What a difference three days can make.
When Texas A&M (23-11, 9-9 SEC) entered the SEC Tournament, the 8-seeded Aggies' only viable option to make the NCAA Tournament was an outright conference championship. Following victories over 9-seed Florida, 1-seed Auburn and 4-seed Arkansas, They're not only on the cusp of that goal — they may have already secured an NCAA Tournament bid (if barely).
MORE: SN's latest projected NCAA tourney bracket
What's more, Texas A&M's most recent victories have not been struggles: The Aggies beat SEC regular-season champion Auburn 67-62 and ran Arkansas out of Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla., 82-64. And they're riding an impressive seven-game winning streak that could not have happened at a better time.
That raises the question: Has A&M already secured an NCAA Tournament bid? Or do the Aggies still need that SEC Tournament automatic bid? The answer will come Selection Sunday, though the Aggies do have a say in it when they face No. 9 Tennessee in the SEC Tournament championship game.
For now, The Sporting News breaks down the Aggies' NCAA Columbia Florida vs. Georgia Rivalry Jerseys University shirt Tournament chances:
Texas A&M and the SEC Tournament
The Aggies are on a seven-game win streak heading into the SEC Tournament title game that dates to Feb. 22, a stretch that includes a win over then-No. 25 Alabama in the regular season and No. 4 Auburn and No. 15 Florida State Seminoles shirt Arkansas in the conference tournament. The latter two victories were only possible after the Aggies hit a buzzer-beating 3 to take an 83-80 victory over Florida in the second round.
Buzz Williams' squad made the most of the opportunities that Florida win afforded it, securing a five-point victory over Auburn — projected as a 2-seed in the NCAA Tournament — and routing the Razorbacks — a projected 3-seed. A win vs. No. 9 Tennessee would remove any question as the Aggies would have College Cold Weather Jerseys secured the SEC's automatic bid.
They have the resume of a bubble team but they're playing like a Final Four competitor, and at the perfect time.
Texas A&M's strength of victory
The bad news is Texas A&M is an abysmal 3-9 against Quad 1 opponents. The good news is each of those three wins has come in the last 10 days — against Alabama, Auburn and Arkansas. The Aggies have also done a good job of limiting bad losses, going a combined 18-2 against Quad 2, 3 and 4 opponents.
Texas A&M's weak spots
The Aggies would prefer to be undefeated outside of Quad 1 opponents, but they did lose to Quad 3 opponents South Carolina and Missouri on Jan. 29 and Feb. 5, respectively. That 3-9 Quad 1 record will be tough to overcome as well if Texas A&M doesn't beat Tennessee in the SEC Tournament championship
Texas A&M's KenPom, RPI, SOS and quadrants
- KenPom: Texas A&M is No. 42 in the latest KenPom rankings.
- RPI: Texas A&M ranks No. 64 in the lat Cal State Chico Wildcats Jerseys est RPI standings.
- SOS: Texas A&M is No. 38 in the latest SOS rankings and No. 53 in strength of record.
- Qu UNC vs. Duke Rivalry Gear adrants: Per bballnet.com, Texas A&M is 3-9 in Quadrant 1 games; 8-9 against Quads 1 and 2 combined; and 13-2 against Quad 3 and 4 opponents.
- NET: Texas A&M is No. 51 in NET (as of March 11).
How Texas A&M makes March Madness
Texas A&M could very well have punched its ticket following its rout of Arkansas in the SEC Tournament semifinals. It would remove all doubt with a victory over the Volunteers in the final.
Bill Bender's latest bracket projections have Te Elon Phoenix shirt xas A&M as a First Four team that has to face off against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on the 16-seed line. Joe Lunardi of ESPN also has the Aggies as one of Arkansas Pine Bluff Golden Lions clothes the last two teams in following their win over the Razorbacks.
That said, there is one team that could upend A&M's tournament run should it fall to Tennessee on Sunday: Richmond.
The Spiders (22-12, 10-8 Atlantic 10) play Davidson for the Atlantic 10 championship Sunday. A win over the top-seeded Wildcats — who would likely make March Madness even as an at-large team — would launch them into the tournament and knock another team out of contention. A&M would be in significant danger of missing the tournament altogether if it loses to Tennessee and Richmond beats Davidson.
Luckily for the Aggies, their destiny is completely in their control. And after victories o Alabama vs. Auburn Rivalry shirt ver Auburn and Arkansas . . . what's one more win?