The list of Texas A&M basketball accomplishments is impressive. In some cases, they’re even historic.
The Aggies are 22-10 with a schedule that included 20 games against teams that are in the NCAA Tournament.
Eight of those opponents are No. 5 seeds or better.
A&M finished fifth in the SEC, which had 14 teams selected for the NCAA Tournament.
The Aggies posted their first victory over a top-ranked team when they defeated Auburn, 83-72.
They’ve been ranked among the nation’s top 25 the entire season.
It has indeed been a banner season for the Aggies. But that banner will fly at half staff if they don’t have a successful run through the NCAA Tournament.
Success will be defined as at least reaching the second weekend of March Madness. Making the Sweet 16 would require an opening victory over Yale on Thursday and then defeating either Michigan or UC San Diego on Saturday.
Coach Buzz Williams doesn’t see it that way, though.
“I don’t ever judge (success) like that,” he said. “I think fans have a tendency to do that. But I think when you’re living through all those things mentioned … the sustainability of all those things are what, to me, proves the substance of what you are. I think we’ve done that.
“We still want to do well in the NCAA Tournament, but I would not suggest — nor do I feel as a coach — that it all should be based on postseason.
“I think all of that success led to this moment. Now you just want to build on it.”
Of course, he’s right. A team should be judged by what it did over four months of competition rather than two or three weekends.
But that’s not reality. Coaches and teams are typically judged by how they fare in March Madness.
Frankly, the fourth-seed Aggies should fare well in the NCAA Tournament. They’ve steadily made progress under Williams.
Three years ago, they reached the finals of the NIT. The next year, they were in the NCAA Tournament. Last season, they beat Nebraska in the first round and fell in overtime to No. 1 seed Houston in the Round of 32.
The next step is the second weekend.
Their difficult non-conference schedule and laborious grind through the treacherous Southeastern Conference surely prepared them well for what lies ahead.
For example, Yale is ninth in the nation in 3-point shooting percentage. That’s an imposing stat. But A&M has faced seven opponents ranked among the nation’s top 50 in 3-point shooting percentage.
The Aggies are 7-1 against those opponents. They beat Oklahoma (twice). They also beat Purdue, Texas Tech, Ohio State and SEC rivals Missouri and Auburn. The loss was to Kentucky.
“You probably played against every style of team that there is (in the SEC),” Williams said. “I don’t think that there has been any relief in regards to the caliber of opponent or location.
“Not just for us, but for any of the 14 (SEC) teams that are going. Fourteen teams from your league — which is a historic accomplishment — I think that speaks to the metrics that the committee looks at. So, I think you are as prepared as possible going into the tournament.”
The Aggies, indeed, should be well prepared for the NCAA Tournament.
But they should also be prepared for the accomplishments of this season to be diminished in the eyes of many — if not most — if they don’t have a successful showing in March.
