'Killer intensity' key in Texas A&M's battle for 1st place against Florida Gators

COLLEGE STATION —  Officials are asking Texas A&M basketball fans to help set the atmosphere for a potential upset.

Fans are encouraged to pack Reed Arena wearing all black, while the Aggies do the same in Saturday's game against No. 17 Florida. 

A&M is 4-0 all-time in all-black uniforms, last wearing it Nov. 28 in a dominant 95-59 win over Florida State.

"Well, really, I just figured, let's get in the right jerseys and there's no way we'll lose," head coach Bucky McMillan joked Friday. "We just cancel practice, like we're done; it's a blackout, that's it, they're going to be scared to death walking up in here, we don't have to worry about nothing."

Jokes aside, A&M is 0-1 against opponents ranked by the Associated Press, looking for its first win against a top 25 opponent since beating No. 1 Auburn in March of last season. Florida, meanwhile, has won three straight SEC road games.

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A&M aims to stay even-keeled vs talented UF squad

A&M (17-5, 7-2) is in arguably its toughest stretch of the season. Their last two games, a win at Georgia and a one-possession road loss to Alabama, came against teams ranked in the top 35 of the NET ratings, a key metric for the NCAA Tournament selection committee. For reference, A&M is ranked No. 41, due to a relatively soft nonconference schedule. Next up is perhaps their toughest test yet: Florida, ranked No. 17 and second among SEC teams.

"If I watch an ultimate fighting fight or boxing match, the guy that's coming into the ring that's just over the top emotionally is getting knocked out pretty soon," McMillan said. "I think the teams that are scary and the fighters that are scarier, are the ones that come in there and just have that glassy look... that's a guy you don't want to fight.

A&M is 2-1 following a loss this season, with a 20.5-point average margin of victory.

With first place in the SEC on the line, Florida (16-6, 7-2) arrives to College Station after a full week of rest. The Gators have won seven of their last eight games and, most recently, beat South Carolina and Alabama by a combined 70 points.

Fans in the stands are expected to be rowdy for the nationally televised game. But on the court, it might be a different story, said McMillan.

"You want your team to not be too high, too low, authentic killer intensity instead of emotions up and down because that doesn't usually sustain."

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Aggies feeding off underdog mentality

The Aggies are atop the SEC with just nine games left in the regular season. Most bracketologists have them as safely inside the NCAA Tournament field.

A&M's offense is one of the most prolific in the country, and they're finding ways to win without Mackenzie Mgbako, the highest-rated recruit in school history. The injury to Mgbako, a game ahead of conference play, cast serious doubt on just what A&M's ceiling would be this season.

Some — but not all — of the discussion about rising expectations originates from outsiders.

"We were picked 13th in the league, some people picked us 15th, right?" McMillan said. "You come in here, all of us together, we're right here fighting for the top spots in the league. With an underdog mentality, I can't think of anything more fun than that."

Saturday gives the undersized, and potentially underrated Aggies another chance to answer adversity. Florida has size, scoring and just might be the toughest game on the schedule.

Ball up top.

"What was the total record for blackout (games)?" McMillan asked reporters. "4-0? Alright, we know what it is."

Reach Texas A&M beat reporter Tony Catalina via email at [email protected].