Texas A&M (20-13) has reignited what was once a lost season during the Aggies’ dismal five-game losing streak. The Aggies reeled off three wins in a row to end the regular season while adding two more significant victories this week during the SEC Tournament.
After defeating 2-seed Kentucky 97-87 on Friday night, the Aggies are back in the NCAA Tournament field, according to ESPN’s Joe Lunardi. While defeating Florida in the SEC Tournament Semifinals on Saturday afternoon would further cement their seeding, last night’s victory over the Wildcats likely sealed their standing, listed as the second team in the “Last Four Byes” section of Lunardi’s bracket.
Looking ahead to Selection Sunday, a lot can still happen, but with A&M tentatively off the “Last Four In” line, Lunardi has now predicted the Aggies have a 10-seed facing the 7-seed Utah State Aggies, who last face each other in the NCAA Tournament back on March 19, 2010, resulting in a 69-53 Texas A&M win.
The final countdown…six teams for three spots. pic.twitter.com/gGnKqVNJs8
— Joe Lunardi (@ESPNLunardi) March 16, 2024
Due to the recent success of double-digit seeds making it through the tournament’s first two rounds, I doubt that this scrappy and physical squad wouldn’t thrive in the underdog role if given the chance.
7-seed Texas A&M will face 6-seed Florida on Saturday, March 16 at 2:30 CT. The game will air on ESPN. If the Aggies win, the potential to earn two more all-important Quad 1 victories is in reach, as A&M’s regular season win over the Gators would then elevate from a Quad 2 as they’ll likely move into the Top 30 in the NET rankings.