Texas A&M basketball HC discusses facing Alabama C Charles Bediako

Texas A&M (17-4, 7-1 SEC) made the US LBM Coaches Poll for the first time this season, coming in at No. 25 after defeating Georgia on the road 92-77, while star forward Rashaun Agee was named SEC Player of the Week after leading the game with 18 points, 15 rebounds, and seven assists, serving as his tenth double-double of the season.

Set to face Alabama on the road on Wednesday night, the Aggies are looking to stay focused on the task at hand, while avoiding the distraction that has taken over the college basketball landscape: the shocking and controversial return of Alabama center Charles Bediako.

After going undrafted in the 2023 NBA draft, the 7'0" big man played for three NBA G League teams, but on January 21, the former Canadian prospect was granted a temporary restraining order by a Tuscaloosa County judge, James Roberts, allowing him to return to Alabama before his next hearing, which is set for Friday.

On Monday, during the pre-game press conference, first-year head coach Bucky McMillan was asked about preparing for Bediako, as this will pose as another front court challenge given the Aggies' lack of size, but staying the course, McMillan is completely focused on his team's ability to "block out the noise" and play their game, no matter the size differential.

“It is what it is. We have to block out the noise of what people are saying about their team. That doesn’t impact us. We’ve got to focus on what we can do. I care about our best players playing their best.”

After losing trasfer forward Mackenzie Mgbako for the rest of the season, the Aggies will continue to lack size outside of reserve forwards Jamie Vinson and Federiko Federiko, who play limited minutes, leaving Rashaun Agee has the primary threat in the paint, while guards Jacari Lane, Marcus Hill, Rylan Griffen and Pop Isaacs all need to continue taking advantage of their soft touch at the rim and shoot a high percentage from beyond the arc.

Texas A&M will face Alabama on Wednesday night at 6:00 p.m. CT which will air on the SEC Network.

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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Texas A&M HC Bucky McMillan dicusses facing Alabama C Charles Bediako