Texas A&M Guard’s First Full Practice Sparks Buzz—Could This Be a Game-Changer?

With November 3rd circled on the calendar, all eyes are on Texas A&M as they gear up to tip off the 2025-2026 basketball campaign under new leadership. Bucky McMillan, stepping in as head coach for the first time, is already turning heads with a seasoned squad stacked by strategic moves in the transfer portal. I caught up with the team’s latest developments this week, and the pulse is palpable—there’s a mix of optimism and cautious excitement as they navigate through injury updates and game prep. Mackenzie Mgbako’s foot surgery sidelines him for a bit, but he’s set to return with fire for the ACC-SEC faceoff against Pitt come December. Meanwhile, Pop Isaacs, whose scoring prowess is a key cog in McMillan’s game plan, is showing promising signs in practice after battling his own health setbacks. With Isaacs’ sharpshooting ability crucial for any NCAA Tournament dreams, managing his minutes wisely could be the difference-maker. Last season’s stats back up the hype—this guy can light up the scoreboard, and the Aggies are counting on him to do just that. Buckle up—it’s shaping up to be a season worth following closely. LEARN MORE

Texas A&M’s 2025-2026 basketball season will begin on November 3, as first-year head coach Bucky McMillan and his talented veteran roster, acquired from the transfer portal this offseason, spoke to the media on Thursday to discuss the team’s progress this month as the season gets closer.

Injury-wise, it was reported that NC State transfer forward Mackenzie Mgbako will be sidelined for the next month and a half due to his recent foot surgery, but will be back in time for the Aggies’ ACC-SEC challenge against Pitt on December 2. However, McMillan revealed some good news regarding Creighton transfer guard Pop Isaacs’ injury status, stating that the senior has looked solid after completing his first full practice of the season.

Isaacs’ additions were essential if the Aggies had any chance of making a run to the NCAA Tournament. While his health has been an issue throughout his career, dating back to his time at Texas Tech, his elite scoring and three-point shooting make him a perfect fit in McMillan’s offense. However, easing him back to extended minutes is key to preventing any future issues.

Last season, during his lone year with Creighton, Isaacs averaged 16.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 3.9 assists, while shooting 41% from the field and 38% from three-point range. Before suffering his season-ending injury, Issacs was on a roll, scoring 25, 18, 25, and 27 in his final four out of five games, which included 18 made 3-pointers.

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