Men’s Basketball: Previewing Vanderbilt vs. Texas A&M – The Vanderbilt Hustler

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No. 19 Vanderbilt (20-4, 7-4 SEC) returns to Memorial Gymnasium after an impressive 84-76 road victory at Auburn this past Tuesday. Mark Byington’s squad bounced back from a heartbreaking 92-91 home loss to Oklahoma with a strong performance in one of the SEC’s toughest venues and now looks to extend its winning ways against Texas A&M this Saturday, Feb. 14.  
The Aggies (17-7, 7-4 SEC) were picked to finish No. 13 in the SEC preseason poll but have defied expectations under first-year head coach Bucky McMillan. Despite coming off consecutive losses to Alabama, Florida and Missouri, Texas A&M sits at No. 4 in the conference with the same SEC record as the Commodores. 
Both teams enter this matchup with high-powered offenses that love to score. Vanderbilt averages 88.7 points per game, ranking among the nation’s elite in offensive efficiency. The Commodores push the pace with an adjusted tempo of 70.2, creating transition opportunities and wearing down opponents.  
Texas A&M matches that intensity, averaging 90.7 points per game. The Aggies have scored 90 or more points in 13 of their 23 games this season and boast one of the SEC’s most balanced attacks. Not to mention, McMillan runs an extremely unique brand of basketball known as Bucky Ball, where a quick tempo and high volume of shots are utilized to tire out opposing teams and wreak havoc in transition. 
The key difference in this game could be shooting efficiency. Vanderbilt shoots 48.6% from the field and 36.2% from beyond the arc, while Texas A&M converts 47% from the field and 37% from deep. Much to the brand of Bucky Ball, the Aggies attempt significantly more 3-pointers per game (31.0) compared to Vanderbilt’s (27.7), making them a volume shooting threat.  
Vanderbilt’s success runs through sophomore point guard Tyler Tanner, who continues his remarkable season, averaging 18.9 points and 5.3 assists per game while shooting 48.1% from the field. Tanner scored in double figures in 24 consecutive games and will need another strong performance against a Texas A&M defense that has struggled at times in SEC play. 
Unlike previous matchups where Vanderbilt could focus on one or two primary scorers, the Aggies present multiple threats. Rashaun Agee leads the way at 14.0 points per game and 8.8 rebounds, giving Texas A&M a dominant interior presence. Ruben Dominguez (12.0 PPG) and Rylan Griffen (11.3 PPG) provide perimeter scoring, while Marcus Hill (11.0 PPG) and Pop Isaacs (10.5 PPG) round out a starting five where all five players average double figures.  
With injuries to star guards Duke Miles and Frankie Collins, players like Tyler Nickel and Devin McGlockton must provide secondary scoring support for Vanderbilt, as the Commodores cannot rely solely on Tanner against such a balanced opponent. 
Rebounding could be the deciding factor in this matchup. Texas A&M holds a 38.5 to 36.9 rebounding advantage over opponents, led by Agee’s 8.8 boards per game.  McMillan’s squad has outrebounded opponents by an average of 1.6 per game overall this season.  
Vanderbilt has struggled on the glass throughout conference play, ranking No. 186 nationally in offensive rebounding percentage. The Commodores’ bigs — Devin McGlockton and Jalen Washington — are averaging 6.8 and 5.5 rebounds per game, respectively.  
The Commodores rank fourth in the SEC in blocks per game (5.1) with Jalen Washington contributing 1.3 per contest, which could help neutralize some of Texas A&M’s interior advantages. However, failing to secure defensive rebounds and allowing second-chance opportunities could prove costly against a team that excels at creating second chances.  
This matchup represents a crucial home game for Vanderbilt. The Commodores are 11-2 at Memorial Gymnasium this season, where they’ve been nearly unstoppable. After proving they can win on the road with Tuesday’s victory at Auburn, the Black and Gold look to protect home court against a talented Texas A&M squad.  
Vanderbilt’s defense ranks No. 1 in the SEC in opponent 3-point percentage (29.6%), which could be vital against an Aggies team that launches triples at high volume. The Commodores also force 13.3 turnovers per game while committing just 9.7, giving them a plus-3.6 margin that ranks among the nation’s best.  
For Texas A&M, this game represents an opportunity to get back on track after consecutive losses and prove its early-season success wasn’t a fluke. For Vanderbilt, it’s a chance to build momentum heading into the final stretch of SEC play and solidify its position at the top of conference standings. 
Vanderbilt will face Texas A&M Saturday, Feb. 14, at 12 p.m. CST at Memorial Gymnasium.  
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