Buzz Williams references Deion Sanders, mocks reporter for using first names

When a reporter was talking about a sequence in Texas A&M vs. Auburn Tuesday night, they used the coaches’ first names. Aggies coach Buzz Williams noticed and had some fun at that reporter’s expense.

“You call every head coach by their first name?” Williams asked. “That’s pretty good. … I was just curious. I picked that up from Coach Deion Sanders.”

Williams is referencing Sanders’ comments when he was the head coach at Jackson State and told a reporter he wanted to be called “Coach” instead of his first name. Sanders — now the head coach at Colorado — was serious about it and moved on to the next question after telling the reporter not to call him Deion.

Williams, however, was not as serious.

“That was a joke, go ahead,” Williams said. “It’s just a joke. I’m not mad at you.”

With that in mind, the reporter started the question again by referring to Auburn coach Bruce Pearl as “Coach Pearl,” and Williams noticed.

“You can call him Bruce,” he said. “I’m sure you guys are buddies.”

Williams had plenty of reasons to joke with reporters after Texas A&M defeated Auburn 83-78 to improve to 17-7 overall and 9-2 in SEC play. Wade Taylor IV and Julius Marble had huge days on offense for Texas A&M with 22 and 20 points, respectively, to lead the charge. Taylor also added seven assists while also making four of his 10 three-point attempts as part of his monster performance. As a team, Texas A&M shot 42.6% from the field and out-rebounded Auburn 38-34.

The Aggies will look to stay hot when they take on LSU Saturday as the final stretch of the season heats up before the conference tournament. The two teams previously squared off Jan. 7 when Texas A&M cruised past the Tigers 69-56 early in the conference schedule.

Saturday’s game tips off at 8:30 p.m. ET on the SEC Network.