Buzz Williams and A&M hoops look forward to week at Reed Arena

Buzz Williams' 2023-24 squad had a week off to heal up and prepare for hosting DePaul this Wednesday. During Monday's edition of TexAgs Radio, Williams discusses how the Aggies are now back in a routine after a tough away stretch and what lies ahead.

Key notes from Buzz Williams interview

• We got back on Thursday morning at 3 a.m., and we took Thursday off. We worked Friday morning and Saturday afternoon and took off yesterday. We had an “early bird” this morning. Today is two days before, so we are back to our routine now.
   
• When you schedule those away games, you think about the opponent, travel, exposure and strength of the schedule. What I did not think about is how long you are not in your gym touching a ball. We played eight games in 23 days. Six of those eight were not at home. That is less time in practice as a team but also for individual workouts. It changes the rhythm. You don't have a rhythm. We have managed the days we have been home the right way. We are going into a really important next ten days.
   
• In 2003, I was offered a job by Baylor. I was an assistant coach at Colorado State. Baylor called and asked for help. I was 30. I said I was going to talk to my Colorado State coach and my wife. I was going to take the job, and I was waiting for Baylor to call. That was when everything began to change. There was a murder at Baylor within their team.
   
• Every day following a day off, we have “early bird.” If we work on Saturday afternoon and then you don't practice until Monday afternoon, that's 48 hours. We never do that. If we take Sunday off, we have “early bird” first thing before school. What we do changes. This was “early bird” No. 18.
   
• It's the second toughest schedule in the country. Wade Taylor IV is a really good player who ignites what we do on both ends of the floor. It was not just Taylor. Henry Coleman III, who is averaging a double-double, is ginormous to what we are doing. Andersson Garcia has more offensive rebounds than anyone in the country off the bench. Wildens Leveque has become a very important cog in what we're doing. All of us can help alleviate the pressure from Taylor. If we think Taylor is the only player on our team that will help us win, we are foolish. We all have an impact on winning.
   
• Some of the reasons Coleman is playing so well is the attention Taylor draws us off a ball screen. They're all tied together even though the stat sheet doesn't say it. We have to find ways for all of our guys to help us. Jace Carter is giving us more opportunities on the offensive glass. We are the best offensive-rebounding team in the country. Being able to shoot more balls and make more are critical compenants.
   
• Brent Zwerneman said during my first week here, "Everywhere you have been, you have built programs." The transfer portal and NIL started after. He said after, "How do you build a program with all this?" It was too early to say because there was not enough data. What I have tried to do is, relative to the landscape, what is it that you are convicted by that is right no matter the climate for everyone's lives involved? I am very transparent with our guys.