NCAA Tournament Dark Horse: Texas A&M Aggies Have History on Their Side

(Photo : (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images)) COLLEGE STATION, TX - FEBRUARY 24: Anthony Collins #11 of the Texas A&M Aggies battles for the basketball with I.J. Ready #15 of the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Reed Arena on February 24, 2016 in College Station, Texas.

Texas A&M, the No. 9 seed, is back in the NCAA Tournament this year, making back-to-back trips for the first time in over a decade.

The team finished the season strong, winning against Georgia, Mississippi State, and Ole Miss in the final weeks. Texas A&M continued to perform well in the SEC Tournament, winning against Ole Miss and Kentucky but unfortunately losing to Florida in the Semi-Finals.

Their impressive performance has earned them a place in the South Region. The Aggies will face the No.8 seed Nebraska (23-10) on Friday, March 22 at the FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee.

NCAA Tournament Dark Horse: Texas A&M Aggies

The Aggies will have much to prove if they hope to have the ideal Cinderella story run.

They are facing a Nebraska team that has, for the most part, looked good up until now under Hoiberg.

Throughout the regular season, they proved they can win when it counts, picking up seven notable wins against Quad 1 opponents.

The Aggies have some big wins, but Nebraska should be a good test for a team looking to make a difference.

History is also on their side, as typically the No.9 seed has come up victorious against the No.8 seed in the tournament. After the 2023 tournament, nine seeds hold a 78-74 edge over the No.8 seeds.

Texas A&M During the Season

During the season, the club dealt with some setbacks. Tyrese Radford, a consistent rock for the Aggies, has been dealing with a nagging ankle injury. Injuries such as these caused Texas A&M to slide in February, losing five games in a row at one point.

They were able to ride out the storm thanks to the play of junior guard Manny Obaseki, who was vital during the final stretch of the season. Also with help from Wade Tayor IV, who is having a strong season and is averaging 18.9 points per game; including his 32 point showing against Florida.

Now they are in the big dance, hoping to win it all.

This would be Texas A&M's second consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance; the only instance of consecutive trips for the Aggies was from 2006 to 2011, when they had a streak of six straight appearances.