Validity of A&M's 10-3 record to be tested in Saturday's SEC opener

Click here to view Texas A&M’s Friday press conference.

True beauty often isn’t revealed until makeup is removed.

The makeup comes off for Texas A&M on Saturday when the Aggies open Southeastern Conference basketball play vs. LSU at Reed Arena.

Tipoff is at 3 p.m. CT.

A&M compiled a pulchritudinous 10-3 record against non-conference opponents. Whether that record is truly aesthetic or merely cosmetic figures to be determined — at least to some extent — against LSU, which enters the fray at 12-1.

None of the Aggies’ 10 victories have come over opponents with a winning record. The best A&M has faced so far are Florida State, Montana and Pitt, which are all 7-7.

Yet, A&M coach Bucky McMillan feels the schedule has appropriately prepared the Aggies for the challenges of the SEC.

Will Huffman, TexAgs

Saturday will be Bucky McMillan’s first SEC game as Texas A&M’s head coach.

“When you look at a schedule, you ask yourself, ‘Did you improve’ and ‘How much did y’all improve?’” McMillan said. “That’s kind of what you look at. So, by those standards, we’ve improved a great deal.

“You know, we’ve won eight of the last nine, with one of the losses being in overtime. You want to be trending in the right direction rather than the other direction. We’re trending in the right direction.”

The Aggies certainly are, offensively. They average 96.2 points to rank fourth in the nation in scoring and are seventh in 3-pointers per game with 11.6.

Guards Rubén Dominguez, Marcus Hill and Rylan Griffen and forward Rashaun Agee average over double figures.

But the Aggies are without 6-foot-9 forward Mackenzie Mgbako, who was also averaging in double figures before sustaining a season-ending foot injury.

“I had a good feel (for the team) before Mackenzie’s injury,” McMillan said. “Now it’s just kind of you’re intrigued to see who’s going to step up with him out of the lineup.

“That’s what I’m interested to see. Who’s going to step up? Obviously, we’re not as big as we were. How we’re going to overcome that, and who’s going to play well?”

Will Huffman, TexAgs

Rashaun Agee is averaging 12.8 points and 8.2 rebounds per game.

Agee, who has scored in double figures in five of the last six games, said the Aggies just have to emphasize their strengths.

“It’s sad to see a great player get hurt, dealing with the injuries he’s dealing with,” Agee said. “But we’ve just got to learn how to do what we do best: Pressuring the full court, make it hard for them to get to the half court, and when they get to the half court, make sure we stay after them.”

That could be sufficient to topple LSU, which also has some proving to do.

LSU’s non-conference schedule wasn’t much more challenging than A&M’s. However, the Tigers did defeat SMU, which defeated the Aggies in overtime.

Though guard Dedan Thomas Jr. leads LSU with a 16.2 point scoring average, the Tigers may have an edge in the paint.

Mike Nwoko, a 6-foot-10 forward, is averaging 16.1 points and 5.5 rebounds. Marquel Sutton, a 6-foot-9 forward, averages 14.2 points and 9.6 boards.

LSU could be the best team A&M has faced thus far.

“The numbers say that,” Griffen said. “The analytics will tell you that they’re a really good offense. Their record will tell you that. They beat some teams we lost to.

“On paper, yeah. But at the end of the day, it’s about when we got on the court. We’ve got to do what we’ve got to do.”