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.
Things To Sample
North Carolina can silence its critics by how it plays during the NCAA Tournament
The Tar Heels may not have belonged in the NCAA Tournament based on their resume, but that has absolutely no bearing on how they will perform once the actual games start. In 2011, many people were critical when VCU received an at-large bid on Selection Sunday and the Rams wound up advancing all the way from the First Four to the Final Four. North Carolina’s quest to replicate a similar type of run begins tonight in Dayton against San Diego State. Tip off is at 9:10 PM ET on truTV.
Magoon Gwath’s potential is a major boost to San Diego State
Brian Dutcher told College Hoops Today on Sunday morning that the 7-foot Gwath — who was both the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year — will be available for the NCAA Tournament. He hasn’t appeared in a game since Feb. 22nd due to a knee injury, but did go through a full practice on Sunday, according to Dutcher. The Aztecs are just 3-3 since Gwath left the lineup. Prior to his health setback, San Diego State had won seven of eight, with its only loss coming by five points at Colorado State. This is a major storyline to watch tonight in the Aztecs’ showdown with North Carolina.
The brands in this year’s First Four are better than they’ve ever been
I’m not just saying that because I’m fortunate enough to be on the call for these games over the next two days in Dayton along with Spero Dedes and Jim Spanarkel on truTV. The last four at-large teams in this year’s NCAA Tournament — North Carolina, San Diego State, Xavier, and Texas — have more cachet that any group of four since this portion of March Madness began in 2011. The Tar Heels and Aztecs have appeared in two of the last three national titles while the Musketeers and Longhorns met two years ago in the Sweet 16. In a different year, these four programs could be part of a regional site during the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament — that’s how good these matchups are.
On The Side
- Bill Self and John Calipari have coached against each other twice — 2008 and 2012 — in the national title game. The two Hall-of-Famers will go head-to-head on Thursday night in Providence as Kansas meets Arkansas in the Round of 64.
- Gonzaga’s seed in the 2025 NCAA Tournament — eight — is its lowest since it was an 11 in 2016. The Bulldogs made the Sweet 16 that season and lost to Syracuse. Mark Few’s squad will face Georgia in the Round of 64.
- Louisville’s Round of 64 matchup on Thursday against Creighton is its first NCAA Tournament game since March 21, 2019. That’s 2,189 days ago.
- VCU has not won an NCAA Tournament game since 2016, when Will Wade led the Rams to a victory over Oregon State in the Round of 64. Ryan Odom’s squad will meet BYU on Thursday in Denver.
- This week’s BRACKET BREAKDOWN edition of the College Hoops Today Podcast features an in-depth breakdown of the 2025 NCAA Tournament.
