South Carolina MBB vs. Texas A&M game time changes due to weather. How to watch
Even a trip to College Station won’t let South Carolina men’s basketball escape projected weather conditions.
USC’s game at Texas A&M Saturday has been moved up from 3:30 p.m. to 1 p.m. “due to the threat of dangerous winter weather forecast throughout the Southeast,” per a team news release. The decision was made mutually by both teams.
The winter weather in question is expected to impact the Midlands area Saturday through Sunday . It’s unlikely to snow in Columbia, but the weather is still forecast to bring freezing rain to the area.
Here’s how to watch the Gamecocks’ new tipoff time, and what to watch for:
How to watch South Carolina men’s basketball vs. Texas A&M
Where: Reed Arena (College Station, Texas)
When: Saturday, 1 p.m.
TV/stream: SEC Network Plus (streaming via ESPN app)
Radio: Gamecock Sports Network (see affiliates here)
Bucky Ball
First-year Aggies coach Bucky McMillan has found success in College Station using his system of unrelenting press defense and fast moving offense, a style that earned the nickname “Bucky Ball” during McMillan’s time at Samford.
Texas A&M has forced 15.7 turnovers per game this season while shooting 36.9% on 3-pointers on the SEC’s second-most attempts per game (30.3). USC also runs a volume-shooting offense, with 27 3-point attempts per game. The difference is, Lamont Paris’ offense is methodical and half-court based, while McMillan’s chooses to crank the game tempo to its limits.
The Gamecocks shouldn’t have to stray too far from their game — but they will be forced to pick up the pace and break the press at times. If USC can limit turnovers and find a shooting rhythm early, then there’s a fighting chance to win. If not, the Aggies could run Paris’ team off the court.
Eli Ellis minutes
After beginning the season playing almost every active and available player on the roster in every game, Paris has since shortened his rotation as SEC play rolls on. Only seven Gamecocks played more than five minutes Tuesday against Oklahoma.
While Paris shifts how he divvies up minutes, he’s also tasked with finding someone to fill the 27.2 minutes per game that’s been left in the wake of Eli Ellis’ injury.
Ellis, USC’s top freshman, has been out with ankle injury since USC lost to Arkansas on Jan. 14. His timeline for return is currently unknown as his status leaps from day-to-day to out with each availability report. He brings the Gamecocks a steady 9.9 points, 2.2 assists and 3.0 rebounds per game along with some toughness and shot creation — not something you want to lack against McMillan’s Aggies.
Right now, the man taking up Ellis’ minutes is freshman guard Grant Polk. He’s averaging 5.2 points per game on 40.4% 3-point shooting. Paris said USC was lucky to return Polk from a knee injury right as Ellis was out.
Polk scored five points in 21 minutes against Oklahoma and should get similar minutes in College Station.
Living without the 3-pointer
For the entire season, USC’s mentality has seemingly been to live and die by the 3-pointer, and there’s been quite a bit of dying. Despite shooting the sixth-most 3s per game in the SEC, USC makes 3s at the third-lowest percentage.
But there seemed to be a breakthrough against Oklahoma.
Against the Sooners, USC made 45% of its 3-pointers and were effective driving to the basket as well, shooting 51.4% on 2-pointers. The biggest difference? The Gamecocks attempted only 20 3-pointers, seven fewer attempts than their average this season.
While USC still didn’t hesitate to shoot the open 3 against Oklahoma, the Gamecocks also chose to make the extra pass or tried to draw contact at the rim at a much higher rate than usual. This will be tougher to accomplish against Texas A&M’s aggressive defense, but it might be the only solution if USC comes out shooting poorly.
This story was originally published January 23, 2026 at 10:16 AM.