After 17 wins and a firm grip on first place in the SEC standings, Texas A&M basketball has finally broken through into the national conversation. The Aggies earned their first Top 25 ranking of the season on Monday, landing at No. 25 in the US LBM Coaches Poll while sitting just outside the AP Top 25.

A win on Wednesday would almost certainly push them into the AP rankings, but Coach Bucky McMillan isn’t spending much time poll‑watching. His message hasn’t changed: rankings are nice, but they don’t determine who dances in March.

He’s keeping the focus on the only thing that matters — playing high‑level basketball.

"I would put stock in the rankings if the NCAA tournament committee cared about it, you know? So, you know, all you can do is focus playing your best basketball. If you play well in this league, you're gonna end up putting yourself in a great chance to have a to be in the NCA tournament and too obviously get the best seat possible, and that's what you're after."

The matchup with Alabama brings an unusual subplot. The Crimson Tide continues to play former NBA G‑League center Charles Bediako while his eligibility situation moves through the court system. The storyline has cooled slightly, but McMillan isn’t letting it become a distraction — not for him, and not for his team.

"We got to block out the noise. Whatever people think about any of their players that are playing or not playing, it doesn't impact our team. Our team's got to be about us playing the best we can play. Whoever they line up across from us is who they line up across from us. I think that when we play well, we've done well."

The Aggies enter the week with the SEC regular season title fully within reach. But to finish the job — and to position themselves for a postseason run — they’ll need to stay healthy, stay sharp, and continue stacking quality wins.

Below is the full preview of the Alabama matchup from Coach Bucky McMillan.

Texas A&M will remain on the road this week, traveling to Tuscaloosa for a pivotal SEC matchup against Alabama on Wednesday at 6 p.m. inside Coleman Coliseum.

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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Bucky McMillan previews Texas A&M’s tough road test at Alabama