21. Texas A&M (5-2)
A forgettable opening night performance at UCF cannot actually be forgotten, but the Aggies are clearly playing better than back then. Zhuric Phelps actually missed that game, and Texas A&M has looked more formidable on offense since his return to the lineup. Still, the SEC is a very tough and deep league and even with wins over Ohio State and a few other schools it’s clear that these Aggies have work ahead of them.
Their Vegas trip at the Players Era Festival began on the wrong foot, falling 80-70 to Oregon back on Tuesday. Phelps scored 20 points but the offense was dreadful, making just 32% of their shot attempts. The Aggies then got another ranked win the following day, triumphing 77-73 over Creighton, with 18 points from Wade Taylor IV. Their final game in Vegas was another positive note, with an 81-77 win over a feisty Rutgers team, with Taylor’s 24-point effort pacing the Aggies yet again.
This program has been trending upwards in recent years and has the talent to win games in the SEC. Beyond Phelps and Taylor there are talented pieces on this team, though the Aggies shot really poorly especially from beyond the arc while in Las Vegas. They certainly have a few things to work on before league play begins and will host Wake Forest next week as part of the ACC/SEC Challenge.