Predicting Texas A&M Basketball’s remaining 2024 SEC regular season schedule
Texas A&M (15-10, 6-6 SEC) is coming off their terrible, horrible, no good, very bad week after going 0-2 in road games vs. Vanderbilt and No. 15 Alabama, including a 100-75 blowout early Saturday to the Crimson Tide that saw an A&M team outworked on both sides of the ball.
Sitting at an average of .500 in conference play, the Aggies are in a weird spot NCAA Tournament-wise, according to ESPN’s Joe Lunardi, currently staying pat at the No. 9-seed after Saturday’s loss, as the Vanderbilt defeat decreased their seed from 7 to 9 after Tuesday’s result.
With six games remaining in the regular season, Texas A&M’s identity on offense and defense will not change, meaning consistent effort and urgency are required to reach their goal of earning a postseason bid.
Here’s the reality of the situation: losing to an elite shooting Alabama team on the road barely moves the needle at this point, so focusing on the remaining games on the schedule while winning one or two games in the SEC Tournament will more than likely solidify a spot in the tourney.
With five Quad 1 wins during the year, several remaining Quad 1 opportunities remain on the road against Tennessee, South Carolina, and Ole Miss. Here is my official prediction on how Texas A&M’s final six regular season games should play out.
Arkansas at Texas A&M
Predicted Result: Texas A&M win
After falling to the dismal Arkansas Razorbacks last month on a last-second shot, wasting Wade Taylor’s 41-point was just part of the problem; A&M is a better team since losing in Fayetteville and is due for a bounce back at home.
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Texas A&M @ No. 8 Tennessee
Predicted Result: Texas A&M loss
Revenge after being blown out inside Reed Arena, plain and simple. Even though Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes’ comments this week regarding Buzz Williams walking to center court mid-game should create some exciting in-game physicality, the Volunteers are very good at home, resulting in A&M’s 11th loss on the year.
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No. 11 South Carolina @ Texas A&M
Predicted Result: Texas A&M win
South Carolina is definitely the surprise team in the SEC this season, but, like the Aggies, have lost two in a row and look highly susceptible on the road after losing 101-61 at Auburn last Wednesday. Again, Texas A&M at home this month has been nearly perfect, so I’m giving them the edge.
Texas A&M @ Georgia
Predicted Result: Texas A&M win
While the Aggies have been average at best on the road this season, let’s call this a momentum-based win. Georgia is no easy out on the road, but they’ve lost four in a row, including two at home. If Wade Taylor IV and Tyrece Radford play the way I think they will down the stretch, this should be a manageable victory in early March.
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Mississippi State @ Texas A&M
Predicted Result: Texas A&M win
Mississippi State and Texas A&M are very similar teams this season, but the Bulldogs’ 1-6 road record is something to consider. Again, the Aggies are a different team at home, and with only three games left in Reed Arena this season, I expect them to take full advantage of the home crowd.
While both are borderline elite defensive squads, I expect Henry Coleman, Solomon Washington, and Andersson Garcia to control the paint and limit easy looks inside, coupled with enough offensive production from Taylor and Radford.
Texas A&M @ Ole Miss
Predicted Result: Texas A&M loss
Let’s chalk this up to a desperate Rebels team attempting to shoot their way off the tournament bubble and earning what would go down as a Quad 1 win for the home team. With this loss, I’m predicted to finish down the stretch at 4-2, finishing 19-12 and 10-8 in the SEC.
Will Texas A&M make the NCAA Tournament?
Finishing the regular season with six, or possibly seven Quad 1 wins, including a neutral court victory over Iowa State, a predicted 3-seed in the NCAA Tournament, I predict that the Aggies will earn a bid to the Big Dance next month as a possible 8 or 9-seed, barring any major setbacks in the coming weeks.
