4 numbers that explain Texas A&M basketball's success under Bucky McMillan

COLLEGE STATION — The last time Texas A&M men's basketball started 16-4 or better was in the 2015-16 season. That year, the Aggies finished 28-9 and 13-5 in conference, winning the SEC regular-season title. Although it's still a long way from matching what that team accomplished, including a Sweet 16 appearance, this A&M team has been impressive in its own right.

The Aggies are 6-1 in conference play entering the fourth week of the SEC schedule and in sole possession of first place.

MORE: What A&M basketball is crediting for its Year 1 success

All of this happened under first-year head coach Bucky McMillan, who is coaching in a Power Four conference for the first time. "Bucky Ball" has taken on a life of its own in Aggieland. However, when looking at the stats, it's hard not to be impressed.

Here's a look at the numbers that have helped the Aggies get off to a strong start:

4 stats that explain Texas A&M basketball's impressive start

229: 3-pointers made

Last season under McMillan, Samford ranked 13th nationally in scoring offense (82.9 ppg) and was top 10 in 3-pointers attempted and made. In College Station, it's been more of the same. The Aggies are 11th in the nation with 229 3-pointers made entering this week. They've hit 30.7% their 614 attempts with nine players shooting better than the team average.

Forward Zach Clemence, who made seven 3-pointers Saturday against South Carolina, is shooting 48.8% from beyond the arc. A&M has three more players making better than 40% from deep: guard Ali Dibba (47.4%), guard Rylan Griffen (44.6%) and guard Ruben Dominguez (44.3%).

38.6: average bench points

Continuing the trend of bringing Bucky Ball to the Lone Star State, bench points remain huge. For those who don't know, Bucky Ball demands high intensity on both ends of the floor — a fast tempo on offense and a full-court press on defense. That means fresh bodies and a deep rotation are imperative. 

In 2025, Samford led the Southern Conference in bench scoring, averaging 28.5 points. This year, the Aggies lead the SEC and are third nationally, averaging 38.6 points. Guard Pop Isaacs has come off the bench for a majority of the season, averaging 21.5 minutes. The 6-foot-2 guard leads A&M's reserves with 10.4 points per game.

In addition to Isaccs, the Aggies have four bench players averaging five or more points per game: guard Josh Holloway (5.3), Clemence (5.3) and Dibba (5.1).

1.73: assist-to-turnover ratio

No team in the SEC dishes out more assists than A&M. That's largely because McMillan's system prioritizes 3-point shooting derived from ball movement. Even though the Aggies are 13th in the conference with 230 turnovers, they still rank 15th in the country in assist-to-turnover ratio at 1.73. A&M has forced teams into 309 turnovers.

Eight Aggies average fewer than one turnover per game; Holloway has the most per game at 1.9. Conversely, five players average more than two assists per game, with guard Jacari Lane leading at 3.9.

In the last two games, the Aggies have turned the ball over 10 times, highlighted by a season-low three against Mississippi State. In the same timeframe, they've racked up 43 assists.

5: Aggies averaging 10 over 20

With a relentless press and a pass-heavy, motion-heavy offense, quality reserves are needed for Bucky Ball. A&M is proving it has the deep bench required to succeed in the system.

The Aggies feature 11 players averaging more than 10 minutes per game, with five averaging 20-plus minutes and 10-plus points: Dominguez (25.1 minutes, 12.9 points), Rashaun Agee (24.5, 13.7), Griffen (24.4, 11.6), Marcus Hill (21.7, 10.1) and Isaacs (21.5, 10.4). Lane averages 21.3 minutes and 7.3 points per game.

Reach Texas A&M beat reporter Tony Catalina via email at [email protected].