Vanderbilt Aims for NCAA Tournament Boost Against No. 12 Texas A&M

Vanderbilt Eyes NCAA Tournament Bid in Road Clash with Texas A&M

The Vanderbilt Commodores (18-9, 6-8 SEC) are in desperate need of a statement win as they head to College Station to take on No. 12 Texas A&M (20-7, 9-5 SEC) on Wednesday night.

A win would boost Vanderbilt’s NCAA Tournament resume, as the Commodores seek their first March Madness appearance since 2017.

Head coach Mark Byington, in his first season, acknowledges the tournament chatter is impossible to ignore.

Vanderbilt is coming off a crucial 77-72 win over then-No. 24 Ole Miss, snapping a three-game losing streak. The Commodores will finish the regular season with two of their last three games at home, but a win over Texas A&M would provide a massive boost to their postseason chances.

Texas A&M Looks to Regain Momentum After Tough Loss

The Aggies are already in solid position for an NCAA Tournament bid, but they’re looking to secure a top-four seed in the SEC Tournament and improve their March Madness seeding.

Texas A&M has dropped two straight, including a 77-69 loss to No. 6 Tennessee on Saturday. The Aggies struggled badly from three-point range, going just 5-for-30 (16.7%).

That has been a recurring issue for A&M, which ranks 329th nationally in three-point shooting (30.6%).

Texas A&M’s Strength: Offensive Rebounding

What the Aggies lack in shooting, they make up for with elite offensive rebounding.

• 41.8% of missed shots are rebounded by A&M (best in the nation)
• Aggies dominate second-chance points and wear down opponents inside

Key Players for Texas A&M:

• Wade Taylor IV (15.0 PPG) – The Aggies’ leading scorer and primary offensive weapon.
• Zhuric Phelps (14.4 PPG) – One of A&M’s few consistent scoring threats.
• Solomon Washington (8.3 RPG) – A force on the glass and a key piece in A&M’s rebounding dominance.

The Aggies are in a three-way tie for fourth place in the SEC standings with Tennessee and Missouri, and securing a double-bye in the conference tournament is a top priority.

Can Vanderbilt Handle A&M’s Physicality?

While Texas A&M thrives on relentless rebounding, Vanderbilt’s biggest weakness is its interior depth.

The Commodores’ two best rebounders—Devin McGlockton (7.9 RPG) and Jaylen Carey (5.8 RPG)—have struggled with foul trouble in recent games.

• McGlockton has fouled out of three recent games
• Carey has fouled out of two recent games

If Vanderbilt can’t keep its big men on the floor, it could be a long night against A&M’s relentless attack on the boards.

Key Players for Vanderbilt:

• Jason Edwards (17.3 PPG) – The Commodores’ best scorer, with eight 20+ point games this season.
• Devin McGlockton (10.9 PPG, 7.9 RPG) – The team’s top rebounder, but must stay out of foul trouble.
• AJ Hoggard & Tyler Nickel (9.9 PPG each) – Secondary scoring threats who will need to step up.

Vanderbilt has a more balanced offense than Texas A&M, but if they can’t handle the rebounding battle, their offensive firepower may not be enough.

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What’s at Stake?

For Vanderbilt:

• Strengthen its NCAA Tournament resume
• Prove it can compete against elite SEC teams
• Stay out of foul trouble and win the rebounding battle

For Texas A&M:

• End a two-game losing streak
• Stay in the race for a top-four SEC Tournament seed
• Fix three-point shooting issues before March Madness

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Prediction: Can Vanderbilt Steal a Road Win?

Vanderbilt has shown flashes of being an NCAA Tournament team, but their rebounding struggles could be their downfall against Texas A&M.

If McGlockton and Carey stay out of foul trouble, Vanderbilt could keep this game close and have a shot late.

However, Texas A&M’s physicality, offensive rebounding, and defensive intensity should be too much for Vanderbilt to overcome on the road.