COLLEGE STATION —Texas A&M basketball will soon host a ranked non-SEC team for the first time in almost a decade.
A&M, ranked No. 15 in the USA TODAY Men’s Basketball Coaches Poll, gets set to take on the No. 22 Ohio State Buckeyes at Reed Arena on Friday. It will be the first ranked versus ranked nonconference matchup at the venue since the No. 5 Aggies beat No. 14 Iowa Hawkeyes 72-62 in the Big 12-SEC Challenge in 2016.
The Buckeyes (2-0) have a talented roster that Texas A&M head coach Buzz Williams knows will present a unique early-season challenge for his team.
“No. 2 and No. 1 (Meechie Johnson Jr. and Bruce Thornton) may be as good a backcourt as you can find in the country at this level,” Williams told reporters Thursday. “Relative to their talent, but also their poise, their experience, they’re both older high-level guards that have played and started.”
The junior, Thorton, leads all Buckeyes with 16 points per game while shooting 66.7% from 3-point range. The senior, Johnson, is averaging 8.5 points per game and has averaged three rebounds and two assists over a pair of games this season.
MORE: Texas A&M vs Lamar Cardinals: Aggie basketball’s shooting impresses at home
Here are some takeaways from the Aggies’ comments Friday during its conference with reporters:
Aggies preparing for tough early-season test
Friday will be only the third time a Big Ten school has visited Reed Arena for a men’s basketball game. Beyond the historical unknown of the nonconference opponent, Williams knows Ohio State is talented. The Buckets had near top-10 recruiting classes in 2023 and 2024. They’ve also added from the transfer portal.
“I think 13 (Sean Stewart) and 4 (Aaron Bradshaw) were both McDonald All-Americans, probably didn’t have the role that they wanted last year, and I think they’re partly at Ohio State for an opportunity for an increased role,” Williams started.
“They’re big, not necessarily just inside. They’re just big, period… It’s as talented of a team that will have been here in a while. They’re really good.”
The Aggies hold an all-time record of 3-1 against the Buckeyes, with the most recent win coming last year in Columbus, 73-66.
“They have a great team; they have a couple of returners coming back just like we do,” senior point guard Wade Taylor IV said of the Buckeyes. “They went and got some good dudes in the portal. They play fast, they can really shoot it, they’re long, they have a lot of length, so I’m excited for the matchup. They’re aggressive, and I’m excited to get after them.”
The Buckeyes are averaging 80.5 points through two games, beating the Texas Longhorns 80-72 in the season opener and Youngstown State 81-47 on Monday.
They have 81 rebounds on the season and have made 48% of their 3-point attempts so far.
The Aggies have bounced back with two consecutive wins following the opening night loss to UCF, and face their stiffest competition to date.
“I would say in the locker room it’s just guys excited to compete,” junior forward Pharrel Payne said. “Everyone’s looking forward to the game, and we’re hungry to win.”
Friday’s game
No. 22 Ohio State (2-0) at No. 23 Texas A&M (2-1), 8 p.m., SEC Network, 1370
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This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas A&M vs Ohio State: Aggies preparing for Buckeyes
