NCAA Basketball: Purdue, Virginia falls, Marquette and Gonzaga rise in top 25 power rankings

19. Texas A&M Aggies – 21-8 (13-3 SEC)

The Aggies are one of the hottest teams in NCAA Basketball, taking a five-game win streak into this past week of games. The first was at home against Tennessee, who has been struggling a bit in SEC play. It was a close battle for almost the whole game, with both teams comfortable with the slower style.

But in the end, Texas A&M was able to get the big 68-63 win to get off the bubble and into the safe side of the NCAA Tournament picture. Wade Taylor continues to make his case for All-SEC, scoring a game-high 25 points, including 16/17 from the free throw line. It also helped to have a career-high 21 points and nine rebounds from forward Julius Marble.

The second game was on the road against a Mississippi State squad that’s in the same spot on the bubble that the Aggies were not too long ago. This a needed game for the Bulldogs but Texas A&M certainly didn’t make it easy on them. In another game that was decided in the 60s. Texas A&M’s win streak stopped at six, falling 69-62. Taylor once again led the way with 21 points, while both Henry Coleman and Andersson Garcia each had 11.

It was a spilt that the Aggies would gladly take, especially getting a signature win over the Vols this past week. The problem is that the odds of them at least sharing an SEC title are now slim to none. To have any chance of getting back in the mix, they’ll have to beat Ole Miss and the Crimson Tide both next week.