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The Breakfast Buffet: Jahmai Mashack, Tarris Reed’s emergence, Dayton

Who’s hungry for college basketball?

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

Jahmai Mashack is Tennessee’s Most Valuable Player
The Vols may very well have two All-Americans on their roster in Zakai Zeigler (11.5 points, 7.4 assists, 3.1 rebounds) and Chaz Lanier (18.9 points), but neither player is quite as indispensable as the 6-4 Mashack. Capable of guarding all five positions on the floor, Mashack is separating himself as college basketball’s best overall defender. You can’t measure what this guy does in a box score. The Vols improved to 10-0 for the first time since the late 1990s after Saturday’s 66-64 win at Illinois. Mashack’s intangibles — which has led to him tally seven steals in his last two games — are a major reason for this team’s perfect start.

Tarris Reed has emerged as UConn’s best interior threat
Liam McNeeley’s 26-point, eight-rebound performance was the headline of Saturday night’s 77-71 win over Gonzaga at MSG, but Reed’s ascension has been a consistent theme for the Huskies for a while now. A transfer from Michigan, the 6-10 big man has embraced Dan Hurley’s coaching style and is walking with the power of belief. Reed had 12 points, six rebounds, and impressive three blocked shots against Gonzaga and during UConn’s current four-game winning streak, he’s averaging 10.8 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks. Reed is not Donovan Clingan or Adama Sanogo, but he’s become a considerably more confident and consistent player since he began playing for Hurley in Storrs.

Dayton is in a very strong position
The team in the Atlantic 10 with the most non-conference opportunities is making the most of them. The Flyers have now beaten Marquette, UConn, and Northwestern after Saturday night’s comeback victory over the Golden Eagles at UD Arena. Their only losses were against Iowa State and North Carolina in the Maui Invitational. Anthony Grant’s team is now 9-2 with a game looming on Friday against Cincinnati in Downtown Cincinnati. Dayton is in prime position to not just advance to the 2025 NCAA Tournament, but earn a quality seed once it gets there.

On The Side

  • Nate Bittle is currently leading Oregon in scoring (14.4), rebounding (9.1), and blocks (2.0) entering today’s game in Eugene against Stephen F. Austin. Now finally healthy after a bevy of injuries throughout his career, the 7-foot Bittle is unequivocally one of this season’s most improved players.
  • Northwestern’s troika of Brooks Barnhizer, Nick Martinelli, and Jalen Leach is combining to score 64.2 percent of the Wildcats’ points this season entering today’s game in Milwaukee against Georgia Tech at Fiserv Forum. Chris Collins squad is currently 7-3, with all three losses coming by five points or fewer.
  • I know that the sports media business is changing and streaming is becoming more prevalent, but it’s absolutely ridiculous that Saturday’s Crosstown Shootout between Cincinnati and Xavier was not on linear television. A miscarriage of justice! And a disservice to college basketball!
  • How good was UCLA’s defense against Arizona on Saturday? The Bruins shot 4-21 from three-point range and 7-16 from the foul line and still beat the Wildcats in Phoenix. 
  • Utah State’s 10-0 start under Jerrod Calhoun is its best in program history. An under-the-radar game to circle before the holidays? The Aggies will visit Saint Mary’s in Moraga on Dec. 22nd.

Daily Specials

  • Omaha at Iowa State
  • Central Connecticut at Rhode Island
  • Georgia Tech/Northwestern (Milwaukee)
  • Loyola Chicago/San Francisco (Milwaukee)
  • Stephen F. Austin at Oregon

Leftovers