Buzz Williams thanks fans for contributing to perfect home record

Texas A&M scored its marquee win of the Buzz Williams era by beating a top-five Alabama team in front of the home crowd on Senior Day. The Aggies locked up second place in the SEC regular season and are a surefire NCAA Tournament team for the first time in the Buzz Williams era after narrowly missing the field despite their great SEC tourney run a year ago.

Part of why A&M achieved such a terrific finish in the SEC standings is because they defended their home court. The Aggies went 9-0 at home this season in conference games on their way to a 15-3 record. In most years, 15-3 will win you a share of the title, but just so happens that Alabama was generationally great by program standards.

But the second-place finish is absolutely worth celebrating. After the Alabama win to top off a flawless home stand in league play, Coach Williams thanked the fans for creating such great home-court advantages all year.

“Incredible atmosphere, electric. And just like what’s transpired over the last nine games at home, to go undefeated, you’re a big part of it. Not me, I’m just speaking for everybody in the program, we’re very grateful.”

He said he thinks the crowds have only improved throughout the season and really became impactful down the stretch this year.

“In ‘06 I was 32 and I was just as unknowledgeable as the crowd. I do think maybe a little bit has transpired even in the last two months. They’ve been a part of Auburn here, they’ve been a part of Tennessee here, they’ve been a part of this game here, they’ve been a part of Arkansas here. Whether you know what’s going on or not, you’re getting reps of wow this is hard and that’s not good and we need that. It’s not like I’m as engaged as I should be with the crowd but you can tell their knowledge is picking up. But what would be the difference between 17 years ago and now I don’t know.”

As for why, Williams says perhaps more students and fans are learning about hoops and following the Texas A&M program via social media.

“I think it might be social media maybe. Yeah, that could be, yeah, I would say that’s for sure a part of it Everybody’s talking a little bit more about what’s going on. Yeah, that’s probably right.”

Whether it’s simply the program’s lofty success or social media allowing fans to follow them closer, there’s definitely a bigger buzz for the Aggies this season compared to most. And to thank those fans, A&M kept a clean sheet at home in conference.