Credit to Texas A&M Basketball head coach Buzz Williams for not just devising one of the toughest non-conference schedules this season but trusting that his veteran team is up for the challenge after reaching the NCAA Tournament for the first time in nearly five seasons last March.
Ranked 13th in the AP Poll and sitting at 2-0 on the season, including their recent 73-66 win over Ohio State on the road last Friday, the Aggies have solidified their scoring trio. At the same time, senior forward Julius Marble continues to work through his “University process” while his return status remains unknown, leading to Wade Taylor IV (21 points), Tyrece Radford (21 points), and Henry Coleman III (20 points) scoring 85% of the A&M’s scoring against the Buckeyes.
On Tuesday, Texas A&M will take on undefeated SMU (3-0) for the second consecutive road game in the young season. While the Mustangs present an obvious challenge as the hosts, junior guard Zhuuric Phelps (13.7 PPG) and senior guard Chuck Harris (12.0 PPG) are as tough a backcourt duo as you’ll find in the country, but if A&M’s consistent defense, holding opponents to 56 points per contest so far this season holds, expect enough scoring from the likes of Taylor, Radford, and Coleman to keep the Aggies in good position throughout the night.
Other Players to watch: Texas A&M guard Hayden Hefner (11.5 PPG) was quiet after his 19-point eruption against Texas A&M Commerce, netting just four points against Ohio State, but he has a chance to break out on any given night if the shots start falling. Already ascending in his second season on the defensive end, sophomore forward Solomon Washington constantly plays with non-stop energy. At the same time, his projection as a threat in the post may come as soon as SEC play.
Texas A&M will be back in action at 7 p.m. on Nov. 14 against SMU in Dallas, Texas at Moody Coliseum. The game is available to stream on ESPN+. The Aggies are currently a -5.5 favorite.
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