After former A&M coach Jim Schlossnagle departed for the Texas Longhorns’ head job, LaViolette was one of the biggest advocates for Earley to be the Fightin’ Farmers’ new skipper. After the Aggies’ disappointing season, LaViolette had a message for any players considering A&M.

The 14th-seeded Aggies (28-25, 11-19) came into the week knowing a conference title was the only way to ensure a spot in the NCAA Tournament. However, on Friday, A&M lost to the three-seeded LSU Tigers 4-3 in the quarterfinal round of the SEC Tournament at the Hoover Met.