Texas A&M Basketball Optimistic After Hiring ‘Game-Changer’ Bucky McMillan, According to Paul Finebaum
Texas A&M’s men’s basketball team picked a new coach. They chose Bucky McMillan. McMillan came from Samford. He now replaces Buzz Williams. Fans feel hope for the Aggies’ future.
ESPN analyst Paul Finebaum voiced strong support. Finebaum said McMillan can guide the team to success. He said that with McMillan, A&M now stands closer to a Final Four run than it did with Buzz Williams. Buzz Williams was a good coach. He got the team into the tournament and won some games. Yet, he did not push the program as far as needed.
The change came fast. Buzz Williams left to coach at Maryland. His exit happened when Kevin Willard moved to Villanova. Finebaum sees this quick change as an upgrade for Texas A&M.
Under Williams, the team improved. Yet, in each tournament, they left before the second weekend. They lost to lower-seeded opponents. McMillan brings new energy. Last season, he took Samford to the NCAA Tournament. His Bulldogs nearly upset Kansas before a close loss and a disputed foul.
Finebaum explained McMillan’s skill. He said, “Anyone close to Bucky McMillan knows what we are saying.” Finebaum did not feel the need to convince A&M fans. Many fans worried about the athletic director’s past decisions. Instead, McMillan proved his worth. Finebaum called it one of the best coaching hires in many years.
McMillan climbed quickly in his career. In only five years, he moved from coaching high school to heading a college program. From 2008 to 2020, he led Mountain Brook High School in Alabama. Then he took charge at Samford. There, he turned the Bulldogs into a strong team. They won at least 20 games in each of the last four seasons.
Now, as excitement grows around A&M, fans hope for a new era. They look forward to success and a real shot at the Final Four.
