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The Breakfast Buffet: March Madness Edition

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

KJ Simpson could take over Dayton
This guy had an All-American caliber season for Colorado, but probably didn’t warrant All-American consideration because the Buffs were on the bubble. Don’t be shocked if he quickly becomes a major name in the NCAA Tournament if Tad Boyle’s team can win a few games. Simpson has performed like one of the sport’s best all-around guards throughout this season and is averaging a whopping 19.6 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 4.9 assists entering tonight’s First Four matchup with Boise State. Those are video-game like numbers. Keep an eye on this 6-2 junior closely tonight in Dayton. Tip off is at 9:10 PM ET on TruTV.

The Mountain West draws first blood
Colorado State’s 25-point win over Virginia on Tuesday in the First Four sent an immediate message that this conference is better than it was seeded on Selection Sunday. The Rams are one of four double digit seeds from the Mountain West in the NCAA Tournament along with Nevada, New Mexico, and Boise State, who plays Colorado tonight in Dayton. For much of the season, having six teams in March Madness was viewed as a tremendous accomplishment for the Mountain West. That changed after Selection Sunday. This league has something to prove. It made an immediate statement on the first day of the NCAA Tournament thanks to Colorado State.

Kansas is in big trouble
Bill Self announced on Tuesday night that Kevin McCullar (18.3 points, six rebounds, 4.1 assists) will miss the NCAA Tournament due to a lingering knee injury and that’s bad, bad news for the Jayhawks. Kansas had major flaws with McCullar in the lineup. Without him? They’re vulnerable to any opponent, including Samford in the Round of 64 on Thursday in Salt Lake City. This is the first year that the Jayhawks have entered the NCAA Tournament with 10 losses since Self was hired in 2003.

On The Side

  • The Big Ten is a combined 23-24 in the last three NCAA Tournaments.
  • Boise State is 17-5 this season when O’Mar Stanley scores in double figures. This is the X-Factor to watch tonight when the Broncos face Colorado in the First Four.
  • Virginia is 0-3 in the NCAA Tournament since winning a national title in 2019.
  • Mississippi State freshman Josh Hubbard is a name to watch entering the Round of 64. An electric scorer, the 5-10 guard is averaging 25.4 points in his last eight games. The Bulldogs will face Michigan State in the Round of 64 on Thursday in Charlotte.
  • Baylor’s Langston Love (ankle) will be evaluated following practices this week before his status is determined for Friday’s NCAA Tournament game against Colgate, Scott Drew told College Hoops Today on Tuesday. The 6-5 Love averages 11 points and is a key reserve for the Bears, but has been in and out of the lineup during the past month due to injuries.

Leftovers