a clash against the No. 1 UCLA Bruins. Though the Huskers hung on in the first half, the Bruins took off in the second half, resulting in a 91-54 loss for Nebraska.

The Huskers entered halftime down 37-30, staying right behind UCLA. But Nebraska couldn’t keep up in the third, being outscored 31-13. The Bruins then capped it off with a 23-11 fourth quarter.

UCLA shot 33-of-59 from the floor, going 19-of-26 in the second half while also hauling in 48 rebounds. Nebraska, meanwhile, only shot 19-of-57 and had 18 rebounds, failing to keep up with the Bruins.

Freshman Amiah Hargrove led the Huskers in scoring, being the only player to crack double digits. She scored 12 points, going 4-of-6 from the floor and 4-of-6 from the free throw line.

The Huskers fall to 10-3 on the season and 1-1 in conference play. Nebraska remains in Los Angeles for its next game, facing off against the USC Trojans on New Year’s Day. Tipoff is set for 2:00 p.m. CT on Big Ten Network.

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First half struggle leads to 72-61 loss to No. 17 Georgia Tech

Nebraska falls to 10-2 on the season.

The No. 23 Nebraska women’s basketball team commenced its annual Big Ten/ACC clash on Saturday night. The Huskers faced off against undefeated No. 17 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and faced stiff first half, resulting in a 72-61 defeat.

The Yellow Jackets outscored the Huskers 32-19 in the first half, giving Nebraska a hole just big enough to fail to climb out of. Though the Huskers outscored the Yellow Jackets 42-40 in the second half, the Yellow Jackets hit free throws down the stretch to secure the victory.

Georgia Tech shot 18-of-21 from the free throw line while the Huskers landed 9-of-10. This helped the Yellow Jackets keep Nebraska at bay, with both teams nearly matching their shooting statistics.

Nebraska hit 23-of-67 shots from the floor and 6-of-23 threes. Georgia Tech meanwhile landed 24-of-62 from the floor and 6-of-24 from beyond the arc.

Alexis Markowski earned another double-double for Nebraska in the loss, leading the team in points (20) and rebounds (10).

Britt Prince and Logan Nissley also scored double-digit points on the night, both dropping 11. Prince also hauled in eight rebounds, while Nissley landed three-of-seven from beyond the arc.

Nebraska falls to 10-2 on the season and remains on the road, heading to Los Angeles for two Big Ten clashes. The Huskers face off against the No. 1 UCLA Bruins on Dec. 29. Tipoff is set for 4:00 p.m. CT on B1G+.

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Guard Brice Williams earns National Player of the Week honors

Brice Williams continues to shine.

Nebraska basketball guard Brice Williams was one of five players selected for the Oscar Robertson Trophy National Player of the Week accolades. The honor was announced on Tuesday.

Williams was a catalyst in the program’s win over the Indiana Hoosiers last Friday. He scored 34 points in 30 minutes of play. He got it done both from the field and from the free-throw line. He shot 72.7% from the line and 66.7% from the field. The senior also chipped in six rebounds and five assists on the afternoon.

Friday’s performance was just another notch in the belt in what has been a strong stretch of games for Williams. He has scored at least ten points in his last five games.

This strong stretch of play for Williams could not come at a better time for the Huskers. The veteran is exceeding his production from last year to this point, averaging 18.9 points per game while shooting 49.5% from the field.

The guard will undoubtedly need to continue to play at a high level for Nebraska basketball. The games will get tougher once the calendar turns, and Williams’s stellar play could make a significant difference toward a potential NCAA tournament run.

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Nebraska upsets No. 14 Creighton in Omaha 74-63

Nebraska will return home to face South Dakota on Wednesday night.

The Nebraska men’s basketball team visited Omaha for its first big test of the season, No. 14 Creighton. The Huskers delivered a fierce battle on the night, stunning the Blue Jays 74-63.

This is Nebraska’s second straight win on the road against Creighton, and the Huskers delivered a defensive front to halt the Blue Jays’ offense. The Huskers held Creighton to 17-of-52 from the field with 12 of the Blue Jays’ shots coming from beyond the arc.

Nebraska meanwhile shot 24-of-57 from the field and kept its lead over Creighton for nearly the entire game. Though the Blue Jays attempted to claw their way back into the fight, the Huskers never broke.

Brice Williams and Juwan Gary led the team in scoring, each dropping 16 points on the night. Williams earned half of his points from the free throw line, going a perfect 8-of-8. Gary hauled in seven rebounds along with his 16 points.

Connor Essegian finished directly behind the duo with 15 points, going 4-of-6 from the field and 6-of-9 from the free throw line. Berke Büyüktuncel scored 12 points, going 4-of-7 from the field, and hauled in a team-high nine rebounds. Rollie Worster rounded out Nebraska’s top-five scorers, landing 11 points on the night.

Nebraska improves to 4-1 on the season and will return home to face South Dakota on Wednesday night. Tipoff is set for 7:00 p.m. on Big Ten Network.

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Notre Dame starting five will be a handful for USC women’s basketball

Ahead of the USC Trojans top-5 matchup versus Notre Dame this weekend, find out what makes their opponent so lethal. The Irish have high-end talent.

The No. 3 USC women’s basketball team will go toe-to-toe with the No. 5 Notre Dame Fighting Irish this weekend. Tip from Galen Center is scheduled for Saturday at 4 p.m. Eastern time, 1 p.m. Pacific on NBC Sports. The two teams’ top-five rankings were announced earlier this week in the USA TODAY Sports Women’s Basketball Coaches Poll. Days before the big battle, Geoffrey Clark of Fighting Irish Wire spoke to the strengths that got the Fighting Irish to the No. 5 spot.

“The talent the Irish have speaks for itself. Look at the roster, and you’ll have two All-Americans, a freshman phenom in the making, high-producing veterans and younger players who are just itching to make a big impact once given quality minutes. Any rotational player can deliver perhaps the best performance of their collegiate career during any game, and you just have to guess who that’s going to be.”

Hannah Hidalgo, Olivia Miles, Kate Koval, and the rest of the Irish starters have elite talent. Notre Dame has a starting five every bit as good as USC’s. The Trojans, however, have greater depth due to the Irish’s injuries, which we will discuss more in the coming days.

The Trojans, who already have a top-20 win under their belt, will have a tough match on their hands this weekend. It will be the first true test to see if head coach Lindsay Gottlieb has her team poised to make another deep run after a Pac-12 Tournament championship last season. This duel on Saturday is certainly the biggest game in women’s college basketball so far this season.

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