Nebraska’s First Round matchup with Texas A&M was one of the more talked-about early NCAA Tournament games on social media.

Fans and media members found varying degrees of amusement in the tournament selection committee’s decision to pair Trev Alberts’ former school with his new school. Apparently one “coincidence” wasn’t enough, as the Huskers and Aggies are also matched up in the women’s tournament.

While the Alberts storyline makes for fun headlines, the athletic director obviously has no impact on what happens over 40 minutes on the court. Eight-seed Nebraska faces 9-seed Texas A&M on Friday at 6:50 p.m. ET in Memphis. The game will air on TNT.

Here are 3 things to know about the Aggies:

A&M played its way off the bubble

Not too long ago, Texas A&M was not expected to be a tournament team. After a 5-game losing streak, the Aggies turned things around at the right time.

When the calendar turned to March, Buzz Williams’ team decided it wanted a taste of the madness. A&M closed the regular season on a 3-game winning streak, including a victory over Mississippi State, a tournament team.

Thanks to the SEC standings, A&M played Ole Miss to end the regular season and in its first SEC Tournament game. Ole Miss finished No. 90 in the NET, giving the Aggies a pair of Quad 2 wins (road and neutral).

It was the 97-87 win over Kentucky, the South Region’s 3-seed, that sealed the deal for A&M to make the Big Dance. Wade Taylor IV went off for 32 points, including 6 3-pointers, in the win over Kentucky.

B1G wins in nonconference, big wins in SEC play

Texas A&M put together a somewhat unique resume. The Aggies are 20-14 overall, going 7-7 against Quad 1, 6-3 against Quad 2, 2-4 against Quad 3 and 5-0 against Quad 4.

A&M faced a pair of Big Ten programs in nonconference play. In their second regular-season game of the year, Aggies picked up a road win at Ohio State on Nov. 10. Later that month, Texas A&M picked up an 89-77 home victory against Penn State.

A 73-69 win over Iowa State on Nov. 26 highlights Texas A&M’s nonconference schedule. In SEC play, Texas A&M managed a 97-92 home win over Kentucky on Jan. 13 and an 85-69 home win over Tennessee, the Midwest Region’s 2-seed, on Feb. 10.

Vulnerable against the 3-ball

Nebraska has 312 made 3-point field goals this season, the 22nd-best mark in the country, while also finishing 27th in the country for 3-pointers attempted (871). Expect the 3-ball to fly on Friday.

Texas A&M’s 3-point defense ranks No. 201 nationally. In 34 games, opponents have attempted 884 3-pointers, making 300 (33.9%).

While A&M needed the SEC Tournament to make the NCAA Tournament, it comes in having lost the last time out. The Aggies led Florida by 18 points (40-22 at 5:20 mark of 1st half), but lost in the Quarterfinals, 95-90.

Shooting the 3 was key in the Gators’ comeback. Florida went 8-of-15 (53.3%) from beyond the arc in the 2nd half, finishing 14-of-26 (53.8%) for the game.

Don’t miss out on March Madness action! Saturday Tradition has sports bettors covered with all the top Ohio online sportsbooks!