A historic 2015-2016 campaign came to a bitter end in Anaheim, California Thursday night as A&M fell to Oklahoma 77-63.
A team full of seniors now exits the program and the youth Billy Kennedy brought in will begin their turn at the helm. The team’s roster alterations — alongside these other factors — are sure to influence the Aggies next season.
Key losses: Alex Caruso, Danuel House, Jalen Jones and Anthony Collins
These players were main ingredients in the Aggie formula this year. They were the heartbeat to the squad. Now, four of A&M’s starting five depart the program and hand the reins to the young squad Billy Kennedy has been assembling. Undoubtedly, this season’s experience taught A&M’s future players important lessons, but replacing a shooter such as House, a defender like Caruso, a dual threat like Jones and a true point guard like Collins will be a tall order. A&M has the depth to replace them and still make it to the NCAA tournament, but their absence will be clearly noticed, especially when the schedule toughens up come next January. 
Key returns: Tyler Davis, Admon Gilder, D.J. Hogg, Tonny Trocha-Morelos, Tavario Miller and Kobie Eubanks
Where four starters leave, the Aggies have six more who can fill their shoes. The best part for A&M is that all of them have extensive playing experience —  except Eubanks, who joined the team in December. 
Davis showed why he was so highly-touted coming out of high school. As a freshman, he averaged 11.1 points with 6.2 rebounds per game and gave A&M a very physical presence in the paint — something the team lacked for a few years. He could improve his stamina a bit, an area which caused him to be taken out of games early and often, and he could also work on making free throws more consistently. But overall, it was about the rookie year everyone expected from Davis. 
Gilder was possibly the most impressive of the freshman class. Davis was good, but what he did was expected. Gilder stepped in during clutch situations and played beyond his years at times with his quick release and high basketball IQ. He’ll be the starting shooting guard next season and could potentially be A&M’s next great scorer. 
Of the freshman class, Hogg was probably the most underwhelming but also has the highest ceiling. The sharpshooter was just 33 percent from three-point range and while he played his role on the floor, he never truly lived up to the hype that surrounded him. Standing at 6-foot-8, Hogg has great size, and if he develops a post-range and mid-range game, he could become one of the next top NBA prospects. If he adds some muscle and physicality to his game along with the mid-range game, the results could be monstrous. 
Trocha-Morelos and Miller were solid inside for A&M. Both can grab rebounds and their heights make them shot-blocking threats alongside Davis. With Trocha-Morelos, the main problem is his physicality in the post. If he can develop more of an inside game instead of dropping outside to shoot three-pointers, the Davis and Trocha-Morelos duo could be one of the country’s best front courts next year. Miller on the other hand has the presence inside — he just has trouble finishing plays. When Davis or Trocha are in foul trouble, it will be up to him to fill the inside void. If Miller can step up and score inside, A&M has the depth for another deep NCAA tournament run.
Where Aggie basketball stands
A&M will be loaded again next season. When looking up and down at the pecking order of the SEC, it is hard not to put the Aggies in the upper echelon of the league. All of Kentucky’s eligible players are declaring for the draft, yet they will be reloaded once again because, simply put, they’re Kentucky. LSU is losing a lot of talent — including top NBA prospect Ben Simmons — so next year will be rough in Baton Rouge. Alabama is resurging itself and will be one of the conference’s best. Mississippi State, Auburn and Tennessee all looked much improved under their first-year head coaches. South Carolina is building a nice foundation with Frank Martin, and Georgia is always a tough out. The conference will be a bit stronger next season, but A&M has the talent to hang with anyone they play. Losing four starters is sure to give A&M some struggles next season. However, they will come into the year as a favorite to win the league and make yet another deep tournament run. 
Andre Perrard is a 
senior sport management senior 
and sports reporter for The Battalion.