Busting Brackets
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Texas A&M Basketball: Ranking Aggies 2019-20 non-conference opponents

By TJ Miller

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - MARCH 14: Head coach Buzz Williams of the Virginia Tech Hokies reacts against the Florida State Seminoles during their game in the quarterfinal round of the 2019 Men's ACC Basketball Tournament at Spectrum Center on March 14, 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - MARCH 14: Head coach Buzz Williams of the Virginia Tech Hokies reacts against the Florida State Seminoles during their game in the quarterfinal round of the 2019 Men's ACC Basketball Tournament at Spectrum Center on March 14, 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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GREENVILLE, SC – MARCH 17: Head coach Phil Cunningham of the Troy Trojans looks on in the first half against the Duke Blue Devils during the first round of the 2017 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena on March 17, 2017 in Greenville, South Carolina. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
GREENVILLE, SC – MARCH 17: Head coach Phil Cunningham of the Troy Trojans looks on in the first half against the Duke Blue Devils during the first round of the 2017 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena on March 17, 2017 in Greenville, South Carolina. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

12. Northwestern State (Nov. 6)

2018-19 record: 11-20

The Demons haven’t had an over .500 record since the 2014-15 season, and unfortunately it’s difficult to see them improving on a mediocre 2018-19 campaign. Northwestern State loses their only double-digit scorer in Ishmael Lane as well as third leading scorer DeAndre Love. It’s not a terribly promising combination for a team that only averaged 66.3 PPG (316th) last season. This game will be Buzz Williams’ first as the Aggies head coach and it would seem a nice way to open up the season 1-0 at home.

11. Troy (Nov. 20)

2018-19 record: 12-18

Three of five starters depart for the Trojans including Jordan Varnado (21.5 PPG). Troy has just a 30-61 record in the last three seasons although Phil Cunningham’s squad did manage to beat Western Kentucky last season and played Saint Louis very close. Still, it’s hard to imagine Troy being able to keep up with Texas A&M for too long as the Trojans just won’t the same guys capable of filling it up this season.

10. Louisiana-Monroe (Nov. 11)

2018-19 record: 19-16

Another school out of the Sun Belt Conference, ULM had some decent success on the season actually winning a postseason game in the CIT over Kent State. They’ll lose big time production in Daishon Smith and Travis Munnings, but sharp-shooter Michael Ertel will return with hopes of sustaining what was a fairly dynamic offense in 2018-19. I wouldn’t be too nervous with Buzz Williams leading the Aggies but this might be a tricky challenge just a few days prior to welcoming Gonzaga to College Station.

9. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (Dec. 15)

2018-19 record: 14-18

It’s reasonable to think the Islanders could contend in the Southland this coming season as they’ll keep most of their contributors. Coach Wilson’s team finished just 6th in conference play but did rank 1st in defensive FG%  holding opponents to just  41.6 %. The last time the two teams met was in 2016 when the Aggies won a 86-69 contest. This game falls after a tough slate of games for Texas A&M so it will be interesting to see where things stand at this point in the non-conference slate.