Buzz Williams shares a wet basketball floor 'gives me hives'

Texas A&M head coach Buzz Williams doesn’t take wet floors lightly. During the Aggies’ 89-64 win over DePaul on Wednesday, Williams repeatedly swapped his clipboard for a mop during timeouts. After the game, Williams addressed his unusual janitorial duties.

“I’m the best floor sweeper you’ve ever known because that’s how I grew up,” Williams said. “I do not like fouling a three point shooter. I do not like missing free throw block outs. And when there’s water on the floor, it gives me hives, because that’s how guys tear their ACL. Not being funny, I don’t take that lightly. It was like ice.”

The slick floor didn’t seem to affect the Aggies’ efficiency. The team shot 53% from the field and 45.2% from beyond the arc. Texas A&M’s offense was especially potent in the first half, when they outscored the Blue Demons by 32 points.

Texas A&M wasn’t afraid to share the wealth. Six Aggies scored double figures, highlighted by Jace Carter’s team-high 14-point performance. The win was a much-needed bounce back for Texas A&M after falling to Virginia 59-47 in the previous game.

While Williams was happy to see his team rediscover its footing, he couldn’t help but worry about the wet floor. After all, it’s where he got his start. The 51-year-old head coach received the nickname “Buzz” while working as an energetic student assistant for longtime Navarro College coach and mentor Lewis Orr.

Williams was inducted into the Navarro College Bulldog Hall of Fame in 2021 as the school honored Williams’ climb from “floor maintenance manager” to head coach. Evidently, you can take the mop away from the coach, but you can’t take the coach away from the mop.

Buzz Williams happy to be back home

Williams wasn’t a fan of the Aggies’ home court’s wet floor, but he certainly was happy to be back in College Station. Texas A&M played three road games in November, traveling all across the country.

“I think we were gone 11 days in the month total. We were almost gone as much as we were at home. Our guys were never in a groove here in our gym,” Williams said. “Guys are spent physically, mentally, and emotionally. Our staff has been good and a credit to the strength of our players. I’m encouraged by what’s transpired since we got back from Virginia.”

Texas A&M won’t have another road game until Jan. 9. On Sunday, the Aggies will face off against the Memphis Tigers at 4 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast on ESPN2.