Bradshaw: A&M's battle-tested nature 'good news' vs. SEC mayhem

Dane Bradshaw was on the SEC Network call for Texas A&M's 80-60 win over Texas at Reed Arena on Saturday evening. The college hoops analyst joined TexAgs Live on Tuesday to share what he saw from Buzz Williams & Co. before looking around the nation's best hoops league.

Key notes from Dane Bradshaw interview

• Reed Arena was awesome. It was everything I hoped it would be. I didn't know about students not being in town yet, but they showed up and showed out. We mentioned on the broadcast that I felt like there were times when the crowd was ready to erupt. You could feel the buzz, no pun intended. It needs to feel that way. Vanderbilt was the only team to win on the road on opening day in the SEC. You must defend home court this year because it will be so hard to steal them on the road.
   
• Being less reliant on Wade Taylor IV and him being OK with it has got to be the key. Not many of your listeners follow Marquette basketball, but Kameron Jones is up for Player of the Year. He is right behind the Cooper Flaggs and Johni Broomes. What has changed in Jones' game is the ability to facilitate the ball. I am not saying Taylor is ego-centered by any means, but when you start to be recognized for better leadership and distribution, your team wins. You had the toughest non-conference slate ever under Buzz Williams. You are still getting credit for all those things, but maybe Taylor’s "takeover game" moments are not as plentiful. I think that helps the player embrace the leadership role without taking as many shots as possible.
   
• The 3-point shooting... The Aggies went 2-of-19 and still won by 20? That's nuts. Their defense is something A&M can rely on. Coach Rodney Terry said he thought they were the best loose-ball team in America. The concern is, can you shoot the 3-pointer a little more efficiently because you might have to on some of those nights when your offensive rebounding isn't taking over? We saw it last game and against Wake Forest. Teams have held A&M’s offensive rebounding in check in the first half of games. It's like you give them 20 carries for 65 yards, but the 21st carry, you bust it for 70 yards. Over time, the Aggies wear you down and beat you up on the glass so much.
   
• Taylor keeps the defense on their heels. He takes some bad shots, but I think he is taking less of them. I do think there are times were A&M, especially Taylor, is taking a lot of 3-pointers off the bounce and contested, as opposed to more inside out. They do a unique job of getting their five-man the ball. Hitting guys like Henry Coleman III and Solomon Washington right there at the free throw line, normally, five-man guys turn it over there. Coleman and Washington do a good job of ripping it through and getting it to the basket or trying to kick it out.
   
• It's mayhem right now in the SEC. You have to play all of them, for the most part, anyway. The good news for A&M is the Aggies are so much more battle-tested and older. We had built a graphic about how the non-conference strength of schedule went from No. 300 to No. 200 to high 60s, and this year, it is in the 50s. When you are learning how to win close games, that becomes contagious in the huddle. When the Aggies lost to UCF in the opening game, that was a head-scratcher.
   
• Oklahoma has an exciting guard, Jeremiah Fears. He is one of the more dynamic guards in the country. He has a little bit of Rob Dillingham in him. I am not saying he is indefensible, but from an entertainment standpoint, watching him against Taylor will be fun. Oklahoma has some other guys, like Jalon Moore, who is playing really well. This is a chance for Oklahoma to try and right the ship after getting punched in the mouth after Alabama.
   
• I am pleasantly surprised with Kentucky. I don't know if they are the most talented team, but they have connectivity and spread you out with five guys. The action Mark Pope is running is a joy to watch. When they have been down in games, they have proven to make significant adjustments. This is another team that has the confidence now to win close games.
   
• There are no weaknesses with Tennessee. There is no guy that you say, "We are going to attack him." They help and recover. They are extremely physical. Arkansas missed a lot of open looks there against Tennessee.
   
• Chris Beard and Ole Miss will turn you over a bunch, a lot, with the live-ball variety. They are good but not great in the half-court offense. They seem a lot tougher than they were a year ago. The transfers and returners have them playing a little more of Beard’s style of basketball.