No. 15 A&M eyes massive Quad-I opportunity vs. Ohio State in Columbus

Here we go.

A revamped non-conference slate – one that Texas A&M felt was necessary to improve its NCAA Tournament resume – has arrived.

The 15th-ranked Aggies (1-0) travel to face Ohio State (1-0) on Friday night in what will be the first of A&M's four non-conference basketball games against Power 5 foes. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. CT.

Of course, this schedule has been purposefully constructed.

"We'll make up for all of the bad scheduling that Twitter says that we've had this year," head coach Buzz Williams said.

Two seasons ago, a weak out-of-conference schedule was to blame for an inexplicable NCAA Tournament omission.

Last year, a weak out-of-conference schedule was the scapegoat for A&M being under-seeded in the dance.

In 2023-2024, Williams & Co. looks to combat recent history. Enter Ohio State.

"This is a (Quadrant I) road game of which we haven't won in non-conference play, and we're getting a chance at that in our first week of the season," Williams said. "We have some guys who have some reps of losing those games, and we have some guys who have never even played in those games."

This trip to Columbus, Ohio, represents A&M's third true road game against a Power 5 opponent of the Williams era.

The last was a Dec. 18, 2021, contest at Oregon State. That was A&M's 11th game of the year.

Friday will be A&M's second of this season.

"It will be a first rep for this group this year, and I think it presents categories and layers of things that are healthy going forward," Williams said. "It is a lot to digest this early, but if we're going to be good, and this is a part of being good, then, logically, it's the right thing to do."

Like the Aggies, the Buckeyes won their Monday opener.

Unlike A&M's drubbing of Commerce, Ohio State was locked in a close battle with Oakland before prevailing, 79-73.

Last year, Zed Key, a 6-foot-8 forward, and Bruce Thornton, a 6-foot-2 guard, averaged 10.8 and 10.6 points per game, respectively. Key, Thornton and 6-foot-4 guard Roddy Gayle Jr. had 17 points apiece vs. the Grizzlies. Key also grabbed a team-high eight rebounds.

"Ohio State has a lot of good players, and scouting against that, Buzz really emphasized how important these games are," forward Wildens Leveque said. "It's going to help us and create a culture of toughness and experience for us."

Oakland hit 14 3-pointers on Monday. A&M made 11 vs. Commerce.

Hayden Hefner hit a trio of 3-balls. Wade Taylor IV drilled four. They finished with 19 and 16 points to pace a quartet of Aggies in double figures.

A&M can expect its frantic style of defense to travel, but the Aggies will also need to bring their dominant rebounding.

They'll also need to bring a different type of energy into what could be a hostile Value City Arena.

"We need this rep. I need this rep," guard Tyrece Radford said. "Since I've been here, we haven't had a Quad I win in non-conference.

"We really just need to depend on each other and bring our own energy. BYOE. That's what we were saying last year, and that's what we're going to basically feed off of this year."

Ready or not, A&M's non-conference proving ground begins Friday.

"I know the 12th Man are with us and they're watching, but we're going to depend off each other for that energy," Radford said. "It starts as soon as we get off the plane."