3 reasons why Bucky McMillan has been so successful in Year 1 at Texas A&M
By Adam Spencer
Published:
When Bucky McMillan was hired to replace Buzz Williams in April 2025, the collective reaction from the college basketball world was a mixture of intrigue and skepticism. McMillan, the former high school phenom who had spent 5 years turning Samford into a Southern Conference powerhouse, was stepping into the deep end of the SEC. Critics wondered if “Bucky Ball” would survive the physical gauntlet of a high-major conference.
Fast forward to February 2026, and those skeptics have gone remarkably quiet. The Texas A&M Aggies are thriving. Sitting at 17-4 overall and 7-1 in the SEC, Texas A&M finds itself atop the conference standings, sporting a scoring average of 91.8 points per game (6th nationally). It is the fastest start for a first-year coach in program history, and the Aggies just silenced some critics on Saturday with a decisive road win at Georgia.
How did a coach from the SoCon walk into College Station and immediately turn a sleeping giant into a legitimate national contender? Here are the 3 primary reasons why Bucky McMillan has mastered Year 1 at Texas A&M.
1. The “Bucky Ball” Revolution
The most obvious reason for McMillan’s success is the complete identity shift he brought to Reed Arena. For years, Texas A&M basketball under Buzz Williams was defined by junking up the game — slow tempos, heavy emphasis on offensive rebounding, and a physical, grinding defense. While effective at times, it was rarely described as explosive.
McMillan did a complete 180-degree turn.
- Pace and Space: The Aggies have jumped from a middle-of-the-pack scoring team to an offensive juggernaut. They have passed the 100-point mark 6 times this season. By prioritizing the “3 or key” philosophy — shooting high-volume 3s or attacking the rim — McMillan has maximized efficiency.
- The Relentless Press: Defensively, “Bucky Ball” is built on a 40-minute full-court press. A&M is forcing more than 15 turnovers per game, creating easy transition buckets. In a January win over Tennessee, the Aggies’ pressure was so stifling that it forced the Volunteers into double-digit mistakes before the first half was even over.
- Depth as a Weapon: Most coaches tighten their rotations in conference play. McMillan does the opposite. He frequently plays 10 to 12 players, keeping his roster fresh while opponents gasp for air. The Aggies’ bench contributes 38.6 points per game, the third-best mark in the country. This depth has been vital, especially after losing NBA prospect Mackenzie Mgbako to a season-ending injury.
2. Portal Mastery and Veteran Mercenaries
In the modern era of college sports, a first-year coach is only as good as his first transfer portal class. McMillan faced a daunting task: when he arrived, the roster was essentially a blank slate, with only 1 returning player (Christopher McDermott).
Instead of panicked recruiting, McMillan executed a surgical rebuild, landing 12 transfers and building what is statistically the oldest roster in the SEC, with an average age of over 20.4 years. This veteran presence allowed the team to bypass the “growing pains” typically seen in Year 1 rebuilds.
- Finding the Right Captain: The cornerstone of this success has been Rashaun Agee. The USC transfer was named the lone team captain, and his presence has been invaluable. Agee’s 9 double-doubles rank second in the SEC, providing the interior muscle necessary to balance McMillan’s perimeter-heavy attack. (Side Note: I saw Agee in person last year when USC beat Illinois in Champaign. He had 13 points and 8 rebounds on 3-of-5 shooting from 3-point range. I left impressed by what I saw.)
- The Perimeter Snipers: “Bucky Ball” fails without shooters. He brought in Ruben Dominguez from the Spanish professional ranks and Rylan Griffen from Kansas. Dominguez, whom McMillan calls “one of the best shooters in the world,” has already hit 66 3-pointers this season, forcing defenses to stretch to the breaking point.
- Experience Over Potential: By targeting juniors and seniors like Jacari Lane (North Alabama) and Marcus Hill (NC State), McMillan secured players who had already logged thousands of minutes of college basketball. They just needed to be taught the “Bucky Ball” playbook. This maturity was evident in the Aggies’ win at rival Texas — a high-pressure environment where A&M’s veterans never blinked.
3. Cultural Synergy
There is a “cult-like” atmosphere in College Station (McMillan’s own words, used affectionately).
From his very first press conference, McMillan embraced the Texas A&M identity. He acknowledged that the fan base was starving for a winner and a reason to pack Reed Arena. By delivering a fast, entertaining brand of basketball, he won the buy-in of the community.
- Revitalizing Reed Arena: Student attendance has surged under McMillan. Fans who were previously frustrated by low-scoring, slow games have flocked back to see the 90-point outbursts. McMillan has been a constant presence on campus, engaging with boosters and students alike.
- Winning the Rivalry: Nothing buys a coach more culture capital than beating the University of Texas. McMillan already has a win over the Longhorns on his résumé.
- Fearless Leadership: McMillan’s confidence has rubbed off on the program. After an early-season blowout loss to Oklahoma State, things looked bleak. But McMillan stayed the course and now Texas A&M finds itself atop the SEC standings as we enter February.
Adam is a daily fantasy sports (DFS) and sports betting expert. A 2012 graduate of the University of Missouri, Adam now covers all 16 SEC football teams. He is the director of DFS, evergreen and newsletter content across all Saturday Football brands.
