Texas A&M’s basketball program is in a good place under coach Bucky McMillan, who is entering his second season at the helm after leading the Aggies to the NCAA Tournament during his inaugural campaign, which, by all accounts, is an extremely impressive feat. However, after building his first roster entirely from the transfer portal, losing star forward Rashaun Agee quickly became the central focus.
Thanks to his veteran staff and financial backing, Bucky McMillan’s recruiting efforts in the transfer portal, just weeks after the Aggies fell to Houston in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, paid off, landing the top-ranked shooting guard, former Kansas State star PJ Haggerty, who averaged nearly 24 points per game last season, combined with five other key depth/starting additions to pair with returning forwards Jamie Vinson and Zach Clemence.
Reflecting on his first year in College Station, McMilan should be proud of the progress he and his staff made with a roster that was predicted to finish 13th in the SEC, and miss the NCAA Tournament, only to finish within 11 conference wins, tied for 4th in the standings. Speaking with The Next Round show on Friday, providing an in-depth look into the ups and downs of his first season in the biggest job of his coaching career.
“Last year we were hired so late that you’re just piecing things together. I really believe that when I’m done coaching and I look back on that group, I’ll be as proud of that group as any group I’ve ever coached based on the circumstances. They were great.”
From losing star transfer forward Mackenzie Mgbako for the season, and having to rely on Rashaun Agee, Rylan Griffen, and several other transfer additions to fill the void, and get through the year on a high note, likely won’t happen again during McMillan’s tenure with the Aggies, but it will be remembered as one of the more exciting seasons in program history.
“You want to have a brand of basketball that whether you love basketball or you don’t know anything about basketball, people all love going to the games and keeping up with the Aggies. That’s what we built this first year.”
While former head coach Buzz Williams attempted to make Aggie basketball a more enjoyable watch, Bucky McMillan’s fast-paced, up-tempo style and press defense made nearly every matchup last season must-see television, and after building a 2026-2027 roster with several NBA-level prospects, the fun has just begun.
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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Bucky McMillan recaps exciting first season leading Texas A&M
Reporting by Cameron Ohnysty, Aggies Wire / Aggies Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Cameron Ohnysty, Aggies Wire | USA TODAY Network
