Jan. 18, 2026, 3:31 p.m. CT

For the first time in more than 20 years, a Texas A&M head coach walked out of Austin with a win. Bucky McMillan’s Aggies didn’t just survive the Lone Star Showdown — they controlled it. Outside of a few brief Texas runs, A&M dictated the pace, the physicality, and the poise, securing a 74–70 victory and bringing the Lone Star Showdown Trophy back to Bryan‑College Station.

All season long, McMillan has preached the same message: this may not be the most naturally gifted roster in the SEC, but once it starts playing as a team, it can make real noise. At times it will look sharp, at times it will look chaotic, but it will always be aggressive and competitive.

“You got to have a team. You can’t just have talent. You got to have a team. And it’s been a joy coaching this group. “

To his credit, the Aggies are becoming exactly what he envisioned. They’re winning with depth, with buy‑in, and with a growing understanding of a system that demands chemistry. McMillan’s read‑based offense isn’t built on scripted sets — it’s built on decision‑making, trust, and repetition, especially for a roster that had never played together before this season.

“We were dialed in, and we only keep getting better. The offense that we run is not a set offense. It’s not a scripted the ball goes here, everyone does this. It’s a read-based offense, right? It’d be like running the option in football, right? And you only get better as a season goes.”

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Through that lens, it’s fair to say Texas A&M is ahead of schedule. A team projected to finish in the bottom half of the league suddenly looks like a legitimate NCAA Tournament contender — and now owns one of the most meaningful wins of the McMillan era.

You can watch the full radio interview below.

Texas A&M will return home to face the Mississippi State Bulldogs in Bryan-College Station at Reed Arena on Wednesday, January 21, at 8 p.m. CT. The matchup will air on the SEC Network.

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