Texas A&M Aggies head coach Bucky McMillan. David Leong-Imagn Images

Texas A&M's Bucky McMillan gets real about showdown with Florida Gators

By Andrew Kulha | Last updated Feb 5, 2026 7:53 PM ET

It's a big game for the Texas A&M Aggies on the basketball court. A huge one, in fact.

They're 17-5 and 7-5 in SEC play, technically tied on top of the SEC rankings alongside the Florida Gators. Here's the catch, though. The Aggies are coming off a tough 100-97 loss to the Alabama Crimson Tide, and up next are those No. 17-ranked Gators (16-6, 7-2 SEC).

Texas A&M has the benefit of playing this game at home, but head coach Bucky McMillan is asking for the fanbase to step up in a big way.

Florida, in his estimation, is no ordinary opponent.

“Got to have you Saturday,” was McMillan's message to the fanbase (h/t On3). “Florida, let me explain this. Florida, they were down at their home court, and they beat ‘Bama bad as I’ve ever seen ‘Bama get beat.

“They were the national champs last year. They bring back several players off that team, the three, four and five, great guard play. They are a great team. They may be better than they were last year. They hadn’t figured it out, but they figured it out now.”

Bucky McMillan asks for massive support from Texas A&M fanbase

Texas A&M basketball coach Bucky McMillan during his postgame radio show on hosting No. 17 Florida this Saturday:

“Got to have you Saturday. Florida, let me explain this. Florida, they were down at their home court, and they beat Bama as I’ve ever seen Bama get beat. They were…
— Carter Karels (@CarterKarels) February 5, 2026

Both teams are coming off games against Alabama, so it provides an interesting comparison point heading into Saturday night in College Station.

As mentioned, the Aggies just lost to the Crimson Tide by 13 points. In Florida's game against Alabama, the Gators walked away with a 100-77 win on their home court.

Todd Golden is arguably one of the best young coaches in college basketball and the Gators are, of course, the defending national champions.

This is a team that can absolutely walk into Reed Arena and come away with a huge road victory. Perhaps that's why McMillan is priming the pump now. He knows Texas A&M will really have to lean on its home court advantage in this one.

“It would take a total effort by everyone in that building to be in that game,” McMillan said. “They demolished some teams at home and on the road recently. We just got to have everybody coming out guns blazing, fighting with this team, and whatever happens, happens. But good things happen when we usually have that mentality.”

Andrew Kulha

Andrew Kulha is probably the only sports writer you know who also doubles as a mortician. Spooky! @KulhaSports

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