Bucky Ball starts is back at Texas A&M: takeaways from opening win over Alabama State

Jordan Pope, a transfer from Texas, celebrates at Texas A&M after a win against Alabama State. (Alex Slitz/Getty Images) The second season of the Bucky McMillan era opened with a victory as Texas A&M men's basketball earned a 97-66 win over Alabama State on Tuesday night.Despite having only five returners and facing a recent, stinging decision by a Brazos County judge who ruled reliable veteran Rylan Griffen ineligible last week after his lawsuit against the NCAA was dismissed, Bucky Ball was on full display against the Hornets.Though longer, more athletic and healthier than last season, the Aggies stumbled into a slower-than-ideal start before comfortably pulling away from Alabama State late in the first half. McMillan ensured that 14 members of his roster received playing time in the victory, with nine logging double-digit minutes.Kansas State transfer PJ Haggerty led all scorers with 22 points on 8-of-14 shooting from the field. He was joined in double-figure scoring by Texas transfer Jordan Pope (17 points), former Loyola Marymount forward Jalen Shelley (14 points, 12 rebounds), returning forward Mackenzie Mgbako (12 points) and former McNeese guard Tyshawn Archie (11 points).Alabama State, led by new head coach and NAIA success story Chris Wright, was picked to finish seventh in the 12-team SWAC by league coaches and sports information directors. The Hornets took the floor without Trey Miller, Amaree Brown and Prince Mensah, all of whom are expected to play significant roles for the team. Guards Paul McMillan IV (17 points) and Mike James (16 points) scored in double figures for the Hornets. Senior guard Damarion Bonds recorded 10 rebounds before fouling out midway through the second half.Here are five takeaways from Tuesday's season-opening win over Alabama State. PJ Haggerty, a transfer from Kansas State, debuts with Texas A&M against Alabama State. (Alex Slitz/Getty Images) New players galore, but consistency in staff and visionThe Aggies benefit from the return of Mgbako, Zach Clemence, Chris McDermott, Jamie Vinson and Jeremiah Green, as well as continuity on McMillan's experienced coaching staff.Hired late in the cycle in 2025, McMillan didn't have the ideal timeline to assemble his first Texas A&M roster. Despite last year's team demonstrating an ability to execute Bucky Ball, it lacked the height and length to consistently implement his unique style of play and finish strong down the stretch. On Tuesday against the Hornets, the new-look Aggies showed off their increased positional size - and the additional pressure that came with it.Though Texas A&M would be expected to deliver a convincing win against even a fully available Alabama State roster, the Aggies' wire-to-wire win - with 13 steals, 18 fast-break points, 12 second-chance points and 30 points off 25 turnovers - served as a satisfying litmus test to start the year.As advertisedA healthy one-two punch of Haggerty and Pope may provide a necessary spark against tougher opponents this year.Texas A&M's offense left plenty of points on the court against the Hornets, but Haggerty - the nation's returning leading scorer - and Pope, who brings 135 games of experience to College Station, managed to create momentum even during the most sluggish stretches. During the Aggies' first-half shooting drought, which lasted more than seven minutes, Haggerty and Pope still made an impact with pestering defensive pressure and by attacking the basket to get to the free-throw line.Given Griffen's aforementioned fight for eligibility - he was present for Tuesday's season opener - and the end of last year's glue guy Rashaun Agee's eligibility, the poise, pressure and leadership of Haggerty and Pope aren't just welcome; they're necessary. Mackenzie Mgbako makes his return for Texas A&M in a win over Alabama State. (Alex Slitz/Getty Images) Mgbako is backAfter a foot re-injury caused veteran big man Mackenzie Mgbako to miss all but the first seven games of last season, the team's 2026-27 potential is bolstered by his return to full health.Last year, Mgbako averaged 10.4 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 18.7 minutes across seven contests. On Tuesday against the Hornets, he scored 12 points on 2-of-8 shooting from the field, including 1-of-5 from beyond the arc, and made 7 of 8 free throws. He also recorded five rebounds, one assist, two steals and two blocks in 22 minutes.Adapting to how the game is called remains an ongoing journeyThroughout the preseason - and most notably after the Aggies' 94-88 loss to SMU in Sunday's scrimmage - McMillan and his staff were less than pleased with their team's excessive fouling. The second-year head coach has said he believes every team fouls too often to start the season. Against the Mustangs, McMillan's Aggies committed 34 personal fouls and gave SMU 54 free-throw attempts.In Tuesday's victory over Alabama State, Texas A&M found itself on the other side of the pendulum swing, taking 28 free-throw attempts in the first half alone after the Hornets committed 17 personal fouls. Bucky Ball, of course, requires a quick pace; the Aggies had no issues drawing contact in transition or while driving downhill. The problem arose when Texas A&M sputtered at the free throw line, making only 64% (18 of 28) of its free-throw attempts in the first 20 minutes.The Aggies made 11 of their 20 additional attempts in the second half, finishing with a 60.4% mark at the line.Missed offensive opportunitiesStatistically speaking, it would be inaccurate to label the Aggies' debut shooting performance inefficient. Texas A&M made 48% (30 of 62) of its field-goal attempts, including 35% (8 of 23) from 3-point range.That said, the team's offense didn't pass the eye test for all 40 minutes, as the Aggies failed to capitalize on several second- and third-chance - and sometimes later - attempts. The team's puzzling, minuteslong cold-shooting stretch in the first half prevented the Aggies from putting the game away sooner. Their lackluster rebounding - they grabbed 43 boards to the Hornets' 44 and allowed Alabama State to collect 16 offensive rebounds - highlighted areas for immediate attention.The Aggies will next host Northern Kentucky of the Horizon League at 7 p.m. Friday. The Norse defeated UTEP 84-76 on Monday and will play at South Dakota on Wednesday before traveling to College Station.SubscribeThere’s more to Houston with the Chronicle. Subscribe today for just 25¢.This article originally published at Bucky Ball starts is back at Texas A&M: takeaways from opening win over Alabama State.