18. Texas A&M (3-1)
On opening night, the Aggies lost a tough road game at UCF. In a time where nearly every other team was facing a freebie at home, Buzz Williams challenged his team early and came up just short in a game without Zhuric Phelps. With his team healthy and Phelps in the lineup, the Aggies have looked much stronger and that was certainly the case this week.
Lamar came to town back on Monday and left disappointed, with Texas A&M winning 97-71. Phelps led the team with 16 points and 7 assists while elite guard Wade Taylor IV added 15 points in another solid effort. The Aggies then passed their next big challenge on Friday, hanging tough for a 78-64 win over a ranked Ohio State team. Manny Obaseki had 15 points off the bench, with the Aggies surviving a mediocre shooting performance in a strong team effort.
Still perfect with Phelps in the lineup, it’s looking like that UCF loss was something of a fluke, though it’s not like it can be struck from the Aggies’ resume. Instead, they took control against Ohio State and proved that they’re going to be a force in the SEC this season, especially when Taylor and this other talent are at their best. The only opponent next week is Southern, though the Aggies have some really strong opposition on their schedule in the coming weeks and will need to be at their best sooner rather than later.