Texas A&M Basketball Coach Bucky McMillan Sees Progress in First Season

McMillan believes the Aggies are on the path to becoming a "sleeping giant" in college basketball.

Mar. 22, 2026 at 8:21pm

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In his first season as the head coach of the Texas A&M basketball team, Bucky McMillan made bold claims that the Aggies could win a national championship. While they fell short of that goal, being eliminated in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, McMillan believes the team is ahead of schedule and on the right track to becoming a "sleeping giant" in college basketball.

Why it matters

McMillan's confidence in the Aggies' potential comes despite the team's lack of historical success, as they have never reached the Elite Eight stage of the NCAA Tournament. His comparison to other coaches who turned around their programs quickly at Florida, Alabama, and Houston suggests he sees a similar trajectory for Texas A&M.

The details

McMillan pointed to the examples of coaches Todd Golden (Florida), Nate Oats (Alabama), and Kelvin Sampson (Houston) as evidence that the Aggies are on the right track. All three failed to make the NCAA Tournament in their first seasons but then went on to great success, with Golden winning a national title in his third year, Oats reaching the Final Four in his fourth, and Sampson producing five straight 30-win seasons. McMillan believes the Aggies, despite a total roster rebuild, have laid the foundation for future success.

  • McMillan made his "sleeping giant" comments at SEC Media Days last October in Birmingham, Alabama.
  • The Aggies were eliminated from the NCAA Tournament on March 21, 2026 after a loss to Houston.

The players

Bucky McMillan

The head coach of the Texas A&M basketball team, who believes the Aggies can become a national championship contender.

Todd Golden

The head coach of the Florida basketball team, who won a national title in his third season after failing to make the NCAA Tournament in his first year.

Nate Oats

The head coach of the Alabama basketball team, who reached the Final Four in his fourth season after failing to make the NCAA Tournament in his first year.

Kelvin Sampson

The head coach of the Houston basketball team, who has produced five straight 30-win seasons and reached the national championship game last year.

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What they’re saying

“Texas A&M is a sleeping giant. I think you can win a national championship at Texas A&M.”

— Bucky McMillan, Head Coach, Texas A&M Basketball

“We are ahead of schedule.”

— Bucky McMillan, Head Coach, Texas A&M Basketball

What’s next

McMillan and the Aggies will look to build on this season's progress and continue their ascent towards becoming a national championship contender in the coming years.

The takeaway

Bucky McMillan's confidence in the Texas A&M basketball program's potential, despite their lack of historical success, suggests he sees a path for the Aggies to emerge as a "sleeping giant" in college basketball, similar to the rapid turnarounds achieved by other prominent coaches in recent years.