Texas A&M (17-8, 7-5 SEC) enters the most important week of the 2025-2026 season after losing four consecutive games, as Saturday’s 82-69 road loss to Vanderbilt was expected, but the lack of energy and shooting efficiency was notable.
While the Aggies are certainly in a slump, first-year head coach Bucky McMillan is confident that his veteran team will be re-energized this week, starting with a “must-win” game vs. Ole Miss in Reed Arena on Wednesday night. Sitting at 7-1 in SEC play, Texas A&M needs three to four more wins to earn an at-large bid in the NCAA Tournament, and outside of a tough road game against Arkansas, the Aggies really can’t afford losses anymore.
One of the primary reasons Texas A&M finished 1-4 over the last five games instead of 3-2 has been the poor play of starting guards Jacari Lane and Rubén Dominguez, especially the Spanish sharpshooter, who is currently averaging just 3 points per game and shooting 16% from beyond the arc.
While it would be a smart decision for Dominguez to come off the bench, it’s expected that McMillan will go with his regular lineup, hoping that three days of rest will result in better play. On Monday, McMillan sat down for his first media appearance of the week during the Aggie Basketball Hour. Here’s everything he had to say ahead of Texas A&M vs. Ole Miss.
Bucky McMillan on his team’s poor performance vs. Vanderbilt
“We played really tired. Last year the teams who played the late Wednesday game and then the early road Saturday game went 1-8. Rashaun was gassed from the jump. We didn’t have our legs.”
Could history repeat itself? We shall see
“The last time the Aggies won the SEC, they won the regular season in 2016. They were 7-1, then lost four in a row, then they played Ole Miss, beat them, and didn’t lose a game the rest of the regular season.”
McMillan on Texas A&M’s new uniforms honoring the Corps of Cadets
“We hope we can honor them not just with what we’re wearing, but also with how we play. I can’t wait to see everybody in uniform on Wednesday night, it’s going to be a cool sight.”
McMillan on the steadfast support from the 12th Man
“You can feel it here. The support here is unbelievable. It’s something our players feel and that’s what Texas A&M is. Who wouldn’t want to be a part of that? You can feel it at every event here.”
Winning on the road in the SEC requires an A+ performance
“If you’re going to win on the road at Vanderbilt, Auburn, Alabama, Texas, or Arkansas you have to play an A game. If you don’t do that, you won’t be successful. I just want to see us get back to playing fresh.”
McMillan provides a brief update regarding Mackenzie Mgbako’s injury rehab
“He’s doing well. He’s doing everything he’s supposed to do and should be back this summer. I hate that fans didn’t get to see how he was playing this summer. He looked like a first rounder.”
McMillan on building around returning starters, including Mgbako
“We’ve got the opportunity to bring back guys who played keys minutes for us. Next year, we want to build around players who have been in it before.”
Want so reassurance? This team is locked in amid the four-game losing streak
“We’ve got a veteran team. Our players called a team meeting after the Vanderbilt loss. They know they have to get right. They know what it is. That’s what you want, everyone pulling in the same direction.”
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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Texas A&M basketball: HC Bucky McMillan on slump, Ole Miss game
