Aggies vs. Gaels: McMillan’s March Debut Tips Off Thursday in OKC

Oklahoma City—Texas A&M’s rebuilt roster will make its NCAA-tournament bow Thursday evening when the No. 10-seed Aggies meet No. 7 Saint Mary’s at 6:35 p.m. CT in the South Region’s opening round, the programs’ first clash since 1995 and only the third in series history.

First-year head coach Bucky McMillan—who arrived in College Station after guiding Samford to the Big Dance—has just one holdover from last season’s 23-11 squad that reached the Round of 32. His current group finished 11-7 in SEC play and will look to shake off a conference-tournament defeat with a March surge.

Across the court, Randy Bennett brings a quarter-century of experience and 12 NCAA appearances to the Gaels, who went 27-5 (16-2 WCC) but saw their league-tournament run halted by eventual No. 10 seed Santa Clara. Bennett’s roster, paced by a trio of double-digit scorers, prefers a deliberate tempo, averages 78.2 points per game, and ranks among the nation’s most efficient units—46.1 percent from the floor, 38.9 percent beyond the arc, and 80.5 percent at the line.

truTV’s broadcast team of Brandon Gaudin, Chris Webber, and Andy Katz will have the call; Andrew Monaco and John Thornton describe the action on radio.

The winner advances to Saturday’s Round of 32, hoping to parlay momentum from a fresh start after both teams ended their league tournaments on losing notes.