Ben Raab

DENVER –– Today, the Yale Bulldogs (22–7, 13–1 Ivy) are set to face Texas A&M (22–10, 11–7 SEC) in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. 

The No. 13 Bulldogs are coming into the game after winning the Ivy League Championship versus Cornell, ready to leave it all out on the court as they take on the No. 4 Aggies. 

“People don’t think we’re any good,” Yale head coach James Jones said Wednesday. “If you read the name on the chest and you see an Ivy League school, you’re supposed to be X, Y or Z, but it’s a misnomer. We feel like we can compete with anybody.” 

Despite their clear status as underdogs, there is reason to believe Yale may pull off the upset. According to March Madness brackets submitted to ESPN, Yale is predicted as the most likely 13 seed vs. 4 seed upset in the first round, with 23 percent of brackets projecting the Bulldogs to win. 

This is Yale’s second consecutive year winning the Ivy Championship and making it to March Madness. Last year, the Bulldogs pulled off a major upset against Auburn during the first round. 

Looking at the Aggies current team, they are a force to be reckoned with. Wade Taylor IV, Zhuric Phelps and Andersson Garcia are some of the stars for the Aggies this season. Taking a look at their strengths, these players match up well with the Bulldogs star trio, John Poulakidas ’25, Bez Mbeng ’25 and Nick Townsend ’26. 

Taylor IV and Poulakidas are known for their sharp shooting ability, Phelps and Mbeng for their defensive prowess, and Garcia and Townsend for their all out hustle and rebounding. 

Fans should also keep an eye out for what will be a rebounding battle between two of the best teams in the nation on the glass. Texas A&M is the best offensive rebounding team in the country, pulling down an impressive 42 percent of their missed shots. However, Yale stands out as a team that may matchup well against the Aggies, ranking 18th in the nation in defensive rebounds per game and 14th in rebounding margin. 

“They’re tenacious, they’re physical, they’re strong,” Jones said of the Aggies. “They go after the ball like nobody I’ve seen in a long time. So boxing out is going to be truly important for us.

Another statistic to watch during the game will be how well Yale shoots from three-point range, as it is often the long ball that powers upsets in March. The Bulldogs shoot 38.5 percent from three, good for 9th in the country, and the team will likely need that to match that number to keep up with their SEC opponent. 

Yale and Texas A&M have not faced each other since 1975 when A&M won the only match up in history. The Aggies have not taken the court since a double overtime loss to the University of Texas in the SEC Tournament on March 13. 

The game will take place at the Ball Arena in Denver. Tip off will be at 5:25 p.m. local time or 7:25 p.m. EST.