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Joe Lunardi moves Texas A&M past Virginia into 'Last Four Byes' on NCAA Tournament bubble

FaceProfileby:Thomas Goldkamp•03/15/24
Texas A&M G Wade Taylor
Wade Taylor is projected as one of the best guards in the SEC (Ken Murray | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Texas A&M took down Kentucky 97-87 on Friday night in the SEC Tournament quarterfinals and that might have been just what the Aggies needed to solidify an NCAA Tournament berth.

ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi will move Texas A&M past Virginia and a few others into the “Last Four Byes” category on Friday night, according to the SEC Network broadcast following Friday’s game.

That gives the Aggies a little more breathing room as Selection Sunday fast approaches.

The Aggies were led, from start to finish, by veteran guard Wade Taylor. Taylor was aggressive offensively and was lights out, finishing the game with 32 points, to go along with three assists and two rebounds.

“I feel great. This just shows how resilient we are,” Taylor said after the game on the SEC Network. “I told you yesterday that the Aggies, we turn a switch in March when we get to Nashville. I’m just excited for the guys, it meant a lot today.”

Taylor helped lead an onslaught from beyond the 3-point line, where the Texas A&M made 11 shots, something that always helps when making an NCAA Tournament push. Taylor had six of them himself.

Kentucky had few answers for Texas A&M’s ability to slash to the basket, and Taylor and fellow guard Tyrece Radford (23 points) routinely got whatever they wanted at the rim.

Taylor had an answer for every Kentucky charge.

“Shoutout to my teammates and my coaches for believing in me,” he said. “They told me to keep shooting and we wouldn’t win without me today.”

The Aggies had a big edge in second-chance points in the game, winning 26-9. That was one of the major statistical differences in the game, as well as turnovers. Texas A&M turned it over only six times in the contest, while Kentucky did 14 times. The Wildcats scored only four points off turnovers.

From start to finish, Texas A&M looked in control, looking every bit the part of an NCAA Tournament team.

“We just wanted to make sure we were staying together,” Taylor said. “We know Kentucky’s a well-rounded team, they go on a lot of runs and they have good offensive players. But we just wanted to make sure we stayed together and stayed disciplined.”