Buzz Williams Shares Texas A&M's 'Recipe' For Success As Tournament Play Looms

After the drastic improvement in free throws and a dominant rebounding performance in the last game against Oklahoma, Williams sees this as the right path for his men to follow.
Jan 25, 2025; Austin, Texas, USA; Texas A&M Aggies head coach Buzz Williams yells out to players during the first half against the Texas Longhorns at Moody Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images
Jan 25, 2025; Austin, Texas, USA; Texas A&M Aggies head coach Buzz Williams yells out to players during the first half against the Texas Longhorns at Moody Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images / Scott Wachter-Imagn Images
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Buzz Williams and the No. 13 Texas A&M Aggies enjoyed quite the bounce back of a performance during their 75-68 win over the Oklahoma Sooners Tuesday night in College Station.

The team shot over 80 percent from the free throw line and had more offensive rebounds than the Sooners had total rebounds.

The lead the Aggies held throughout the victory was narrow the whole way through, typically a two- or four-point difference between the two teams, but the Aggies held their own the whole way, finding themselves back in the win column thanks to it.

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Jan 28, 2025; College Station, Texas, USA; Texas A&M Aggies guard Manny Obaseki (35) dives for a loose ball during the second half against the Oklahoma Sooners at Reed Arena. The Aggies defeated the Sooners 75-68. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images / Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images

But the question is now "how can they keep repeating this success?" March Madness is growing closer by the day, and the Aggies are about to find themselves in some cut-throat competition.

According to Coach Williams, it's two things mentioned above: free throws and rebounding.

And that seems to be the only way to continue their success.

"I think my answer, without being condescending, is that's literally the only recipe we can follow," Williams said. "We've tried to make a concerted effort in how we're studying and talking and watching and how we prepare for the defensive rebounding percentage. We have to bend the game mathematically on the things that you always hear me talk about."

Williams also pressed on the free throw issues, saying that was ultimately what did them in during their trip to Austin and that more free throws could've played in the team's favor.

"In Austin, we were 3-8 from the line. We're a little better shooters from the free-throw line than 37 percent, but we have to accumulate more free throws," Williams said.

The Aggies seemed to have taken that advice to heart, as they attempted 35 free throws Tuesday against the Sooners, with 29 of them finding the bottom of the net.

The Aggies will look to repeat their stats at the line and on the boards as they travel to South Carolina this Saturday.

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Aaron Raley
AARON RALEY

Aaron Raley is a credentialed writer covering the Texas A&M Aggies for On SI, joining the team on May 27, 2024. Born and raised in Northeast Texas, Aaron is a senior journalism major at Texas A&M University and is also minoring in history and sports management. Aaron’s writing abilities are driven by his love and passion for various sports, both at the collegiate and professional level, as well as his experience in playing sports, especially baseball and football.