At the start of the 2015-2016 season, many were wondering if Texas A&M could take the “next step”. Others around the league were sure Kentucky had reloaded and was set to dominate the conference once again. Anyone placing bets at that time on who would have reached the Sweet 16 would have been foolish to have taken Texas A&M.
Texas A&M paid out well though if you had the guts to make the bet. Texas A&M finished the season with a 28-9 record and a double digit loss to number 2-seed Oklahoma in the Sweet 16. After the miraculous comeback against UNI in the 2nd round of the NCAA Tournament, it is easy to forget just how much Texas A&M accomplished this season.
They finished tied with Kentucky for the best conference record in the regular season. They went 1-1 against Kentucky and both games went into overtime. Unfortunately, their loss against Kentucky came in the championship game of the SEC Tournament.
Their regular season was extremely impressive out of conference as well. They showed that they were for real with wins vs. Texas, vs. Gonzaga, vs. Baylor and vs. Iowa State. They were even ranked in the top 10 at one point.
The biggest win of Kentucky’s regular season was their win against in-state rival Louisville. They also had a huge victory early in the season with their win in the Champions Classic against Duke.
Comparing the quality wins versus expectations, Texas A&M has the better slate of wins, but who suffered more bad losses?
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Kentucky suffered more bad losses.
It is not even close.
Kentucky’s bad losses amount to a list: @UCLA, vs Ohio State, @Auburn and an 18-point loss @LSU.
Texas A&M lost 5 out of 6 after starting 17-2, but their lone win in that stretch was against Big 12 power Iowa State. All of those losses were close, and their only really bad loss was a double digit loss on the road against dreadful Arizona State.
While Skal Labissiere has Big Blue Nation on edge about whether or not they want him to return, the
12th Man is pumped about freshman Tyler Davis. Why he didn’t get the ball more I will never know. Danuel House clearly set the scoring pace for this team, but in the 19 mpg Tyler Davis played, he shot 75% from the field!
In the end, it comes down to who does what in the tournament. Kentucky suffered a loss to a resurgent Indiana team in the 2nd round. Texas A&M pulled off quite possibly the most improbable comeback of NCAA Tournament history, and made it to the Sweet 16.
Texas A&M ends the season with a filling of hope in the air after extending Billy Kennedy’s contract to remain the head coach of the Aggies, and Kentucky ends the season waiting on next year’s recruiting class for the answers.