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Aggies Men's Basketball Invited To 2023 ESPN Events Invitational

Texas A&M is headed to Orlando for Thanksgiving come this winter.

Cole Thompson

USA TODAY Sports
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Texas A&M men's basketball should be filling the national television screens more often after a breakout season in 2023. ESPN is certainly one of the networks trying to cash in on Buzz Williams' success. 

Per Texas A&M's athletic department, the Aggies will face a loaded field at the ESPN Events Invitational in November at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World in Orlando. A&M was one of eight teams invited to the event. 

Joining the Aggies in the home of the "Happiest Place on Earth" include Boise State, Butler, Florida Atlantic, Iowa State, Penn State, VCU and Virginia Tech. Six of the eight teams selected made the NCAA Tournament a season ago, including the Nittany Lions. 

Penn State upset A&M 76-59 in the first round of the Midwest Region. The No.10-seed Nittany Lions shot a season-high 59.1 percent from the 3-point line behind top-notch performances from Andrew Funk and Jalen Pickett. Since then, Nittany Lions coach Micah Shrewsberry has left the program after taking the job at Notre Dame in place of Mike Brey. 

Williams, who just closed out his fourth season on campus, could also have a bit of a rivalry matchup should A&M draw Virginia Tech for one of its showdowns. Before he arrived in College Station, Williams coached the Hokies from 2014-19, leading the program to three consecutive tournament trips, including a Sweet 16 appearance in 2019. 

“With six returning NCAA Tournament teams, the ESPN Events Invitational figures to be one of the strongest early-season tournaments in the country,” said Clint Overby, Vice President of ESPN Events. “We look forward to hosting all eight teams and their fans at Walt Disney World Resort this Thanksgiving.”

The Aggies are coming off one of their better seasons in recent memory. Led by the 1-2 combination of Tyrece "Boots" Radford and Wade Taylor IV, the Aggies finished 25-10 overall and posted a school record of 15 wins in SEC play. A&M also ranked No. 17 overall in the AP Poll's final regular season rankings. 

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Cole Thompson
COLE THOMPSON

Cole Thompson is a sports writer and columnist covering the NFL and college sports for SI's Fan Nation. A 2016 graduate from The University of Alabama, follow him on Twitter @MrColeThompson

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