Social media never fails to entertain, but most of the time, it can be downright misleading, as Texas A&M senior forward Andersson Garcia was attached to a rumor stating that he had entered the transfer portal on Saturday.
None of this had been confirmed, and thankfully, most of the fan base was too busy with their personal lives to see what had been released. So far this season, no Aggie player from the roster has announced their attention to enter the portal.
Well, credit to Garcia for quickly dispelling the transfer portal rumor, stating that not only was this false, but the senior will officially be returning for his final season in College Station as well.
This is significant news regarding next season’s expectations, as Garcia, who broke Texas A&M’s career rebounding mark with 327 on the year, including the offensive rebounding record with 180, will always be remembered for hitting the game-tying shot against the No. 1-seed Houston Cougars in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Potential return announcements from Wade Taylor, Henry Coleman III, and Manny Obaseki are also expected in the coming weeks/months.
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Former 2023 4-star forward Eric Dailey, a Buzz Williams recruiting target, has entered the transfer portal
Texas A&M’s 2023-2024 basketball season came to a disappointing end last Sunday night at the hands of the No. 1-seed Houston Cougars in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, as senior forward Andersson Garcia’s game-tying 3-pointer to send the game into overtime wasn’t enough to pull off the upset.
Overall, head coach Buzz Williams deserves a ton of credit for helping turn things around during the Aggies’ late-season run. This included a five-game winning streak led by the elite guard play of Wade Taylor IV, Tyrece Radford, and rising star Manny Obaseki.
However, with Radford set to depart the program, Williams’s in-house option to replace his down-hill driving production should be Obaseki. However, providing veteran help through the transfer portal is a more realistic option to prevent hindering the incoming senior’s development next season.
Outside of the guard postion, Williams is also in need of adding another wing/forward; with Andersson Garcia’s return for a final season still in flux, another former 4-star prospect has entered the portal, as Oklahoma State forward Eric Dailey spent just one season in Stillwater.
𝙉𝙀𝙒𝙎: #OklahomaState forward Eric Dailey will enter the transfer portal, @247Sports has learned.
2023-24 Stats: 9.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game on nearly 50 percent shooting from the field.
Out of the prestigious IMG Academy, Dailey was one of the Cowboys’ better players this season. He averaged nearly 10 points per game while shooting 50% from the field, and his rebounding numbers should improve down the line.
Previous recruiting relationships are key to landing players through the portal, and in order to continue the momentum into the 2024-2025 campaign, Buzz Williams will need to execute this offseason.
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Texas A&M fan favorite Andersson Garcia named to finalist for the 2024 Lefty Driesell Defensive Player of the Year
Texas A&M was known for its tenacious defense, and the lynchpin was Dominican Dennis Rodman, professionally known as senior Aggie forward Andersson Garcia. His play throughout the season landed him a finalist for the 2024 Lefty Driesell Defensive Player of the Year.
Garcia had a record year in the Maroon & White, breaking two over four decades old records. He surpassed Claude Riley’s offensive and total rebounding number by ten with 327; then, he passed Aggie legend John Beasley’s conference rebound record with 180. He capped off the season by making the All-SEC defensive team.
The recipient of the annual award is determined by a 10-member voting committee, which consists of current and former head coaches and two senior staff members of collegeinsider.com. The 2024 award will be announced in Phoenix, AZ, the men’s Division I Basketball Championship site.
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After entering the transfer portal, Texas A&M head coach Buzz Williams has contacted former Colorado forward J’Vonne Hadley.
Texas A&M’s 2023-2024 season ended at the hands of the No. 1-seed Houston Cougars in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, as senior forward Andersson Garcia’s incredible game-tying 3-pointer wasn’t enough to propel the Aggies to an overtime win.
Going into the offseason, what head Buzz Williams needs to add through the transfer portal became more apparent after the loss to the Cougars, as Houston shooting guard Emanuel Sharp hit seven 3-pointers for 30 points, the type of player the Aggies have yet add that can be relied on to hit deep shots in critical moments down the stretch.
While plenty of veteran shooting talent has already entered the portal, Williams is focused on experience, leading to the reveal that he has contacted former Colorado senior guard J’Vonne Hadley, whose most recent appearance in the NCAA Tournament resulted in a loss to Marquette in the round of 32, recording 7 points and six rebounds.
With 71 collegiate games under his belt, Hadley averaged a career-high 11.6 points per game in 2023, shooting an impressive 53% from the field and, most importantly, 41.7% from beyond the arc. Standing at 6-6, it’s no surprise that Hadley averaged six rebounds per game last season, which is a definite plus if the shooting holds up.
