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The Breakfast Buffet: Bryce Hopkins, Jimmy V Classic, “Hell Week” continues for Wisconsin

Here’s today’s installment of “The Breakfast Buffet”, a daily column that can be found here every single morning getting you caught up to date on everything that’s happened from the day/night before and everything that’s going to happen in the next 24 hours.

Mangia!

Things To Sample

Bryce Hopkins is on a tear for Providence
That’s bad news for the rest of the Friars’ opponents, starting with Oklahoma tonight in Norman. The 6-7 Hopkins is in the midst of his best three-game stretch of the season. During his last three outings, Hopkins is averaging 23 points and nine rebounds while shooting 58.7 percent from the field and 44.4 percent from three-point range. It’s the highest percentages that he’s shot from the field in 2023-24. The Friars — who are 7-1 under first-year head coach Kim English — will need Hopkins to be at his best tonight on the road against undefeated Oklahoma.

The Jimmy V Classic
This feels like a dream doubleheader at the World’s Most Famous Arena. Illinois — led by All-American wing Terrence Shannon Jr. (20 points, 4.4 rebounds) — does battle with Florida Atlantic in the opening game while the nightcap features a battle of blue bloods as North Carolina faces UConn. The matchup between the Tar Heels and Huskies features two of the elite big men in the sport as North Carolina’s Armando Bacot (16.3 points, 11.8 rebounds) squares off with UConn’s Donovan Clingan (14.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, two blocks). All four of the teams participating in tonight’s Jimmy V Classic are ranked in the Top 20 of this week’s ROTHSTEIN 45 while UConn, North Carolina, and Florida Atlantic are ranked in the Top 11.

“Hell Week” continues for Wisconsin
The Badgers don’t have any time to exhale after Saturday’s massive win over Marquette at the Kohl Center. That’s because “Hell Week” continues tonight in East Lansing against a Michigan State team that’s desperate for a signature win. After tonight’s tussle with the Spartans, Wisconsin will head to Tucson to play Arizona on Saturday. There may not be a team in college basketball that will endure a more difficult seven-day stretch this season than what the Badgers are currently experiencing.

On The Side

  • Tennessee’s Dalton Knecht (ankle) is a game-time decision for tonight’s game against George Mason, Rick Barnes said Monday on the College Hoops Today Podcast. A transfer from Colorado, the 6-6 Knecht is averaging 20.3 points and 4.9 rebounds while shooting 50.5 percent from the field and 40.5 percent from three-point range.
  • Eight teams from the Big 12 — Houston, BYU, Baylor, Iowa State, Cincinnati, Kansas, Oklahoma, and TCU — were ranked in the Top 50 of this season’s first NET rankings, which were released on Monday by the NCAA. The SEC had seven teams in the Top 50 of the NET while the Big Ten had six.
  • Syracuse transfer Joe Girard looks like the missing piece for Clemson. The veteran guard is averaging 18.8 points in his last five games while shooting an impressive 48.8 percent from three-point range during that span. The Tigers will take a perfect 7-0 record into Wednesday’s matchup with in-state rival South Carolina, who is also 7-0.
  • UCLA’s Will McClendon has already made eight three-point shots this season — he made two during all of last year.
  • The best game in the Northeast this week that nobody’s talking about? Sunday’s matchup in Philadelphia between undefeated Princeton and Big 5 champion St. Joe’s.

Daily Specials

  • Florida Atlantic/Illinois (MSG)
  • North Carolina/UConn (MSG)
  • Villanova at Kansas State (Big East-Big 12 Battle)
  • Providence at Oklahoma (Big East-Big 12 Battle)
  • Wisconsin at Michigan State

Leftovers