Texas A&M men’s basketball is back in the top 10.
In the new AP Poll rankings Monday, the Aggies ascended from 13th to 10th. It matches their highest-ever AP Poll ranking this season and overall under their sixth-year head coach, Buzz Williams. Now with a 17-5 overall record and 6-3 mark in SEC play, A&M defeated Oklahoma (75-68) at home Tuesday before dropping South Carolina (76-72) on the road Saturday.
In both of those victories, the Aggies played without injured starting power forward Solomon Washington (lower left leg). A&M improved to 4-3 this season and 3-2 in SEC action when playing without at least one starter.
“I do not necessarily think that we have the best players,” Williams said following the game Saturday. “I actually think our players receive that we are not the best individual players. I think it is the power of all of us. It is a cumulative effort. …
“In those games when (Wade Taylor IV) has missed, (Zhuric Phelps) has missed, Solo has missed, I think cumulatively, all of our guys have dispersed those responsibilities and been very mature in how they handle it.”
Since last Monday, the Aggies have descended from 12th to 14tn in the NCAA Evaluation Tool (NET) rankings. Here is their record in each Quadrant matchup: 7-5 in Quad I, 5-0 in Quad II, 0-0 in Quad III and 5-0 in Quad IV. Their seven Quad I wins are tied for the third most in the country. Their 12 Quad I and Quad II victories combined are tied for the third most as well.
A&M still leads the nation in offensive rebounds per game and ranks among the best in several other major statistical categories, including sixth in total rebounds per game, seventh in defensive rating, 12th in free throw attempts per game, 22nd in field goal percentage defense, 25th in free throws made per game, 34th in bench points per game and tied for 44th in scoring defense.
For the second half of SEC play, the Aggies should have quite a few challenges. Of their nine remaining regular-season games, six of them currently qualify as Quad I while the other three are Quad II. Five of those matchups will be against ranked opponents.
Following a bye in the middle of this week, A&M will next face No. 15 Missouri on the road Saturday (2:30 p.m. CST on SEC Network).
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