NEWS: Colorado transfer J’Vonne Hadley tells me he’s heard from these schools since hitting the portal:
Minnesota Michigan Michigan State Nebraska DePaul Utah UCLA BYU Iowa State Texas A&M Grand Canyon Arkansas Cal Oregon State Florida Texas Tech
As the transfer portal continues to grow, Buzz Williams will have a lot on his plate concerning potential new additions while keeping most of his veteran roster from last season for a final run in the tournament.
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Texas A&M’s 2023-2024 season ended at the hands of the No. 1-seed Houston Cougars in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, as senior forward Andersson Garcia’s incredible game-tying 3-pointer wasn’t enough to propel the Aggies to an overtime win.
For head coach Buzz Williams, getting back to the big dance for a second consecutive season is just the start of where the program could go starting next fall, as nearly every starter, outside of graduate guard Tyrece Radford, is set to return in 2024-2025.
However, until several key roster members, including Wade Taylor IV, Manny Obaseki, and Andersson Garcia, officially announce their collective return, Williams must add at least two to three players from the portal this offseason.
Earlier this week, it was announced that former Northern Kentucky guard Marques Warrick, who recently finished his senior season with the Norse men, was averaging an impressive 19.9 points per game while shooting 42% from the field and nearly 87% from the charity stripe.
Northern Kentucky transfer Marques Warrick tells me he’s heard from these schools since hitting the portal yesterday:
Kansas State Arkansas Missouri Texas A&M LSU Ole Miss Vanderbilt Cincinnati Xavier Indiana NC State South Carolina Virginia Tech Arizona State College of… pic.twitter.com/EFtf6SF6BI
Standing at 6-2 and 185 pounds, Warrick’s ability to consistently drive the paint at the rim makes him an intriguing replacement for Radford, scoring 60% of his shots at the rim during the 2023 season. While his 29% showing from 3-point range seems problematic, Warrick’s range and consistency off fast breaks would easily mesh with the Aggie’s offensive scheme.
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Here are the best photos from Texas A&M’s 100-95 overtime loss to Houston in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Texas A&M (21-15, 9-9 SEC) took No. 1 Houston (32-4, 15-3 Big 12) to the wire and then some before running out of magic late in the overtime.
This game will be fresh on the minds of Aggies fans for the next few years as one of the most nerve-racking games in recent history. After a pretty tight game through early in the second half, Houston slowly started to pull away as the clock rolled into the one-minute mark. Then a little bit of the Olsen Magic found its way into FedEx Forum via smothering defense and a big three-point shot from Andersson Garcia to send the game into overtime.
However, once in overtime, the Aggies could not hit enough shots to take a lead. even after a poor showing on the offensive side, they were able to give themselves a fighting chance late. They played hard and never gave up, but this loss will keep them out of the Sweet Sixteen for yet another year.
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Texas A&M’s season comes to an end after a hard-fought battle against Houston that ended in an overtime loss
Texas A&M (21-15, 9-9 SEC) took No. 1 Houston (32-4, 15-3 Big 12) to the wire and then some before running out of magic late in the overtime.
The first half was as intense as expected, with neither team being able to run away with the game. There were 11 lead changes and seven ties early, but few issues on the Aggie side ball were apparent that never gave A&M to retake the lead after Houston went up by seven about halfway through the half. However, Tyrece Radford and Manny Obaseki did what they do best: getting to the rim and combining for 19 points.
A&M has been getting to the charity stripe but only made 50% of their free throws and 1-6 from the three-point line. Houston did just enough to stay ahead, but with Wade Taylor held to only one point through the first 20 minutes, the Cougars only took a five-point lead into halftime, up 43-38.
John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
second half:
After scoring the first points of the second half, the Aggies started to struggle on both ends of the court. Houston was able to extend their lead to nine, which caused Buzz Williams to call a timeout. For most of the half, Houston stayed a step ahead of A&M, which had a nine-point lead until late in the half.
The Aggies just couldn’t cut into the lead enough as the Cougars regularly hit a second-chance shot or knocked down a timely three-point shot. Then, with under a minute left, A&M started chipping away while playing the trap and foul game. With just seconds left on the clock, the Aggies pulled within three after Wade knocked down all three free throws after being fouled.
With 10.1 seconds, Taylor got two chances and missed both; however, 1.2 seconds remained. Radford was about to find an unlikely hero open at the three-point line, and with time expiring, Andersson Garcia knocked down a three to send the game into overtime.
