COLLEGE STATION, Texas (KBTX) – Any adherent to chaos theory understands how small changes in the past can create completely new outcomes in the future, otherwise known as the butterfly effect.
Wednesday’s men’s college basketball game between Texas A&M and Alabama is the perfect demonstration of the chaos of the current landscape of college athletics. It took the actions of two separate judges and the president of Birmingham-Southern College to create the matchup as it will exist for the 6 p.m. tipoff.
At some point in the matchup, it is likely that A&M forward Rashaun Agee will match up against Alabama center Charles Bediako. Points in the paint from this matchup would not have been possible without temporary restraining orders issued by two judges.
Agee was granted a ruling prior to the start of the season in a fairly cut-and-dried case deciding when his eligibility clock began. The 6-foot-7 forward has arguably been the Aggies’ most productive player, collecting 10 double-doubles on the season. He’s averaging 13.9 points and nine rebounds this season.
On several occasions, Agee has been called to match up against opponents who stand more than five inches taller. He’s proven his mettle against the length of the Southeastern Conference and will need to do it again against a 7-footer in Bediako.
Agee was not keen to dwell too long on the potential matchup Monday.
“I guess [he adds] his shot blocking ability, but other than that, that’s about it,” he said. “I guess his defensive presence. I mean, not going to say too much.”
Prior to Alabama’s loss to Tennessee on Jan. 24, Bediako last played college basketball in March 2023. After two seasons of basketball with the Crimson Tide, Bediako entered the NBA Draft. Though he was not selected, he signed a two-way professional contract with the San Antonio Spurs, followed by a stint with the G League Motor City Cruise.
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Bediako received a temporary restraining order from a Tuscaloosa judge on Jan. 21, reinstating him to college basketball and preventing the NCAA from sanctioning him for his return. His argument stems from the NCAA’s rule change allowing international players with professional experience and other G League players to return to the college ranks. Baylor underwent a similar lawsuit to gain eligibility for center James Nnaji, who was selected in the 2023 NBA Draft and played in the NBA Summer League and in international professional basketball.
Since returning to the college ranks, Bediako has averaged 11 points, four rebounds and two blocks in three games played.
Bediako’s gap years provided interesting perspective for Aggie guard Rylan Griffen, who played for the Crimson Tide during Bediako’s previous college season. Griffen said he’s happy that his friend was able to get another shot at college hoops.
“He’s really funny,” Griffen said. “He’s really nice. Some people are talking about him on the internet or whatever and they don’t really know him. He’s a good dude. I don’t think he deserves to be talked about the way they’re talking about him, because he’s a great guy and he doesn’t try to hurt anybody.”
The Aggies’ Alabama connections were almost closer, beginning at the top. On “The Next Round” podcast, former Crimson Tide head coach Mark Gottfried said he recruited McMillan to play his final season in Tuscaloosa. However, the guard decided to begin his coaching career as he finished out his final season of college.
“I’ve known Bucky forever,” Gottfried said on the podcast. “And, boy, I couldn’t be more excited about him. What a phenomenal job. What a great, young coach.”
McMillan played college ball at Birmingham-Southern, a Division I program until 2006. Prior to McMillan’s senior season, the program dropped back down to Division II at the instruction of the institution’s president. Years before the inception of the transfer portal and unlimited transfer rules, McMillan and his teammates were allowed to transfer without penalty due to the change in competitive division.
McMillan had offers from power conference schools along with Alabama and had to decide between transferring, playing at another mid-major, playing professionally overseas or starting his coaching career. He took the latter option, though he said Alabama would have been his choice if he stayed in college hoops.
“My mindset kind of was, I can always say, ‘I want one more year,’” McMillan said. “If I went to play pro ball in Iceland, I could say, ‘Alright, let’s go play one more year over here and then one more year over here,’ then I come back here and I’m 37 years old. So, I was like, ‘This could be my chance right now to get into coaching,’ and I got into coaching and everything led me to here.”
McMillan did make his way to Aggieland this season, piecing together a last-minute roster late in the summer portal window. Not many would have expected the Aggies would travel to Tuscaloosa while leading the Southeastern Conference with seven wins.
In so many ways, McMillan has seen how things like that go in the crazy world of college basketball.
“Just funny how life works out, isn’t it?” he said with a smirk.
KBTX senior Texas A&M sportswriter Travis L. Brown can be reached at travis.brown@kbtx.com.
KBTX Senior Texas A&M Sportswriter(KBTX)
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