Tag: 2023 ESPN Invitational

Texas A&M basketball will open ESPN Events Invitational against Penn State

Texas A&M basketball will get a shot at revenge as they open the 2023 ESPN Events Invitational against Penn State on Nov. 23rd.

While fans will be filling up on turkey and mashed potatoes over Thanksgiving weekend, Texas A&M has a chance to serve a dish of revenge on the hardwood.

After the Aggies were announced as one of the eight teams in the 2023 ESPN Events Invitational, the Maroon and White now know who they’ll be facing to open the tournament. Surprise, surprise, it just so happens to be the program that ended their postseason run back in March.

Texas A&M announced on Tuesday that they will open the ESPN Invitational against the Penn State Nittany Lions in their opening round match-up. Tip-off is set for 11 a.m. CT on Nov. 23rd and will air on ESPN. The head-to-head marks a rematch of their first-round game in the 2023 NCAA Tournament when the No. 10 seed Penn State prevailed over No. 7 seed Texas A&M in a 76-59 victory.

The Thanksgiving weekend showdown will mark the sixth meeting between these two programs, with the Aggies holding a 4-1 advantage over the Nittany Lions.

Should the Aggies fend off the Nittany Lions in the opening round, they will then face either Florida Atlantic or Butler on Nov. 24 in the second round. The final round takes place on Nov. 26 with possible opponents including Iowa State, VCU, Boise State, or Virginia Tech.

The invitational will kick off an exciting season of Aggie basketball that includes heightened expectations for the program. Coming off the heels of a 2022 campaign that included a 25-10 record (15-3 SEC), consecutive SEC title game appearances, and an NCAA Tournament berth, the Maroon and White have been forecasted to be among the best teams with a shot for a deep postseason run this year.

With a roster that boasts one of the top backcourts in the country, coupled with an SEC-leading roster of returning production, Head Coach Buzz Williams verbalized it best when he said getting to the SEC Championship Game two years in a row isn’t enough. Now, it’s time to win the whole thing.

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How does Texas A&M Basketball stack up versus the rest of the field in ESPN’s 2023 Invitational?

The Aggies join a stacked field for the 2023 ESPN Events Invitational. Here’s how Texas A&M stacks up versus the rest of the competition.

If you need a break from the Thanksgiving delicacies and NFL matchups, Texas A&M basketball has you covered as they’re officially heading to Disney World for the 2023 ESPN Events Invitational.

Joining the Aggies is a loaded field that includes the likes of Boise State, Butler, Florida Atlantic, Iowa State, Penn State, VCU, and Virginia Tech. Not only did these programs find success in the regular season in 2022, but many of them punched their ticket to postseason play as well.

Six of the eight teams in the Orlando field were in the 2023 NCAA Tournament (Texas A&M, Boise State, FAU, Iowa State, Penn State, and VCU), with the Owls, of course, headlining on those criteria alone. FAU reached the Final Four and narrowly missed out on an appearance in the title game, falling to San Diego State 72-71.

Both Texas A&M and FAU were in the final 2023 Associated Press poll, while both programs have been consensus additions to a handful of way-too-early Top 25 rankings for the coming season. In ESPN’s latest way-too-early rankings, the Owls clock in at No. 9 while the Aggies sit at No. 18

A rematch with the Nittany Lions gives the Aggies an opportunity for revenge after falling to Penn State 76-59 in the first round of the 2023 NCAA Tournament. The Nittany Lions shot 38.7% from deep last season (seventh in the country) and the Maroon and White saw this up close after Penn State shot 59.1% from deep in that aforementioned first-round defeat.

They pose a formidable threat to A&M nonetheless, however, one has to wonder how the departure of coach Micah Shrewsberry impacts the team. Mike Brey has since filled the void with Shrewsberry landing the coaching job at Notre Dame.

Facing the Hokies could be the de-facto “Buzz Williams rivalry” matchup as the Aggies head coach spent the 2014-19 seasons with Virginia Tech, leading the program to three consecutive tournament trips, including a Sweet 16 appearance in 2019. Last season, the Hokies finished 43rd in offensive rating (110.5).

And then of course there are the Owls, who share the spotlight with the Aggies when it comes to the volume of returning talent. While some may feel FAU’s preseason hype is premature, keep in mind they are expected to bring back all five of their starters after winning 35 games and finishing 15th in offensive rating (112.8).

As the Owls come off a historic tournament run, and with the Aggies boasting a record-setting 2022-23 campaign (25-10, 15-3 SEC), you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone that wouldn’t want these two in the final of ESPN’s Invitational.

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

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2023 ESPN Invitational reportedly finalizes its eight-team field, which includes Texas A&M

Block off your calendars for the Thanksgiving weekend as the Texas A&M Aggies are reportedly included in the eight-team field for the 2023 ESPN Invitational.

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.

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

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