COLLEGE STATION, Texas — The Bucky McMillan era tipped off Monday at Texas A&M with a lofty promise from the coach who raised Samford basketball to new heights.
“For me to leave that place, it would only be for some place that I know I could not just win championships, but was a great place with great people,” McMillan said at his introductory news conference in A&M’s Reed Arena. “That’s why I’m here — we’re going to win championships here.”
Texas A&M’s men’s basketball team has never advanced to the Elite Eight of the NCAA tournament. The A&M women won a national title in 2011 under coach Gary Blair.
The Aggies hired the high-revving McMillan, 41, to replace Buzz Williams, who left A&M for Maryland on April 1. Williams finished with a 120-73 record at A&M over six seasons and advanced to the NCAA tournament in each of the past three seasons.
A&M hasn’t advanced to the Sweet 16 since 2018 under coach Billy Kennedy — which is why Williams’ tenure was considered disappointing to A&M fans.
McMillan, a native Alabaman who has never coached in Texas and had visited College Station only once prior, has hired two former assistants at A&M under Kennedy: Mitch Cole, who also assisted McMillan at Samford, and former Stephen F. Austin State head coach Kyle Keller, whom the…
