But three straight losses sent the Aggies tumbling downward, fighting bouts of inconsistency and fielding questions about their ability to contend.

What happened?

The Big 12 Conference happened, if you ask the conference coaches. The Big 12 is sending six teams to the NCAA tournament, and Kansas State coach Frank Martin found the talk of A&M's demise "comical" and "pretty funny."

"Everybody says they are a top 10 team in the country, they get into Big 12 play, then all of a sudden they are not any good anymore" he said. "They are good, they are big, they are physical."

Brigham Young will find out just how much of the Big 12 factor was at play when the eighth-seeded Cougars (27-7) face No. 9 Texas A&M (24-10) in the first round of the NCAA tournament on Thursday at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.

Texas A&M appeared to be making a seamless transition under first-year coach Mark Turgeon during nonconference play.

Turgeon replaced Billy Gillispie, who left for Kentucky after leading the the Aggies to the Sweet 16 last season.

But Texas A&M got off to a 1-3 start in the Big 12 and endured an up-and-down ride to an 8-8 regular-season finish.

After one losing stretch, Turgeon vented his frustration in saying, "I know no matter what I do, if I win, Gillispie is getting the credit. And if we lose, it's my fault. I'm in a no-flippin'-win situation this year, and that puts me in a bad mood."

Turgeon was in better spirits Monday with his A&M team showing signs of putting the pieces together again just in time for the postseason.

The Aggies won two rounds in the Big 12 tournament last week before falling 77-71 in the semifinals to Kansas - the top seed in the Midwest Region.

Oklahoma head coach Jeff Capel said for a No. 8 seed A&M is a "very dangerous team."

"They have been a little inconsistent at times, but when they are good, which they were in the two conference tournament games, they are tough to deal with," Capel said. "They are another team that is very resilient, that is just tough. They have a mentality of just toughness."

The Aggies have talent up and down their roster with a backcourt rotation of Josh Carter, Dominique Kirk and Donald Sloan and frontline in Joseph Jones, DeAndre Jordan and Bryan Davis that Baylor coach Scott Drew called, "as good as anybody's in the country."

Turgeon cited contributions from Chinemelu Elonu and Beau Muhlbach for A&M's improved play, and said senior urgency from Jones and Muhlbach has provided added motivation.

Muhlbach, an Arizona transfer, had played a total of six minutes in Big 12 action prior to closing with an average of 15.7 over the last seven games.

"He is never going to forget what he has done down the stretch here," Turgeon sad. "And those are the games he is going to remember and be the most proud of."

Drew wouldn't be surprised if Muhlbach has a few more chances to make some more memories.

"I don't think people realize how good A&M was during the Big 12 season because they thought they were starting to lose things again," he said. "I think it was just a matter or our league is that good, and at the end of the year, they started to get back on roll again in the conference tournament. I think they are going to be a tough out for anybody they play."

rpotkey@sltrib.com

BYU vs. Texas A&M

West Regional first round at Anaheim, Calif.

Thursday, 5:25 p.m., Ch. 2

Texas A&M

Nonconference: 16-2

Big 12 Conference: 8-8

Up-and-down season: The Aggies won their first seven games and went 15-1 over their first 16. After that period, they lost three straight, won five straight, lost three more and closed with a 4-3 record.

Low point: Texas A&M coach Mark Turgeon said his team "hit rock bottom" after a 65-59 home loss to Nebraska on Feb. 23. Turgeon said he opened positions to find guys who could defend, and senior Beau Muhlbach stepped forward and became a contributor. He is averaging 15.7 minutes over the last seven games.