John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
overtime:
Ultimately, A&M ran out of gas in overtime and could not hit a few clutch shots late. The Aggie gave Houston all they could handle, but they fell 100-95 in the tournament’s best game to this point. They gave it all, but the defeat will leave them out of the Sweet Sixteen for the sixth straight year.
In the end, an inconsistent Wade Taylor and 16 missed free throws lost the game, but this is why they call it March Madness.
Below are the Aggies critical contributors from the game:
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Head coach Buzz Williams has reportedly been in contact with former Arkansas guard Devo Davis, who recently entered the transfer portal
Texas A&M’s 2023-2024 is ongoing, as the Aggies will now face the No. 1-seed Houston Cougars in the NCAA Tournament’s round of 32 after blowing out Nebraska in the first round on Friday night.
While it may seem like head coach Buzz Williams’ attention is elsewhere, remember that recruiting through the transfer portal has become a 24/7 job, especially for a program that will lose several starters heading into next season. This week, former Arkansas guard Davonte “Devo” Davis entered the portal after four years with the Razorbacks, shocking the fan base.
Davis, who will have one more year of eligibility remaining, has reportedly been in contact with Williams and Texas A&M while surprisingly coming off his worst statistical season after averaging just 5.9 points per game while shooting an average of 36.3 % from the field and 24.2 % from 3-point range.
Knowing that veteran guard Tyrece Radford will run out of collegiate eligibility at the conclusion of the season, no one can replace what Radford brings instinctually, combined with his ability to finish consistently near the rim, but pairing another strong guard like Davis to pair with Wade Taylor IV and Manny Obaseki to provide a reliable paint presence and at least up above average outside shooting is pivotal prevent taking a step backward.
Arkansas guard Devo Davis tells me he’s heard from these schools since hitting the portal:
Auburn Indiana Arizona State Texas A&M Ole Miss Mississippi State Clemson Grand Canyon McNeese State Abilene Christian Arkansas State Arkansas Little Rock UTA UNCW
Standing at 6-4 and 185 pounds, Davis has the size and experience, while a season to improve under Buzz Williams’ guidance could result in a significant uptick in his play.
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“Wade is the best point guard in the country,” said Jace Carter. “We’re not going to look away from him. He’s our quarterback we roll with.”
The Texas A&M men’s basketball team faces another university from the Lone Star State in the second round of the NCAA Tournament South region on Sunday night in Memphis.
The No. 9 Aggies (21-14) will play No. 1 Houston (31-4), who narrowly defeated Texas A&M 70-66 earlier this season on Dec. 16 at the Toyota Center.
“It felt like playing last night in the Nebraska Super Bowl,” head coach Buzz Williams recalled Saturday about the December matchup. “When you have some prior information it’s helpful. We still try to maintain the same groove, rhythm, routine in prep.”
Senior forward Henry Coleman III believes the Aggies will present the Cougars with a new look on Sunday.
“Roles are a little bit different,” Coleman said. “Guys knew their roles, but we’re a little bit better.”
Junior guard Wade Taylor VI has been locked in throughout the postseason, scoring at least 20 points in each game, including a game-high 25 during a dominant first round win against Nebraska. Taylor’s teammates believe in him too.
“Wade is the best point guard in the country,” proclaimed junior guard Jace Carter. “We’re not going to look away from him. He’s our quarterback. We roll with him.”
Texas A&M plays Houston on Sunday at 7:40 p.m. CST on TNT.
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The No. 9 Aggies scored 98 points versus the No. 8 Cornhuskers, which is the most scored during the NCAA Tournament in program history.
The Texas A&M men’s basketball team dominated Nebraska on Friday night during the first round of the NCAA Tournament South region at FedEx Forum.
After the 15-point victory, head coach Buzz Williams spoke to the media in Memphis.
“I think we’re going in the right direction,” Williams said. “I think this is our 29th week and there has been a lot of volatility. Some of it we could’ve controlled better, some of it was out of our control. I think there has been great resolve and resiliency within the group. These three guys (Taylor, Radford & Obaseki) for sure, but even the guys that maybe wouldn’t have an opportunity to be here or come to the stage.
“They’ve had great belief and incredible ownership in what we do, how we do it and most importantly, why we do it. We understand that it’s a win-loss business but I want to make sure that I’m held accountable that the lives are judged in hopes that we are changing it for the better.”
The No. 9 Aggies (21-14) scored 98 points versus the No. 8 Cornhuskers, which is the most scored during the NCAA Tournament in program history.
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