3 thoughts on Nebraska basketball vs. Texas A&M; South Region impressions

At least we know the NCAA selection committee has an eye for drama. How else do you explain Nebraska basketball and Texas A&M getting paired up in the first round of the NCAA tournament in the South Region?

Nebraska basketball earned an at-large berth to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2014. That trip ended quickly with a loss to Baylor. The Huskers are winless all-time NCAA tournament. Yet, Texas A&M (20-14, 9-9) is a favorable opponent for Nebraska.

It’s ironic after Trev Alberts left for the Texas A&M AD job on Monday. If he’s at the game, he will be booed mercilessly and will deserve all the vitriol.

My guess is that he won’t show up for what could be a historic day for the Huskers. To make that happen, they need to beat the Aggies, and here are three thoughts on that matchup, as well as the South Region.

The Trev Factor

This is going to make headlines all week. But it’s going to be important for Fred Hoiberg and the Huskers to focus on the Aggies, not getting some sort of revenge on Trev Alberts.

Fans can boo if Alberts is at the game. Fred and the Nebraska basketball team have to be above that. Texas A&M is a dangerous team. They aren’t great defensively and they lost 14 games this season. Buzz Williams is a veteran coach though, just like Hoiberg and Nebraska will have to earn history if they are going to make it.

The fact that Nebraska will face one of the programs under the leadership of Alberts is ironic. It might make a win even sweeter for the fans, but the team needs to block out the noise.

The concerns with Texas A&M

There are things to like about this matchup from a Nebraska perspective. But will start with some of the things to worry about.

A&M didn’t beat Kentucky on Friday by accident. They have electrifying scorers in the backcourt, Wade Taylor and Tyrece Radford who combine for nearly 35 points per game.

Taylor shoots 8.2 3-pointers per game. The Aggies actually shoot a bunch of shots from deep (54th in attempts) but make just 28 percent (354th). That’s a huge gap. They aren’t efficient on 2-point attempts either, shooting 47 percent which ranks 320th in college basketball.

However, the Aggies excel at protecting the ball, averaging just nine turnovers per game. They are also the best offensive-rebounding team in the country. Texas A&M gets 17.3 offensive boards per game and that will be the focal point.

The way Terrance Shannon roasted Nebraska is a concern. Taylor isn’t that big but he’s dynamic. He hits 2.6 3-pointers per game and will challenge the perimeter defense. Fred will have to put a good plan together but defense and rebounding will be the key, just like always.

What to like about the matchup for Nebraska basketball

Texas A&M is an average defensive team. They aren’t terrible and do a decent job of forcing turnovers, plus don’t have a lot of glaring weaknesses. They allowed 95 points on Saturday to Florida.

The Aggies ranked 57th according to Kenpom via adjusted defense and they allow 8.8 3-pointers per game to opponents (339th). Opponents also shot 33.9 percent against the Aggies from deep, although that number was better in conference play (32.2). They were 12th out of 14 teams in the SEC in blocks per game and allowed 1.04 points per possession this season (2o1st).

Nebraska is one of the best 3-point shooting teams in college basketball. They should also be able to pound the ball inside to Rienk Mast and Josiah Allick. The Aggies have one player taller than 6-foot-7 who plays regular minutes (Wildens Leveque) and he’s averaged about eight minutes per game recently.

Nebraska basketball has the No. 30 defense via Kenpom and the No. 36 offense. They are an underrated eight seed, while the Aggies felt overseeded.

Taylor and the Texas A&M guards scare the hell out of me, but as long as he doesn’t go off like Terrence Shannon did, and the Aggies don’t grab 40 percent of their misses (very possible), I like the Huskers’ chances. Defense will decide things and the defense will need to be better than it was on Saturday against Illinois.

South Region impressions

The bracket is loaded with college basketball powers. Duke and Kentucky are the No. 4 and No. 3 seeds, while Marquette is the No. 2. Wisconsin, the Big Ten tournament runner-up is also on the Nebraska side of the bracket, but if the Huskers win, a game against Houston likely awaits.

Houston is the No. 2 team according to Kenpom with the No. 2 adjusted defense. It’s a winnable game but Nebraska will need to play its best and first things things first, they need to beat a capable Texas A&M squad to make history.

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