Texas A&M Basketball: 3 reasons the Aggies can win the SEC in 2023-24

Jan 4, 2023; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Texas A&M Aggies head coach Buzz Williams talks with forward Andersson Garcia (11) and guard Wade Taylor IV (4) against the Florida Gators during the second half at Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

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Texas A&M Aggies forward Henry Coleman III Jordan Prather-USA TODAY Sports /

Last season the Aggies didn’t have much of a defensive presence inside

The second reason I think Texas A&M can win the SEC is because their interior defense should see an improvement over last season. Last season Julius Marble at 6’9 and Henry Coleman III at 6’8 played the most meaningful frontcourt minutes. As a result, the duo combined for nearly 10 boards per game, which is 26.6% of the team’s total.

The addition of Wildens Leveque at 7’0 255lbs. Should help in a couple of ways. First, he will give the Aggies that rim-protecting presence they lacked last season. As a team last season, the Aggies blocked just 2.4 blocks per game and struggled on the defensive boards as their second-chance points conversion rate was just 184th in the country.

What having Leveque on the floor should do is allow Coleman III and Marble to take on the opposing teams’ power forwards and not potentially bigger centers. He should also be able to help the offense that was 161st in the country when it came to scoring at the rim.

Whether Leveque is handling the ball himself down low or using his big body to open up lanes for his teammates, having a bigger body on the floor should help Texas A&M improve on both ends of it.