Texas A&M reached as high as No. 5 in the AP Poll this season, but based on the Aggies’ inconsistency down the stretch, watching them make a Sweet 16 run in the NCAA Tournament has been surprising.

This is the same team that started 0-5 in SEC play and only finished 9-9 against conference foes, but the way the Aggies dispatched defending champion North Carolina in the second round Sunday inspires confidence that perhaps coach Billy Kennedy’s team can go even further.

As they prepare for a Sweet 16 matchup against Michigan on Thursday night, the Aggies have plenty of reason for confidence.

Here are three reasons Aggie fans should anticipate their team advancing to the Elite Eight, if not further:

1. TJ Starks has stepped up in a big way

Though Aggie fans have been high on Starks for a while, he burst onto a bigger stage with his incredible head-to-head battle with Alabama’s Collin Sexton in the SEC Tournament.

He’s only continued to improve throughout the NCAA Tournament, taking over to start the second half against Providence after the Aggies’ slow start. He then dominated start to finish against Joel Berry and the Tar Heels, recording 21 points and five assists to help the Aggies advance to the Sweet 16.

He’ll have another favorable matchup in the Sweet 16, going against Michigan PG Zavier Simpson. Michigan, of course, just hit a last-second shot to knock off Cincinnati, but the Aggies have the size and the star point guard to cause the Wolverines problems this week. Speaking of size …

2. Robert Williams and Tyler Davis are matchup nightmares

The Aggies have a pair of players who can match up size-wise with anyone in the country. North Carolina wasn’t built to handle such a big, physical duo, and it showed, with the Aggies out-rebounding the Tar Heels 50-36 in the lopsided second-round upset.

Williams has 21 points, 27 rebounds and four blocks through two games (and several impressive dunks), while Davis has piled up 32 points, 24 rebounds and five blocks.

With each player standing 6-10, not many teams in the country can match up against them. But it’s not just their size — it’s their physicality. Williams has more raw athleticism than Davis, but Davis is the one built like a tank at 266 pounds.

Michigan has a 6-10 player in Mo Wagner, but at only 210 pounds, he’s not exactly the dominant physical specimen that Williams and Davis are.

3. It’s a team effort

Williams, Davis and Starks get most of the attention and credit for the Aggies’ success this year, and rightfully so. However, A&M has also gotten big games from some lesser-known talents in March.

In the Providence game, Admon Gilder led the team in scoring, notching 18 points. In the North Carolina game, DJ Hogg stepped up with a great all-around effort, turning in 14 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals.

When teams try to stop Davis and Williams inside while also guarding Starks tightly on the perimeter, they can’t afford to let someone like Gilder or Hogg have a big game. However, through two NCAA Tournament games, the Aggies have gotten some key contributions from up and down their roster.

That bodes well for their Thursday night game against Michigan and will make them a tough out for anyone moving forward.