Texas A&M vs. Saint Mary’s prediction Thursday: Round of 64 pick, odds, best bet for March Madness Saint Mary’s will make its fifth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance in its first-round matchup against Texas A&M on Thursday. The South region’s seventh-seeded Gaels are 3-1 in those first-round appearances, and enter the tournament with a 27-5 record after tying Gonzaga for the West Coast Conference regular season title. The 10th-seeded Aggies, who opened as 2.5-point underdogs, will make their fourth straight trip to the dance with a 2-1 record in their opening games in that span. They finished their regular season tied for fourth in the SEC standings at a 21-11 mark under first-year head coach Bucky McMillan. McMillan deserves some credit for a winning season after former head coach Buzz Williams took pretty much everyone on the roster with him to Maryland. The Aggies face a tough draw, as Saint Mary’s outsizes them significantly. Size was a recurring issue for Texas A&M throughout the season, as McMillan had to rely on small-ball strategies with 6-foot-7 center Rashaun Agee. Here, they’ll contend with the 13th-biggest team in the nation, anchored by 7-foot-3 Andrew McKeever and multiple players standing at 6-foot-7. Interior scoring will be challenging for A&M, and defensive rebounding will be a steep uphill battle. Saint Mary’s is ranked in the top 15 in both rebounds and rebounding percentage with an astounding plus-11 rebound margin. Texas A&M allows 32.5 percent of its own missed shots to be grabbed by the opposition. Even if shooting is equal, Saint Mary’s is likely to get more opportunities, and in a tournament setting, possessions matter. An upset for the Aggies would depend on how well they can force turnovers and create chaos with pace and pressure.#west_coast_conference #saint_marys #texas_amg #bucky_mcmillan #andrew_mckeever
Michigan Basketball Assistant Coach to Take Head Coaching Role at Oregon State Michigan Wolverines basketball assistant coach Justin Joyner is set to leave his position at the university to become the head coach at Oregon State, according to multiple reports. The move, which appears to be finalized, follows months of speculation about Joyner’s future. Joyner, who has spent two seasons with the Wolverines, is expected to join Oregon State’s coaching staff after the conclusion of the current academic year. His transition marks a significant step in his career, moving from an assistant role to a head coaching position. The decision comes amid a period of change for the Oregon State program, which is navigating a shift from the Pac-12 to the West Coast Conference. Joyner’s wife, Tracy, serves as the University of Oregon women’s soccer coach, creating a strong personal and professional connection to the state of Oregon. This familial link, combined with his familiarity with the West Coast Conference, is likely to play a key role in his success at Oregon State. In Ann Arbor, Joyner has contributed to the Wolverines’ recent success, including a Big Ten Tournament title last season and a regular season championship this year. The team also reached the Sweet Sixteen in the 2025 NCAA Tournament. His tenure at Michigan followed a seven-year stint at Saint Mary’s College, where he helped the Gaels compile a 171-60 overall record and an 83-24 conference mark over seven seasons. Joyner’s coaching journey began after his collegiate career at UC Santa Barbara, where he was a three-time team captain. He initially worked as an individual skill development coach and later joined the AAU circuit before becoming the Director of Basketball Operations at Saint Mary’s in 2017.#michigan_wolverines #justin_joyner #oregon_state #west_coast_conference #tracy_joyner
