Basketball season is right around the corner and Aggie fans are excited. The Aggies have seen much success in the past like a trip to the Final Four in 1970 and their first NCAA tournament game win since decades in 2022 with a 70-63 upset over the UConn Huskies in the Round of 64. Despite these successes in the past, they finished with a losing record in each of the past two seasons, but this upcoming year offers Aggie fans hope.
After the hazing scandal during the 2022-23 season, the program was in jeopardy and new head coach Jason Hooten was tasked with rebuilding a completely new team. The Aggies were the only team in college basketball last season with an entirely new roster of both players and coaches.
Despite finishing the season 13-19 with a 7-9 conference record, they managed to compete in most games. They finished 12-3 at home and led Conference USA in fan attendance in their first year in the conference. There were good things to come out of last season—something the team hopes to build on going into the future.
The Aggies have four returners from last year’s team, which is the fewest in the conference, but they will have 11 fresh players on the roster with many of them expecting to make some noise.
One of these new players is California State University Northridge transfer Dionte Bostick, who averaged 15.4 points, four rebounds and 1.4 steals per game last season.
Peter Filipovity is another elite player Coach Hooten added to the roster. He averaged 14.4 points, 7.6 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game last season for the Maine Black Bears.
Division Two transfer Zawdie Jackson is another key player to keep an eye on this year. He was one of the best scorers in D2 basketball last season averaging 22 points, 5.5 assists and 1.5 steals per game for the West Georgia Wolves.
The Aggies improved tremendously on the defensive end, which was a point of emphasis for Coach Hooten and his coaching staff. They also wanted to bring in players who fit the team’s culture.
“We recruited for our culture,” Hooten said at the 2024 CUSA Basketball Tipoff Show. “We want guys who are tough and physical and continue to add to our culture,”
With many key transfers being added to the roster for the upcoming season, it can be hard to remember that three of the four returners were pivotal in the Aggies’ first year of the rebuild.
“Fans should be excited about all of our guys” Hooten said. “When you have returners, they understand what it takes to be successful.”
Christian Cook was recently named to the 2024-25 Preseason All-Conference Team. He was the Aggies leading scorer last season, averaging 11.3 points per game. He also shot just over 35% from three.
“I prepare myself in carrying a heavy load,” Cook said.
Jaden Harris started in 21 of 32 games for the Aggies and averaged 7.3 points per game while shooting just under 37% from three.
Robert Carpenter, who competed in just 22 games and starting in 16 of them, managed to put up averages of 9.7 points and 3.9 rebounds.
Christopher Biekeu is also returning but only played in one game last season due to an injury.
Other members of the team that may not be as well-known include the assistant coaches. Terryonte Thomas was a graduate assistant for the Aggies last season but is now a new assistant coach. He believes the Aggies will be much improved from a year ago.
“I’m really excited and so thankful for Coach Hooten and this program,” Thomas said. “We are much deeper from a depth standpoint, we have legit 13 players who can play on any given night.”
The Aggies have a tough schedule ahead of them against many challenging teams. One of these games will be played against the Dayton Flyers Wednesday, Nov. 20, at UD Arena at 5 p.m. MDT. Their next game does not get any easier as they face the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels Saturday, Nov. 23, at the world-famous Thomas and Mack Center at 5 p.m. MDT as well.
They play their rival, the University of New Mexico Lobos, just once this year at the Pit Saturday, Dec. 7 at 7 p.m. MDT. They then face the #19 Texas Longhorns the following game Thursday, Dec. 12, at Moody Center in Austin at 6 p.m. MDT. They face the Sam Houston State Bearkats in their Conference USA home opener on Thursday, Jan. 2, at 7 p.m. Sam Houston State finished first in the Conference USA standings last season.
The Aggies will be seen for the first time this season battling it out on the court Monday, Oct. 28, as they take on D2 opponent Western New Mexico at home in an exhibition matchup. Their first regular season game will also take place at home Monday, Nov. 4, as they face another D2 opponent, New Mexico Highlands University.
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