Aggies Men's Hoops: Does Initial AP Ranking Set Tone For Texas A&M?
For Texas A&M Aggies graduate forward Julius Marble, the Maroon & White are "special," College Station is "home" and this season is all-or-nothing.
It's been a long-awaited offseason for Marble, who experienced playing with a Buzz Williams-led team for the first time in his career a season ago, but it's also been a long time coming for the Aggies as a whole.
Those same Aggies now enter this year with a chip on their shoulders. Those same Aggies aren't yet satisfied, and those same Aggies want to win.
“You hate to see it end like this,” Marble expressed following the Aggies' first-round defeat to Penn State in the NCAA tournament. "But I learned a lot from all the guys here and the coaches. This team is really special. I'm glad that they recruited me, took me away from Michigan, and took me back home."
Marble and the rest of his teammates spent the offseason working to get themselves ready for a season that's set to feature much higher expectations than last year, especially after setting a program record for SEC victories in a single season.
And those expectations are on full display already, as the Aggies debuted at No. 15 in this season's first iteration of the AP Poll.
Texas A&M head coach Buzz Williams during the championship SEC Men s Basketball Tournament game at Bridgestone Arena Sunday, March 12, 2023, in Nashville, Tenn.
© George Walker IV/The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK
The Aggies closed out last season with a second-place finish at the SEC Tournament followed by a first-round exit from March Madness. Normally, that wouldn't be a reason for disappointment, but considering how strong Texas A&M looked throughout the season, anything less than a Sweet 16 appearance was likely to be.
Williams' final words from the season made that very clear.
“I’m really bad at beginnings, and I’m even worse at endings,” the Aggies' coach said. “I probably should grow up and be a little more mature ... [but] I want to keep playing.”
This season, the Aggies will have their chance to keep playing, though it won't be without extra sets of eyes on them all year long.
Last season, Reed Arena operated on a strict "Don't rank us" propaganda. No, the players themselves might not have partaken, but it spoke to the level of attention the Aggies were getting — or, the lack thereof. Despite starting conference play hot, Texas A&M wasn't given serious consideration for a high tournament seed or a high ranking.
Now, that changes. With a top-15 ranking already secured, the Aggies will be watched from the beginning of their season all the way until March, and harsh criticism will follow.
The Aggies also won't have much leeway when it comes to non-conference, which — given the way it went for them last season — could spell trouble if they don't find a groove well before hitting SEC play.
That only makes the season more important, however.
Williams and his squad have the talent, especially with Wade Taylor IV returning with another year of experience under his belt. They have Julius Marble, Henry Coleman III, Hayden Hefner, "Boots" Radford and even Andersson Garcia, which doesn't even mention the incoming freshman and three transfers.
Texas A&M basketball is back. Both literally and in the rankings. That doesn't directly affect the Aggies — not in the slightest — but it does set the tone for this season.
A season featuring a team with a chip on its shoulder. One that is not yet satisfied.
One that wants to win. And ranked or not, the Aggies are ready to get going.
