'Bucky Ball' makes its Reed Arena debut in Monday's season opener

A brand new coach, a brand new roster, a brand new style and a new brand will be unveiled Monday night at Reed Arena.

The era of Texas A&M basketball coach Bucky McMillan officially begins at 7 p.m. CT against Northwestern State.

And with the much-hyped full court thrill ride known as “Bucky Ball” making its A&M debut, frankly, the opponent is irrelevant.

“It’s more about what we’ve got to do and focus on our stuff,” McMillan said. “We’re more that way, anyway. Our style of play is more of that. It’s not so much counter-punching. It’s just kind of doing our deal. We’ll take it from there.”

Just where this team can go is a mystery to be solved.

The senior-heavy Aggies finished 23-11 and reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament last season.

Then Buzz Williams bolted for Maryland, took forward Pharrel Payne and Solomon Washington with him and left McMillan a one-player roster — Chris McDermott.

But McMillan attacked the transfer portal to assemble an intriguing roster with interesting potential.

Among those brought in are Mackenzie Mgbako (Indiana), Pop Isaacs (Creighton), Rylan Griffen (Kansas), Rashaun Agee (USC) and Marcus Hill (NC State).

Mgbako, who is sidelined by injury, averaged 12.2 points last season. Isaacs averaged 16.3, while Hill averaged 11.5 and Agee 9.4.

Griffen averaged 11.2 to help Alabama reach the Final Four two seasons ago.

McMillan encourages 3-point shooting. So did Williams. But McMillan puts more emphasis on actually making the 3-point shots.

Last season, McMillian’s team at Samford was ranked 11th in the nation in 3-point attempts, while converting 36.4 percent. A&M shot 30.66 percent.

“Our strength is we’ve got good shooters,” McMillan said. “We’ve got to play team D, though, because sometimes shooters are not the best individual defenders.

“Great athletes are usually great defenders. We’re not the most athletic team, so it’s going to be for us in those moments when we’re not banging in those 3’s, continuing to guard.”

Will Huffman, TexAgs

Bucky McMillan compiled a 99-52 record in five seasons at Samford.

Obviously, McMillan aims to win his A&M debut. However, he views the opener more like a practice as he strives to develop a team capable of yet again reaching the NCAA Tournament.

“No matter what happens in this next game, this is about us progressing to get better,” he said. “I’ll always make decisions — even in that game — that may not be the best for that game. It’s just going to be about our improvement.

“There will be games like, maybe we could sit in a two-three zone, and that’s going to give us our best chance to win or win by the most. But if we don’t feel that’s going to be our best chance to win long term, we’re going to stay with what we do to get better at what we do.”

…which is playing “Bucky Ball.”

A&M fans are eager to see that new brand of basketball that the brand new coach brings.

And McMillan is eager for them to see it.

“More than anything, I’m excited for these guys to get out there, play in front of this crowd,” he said.