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The Rothstein Files: Michigan State, Memphis, Jordan Bohannon

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

Michigan State has no compass
The Spartans can’t initiate offense. They can’t defend the point of attack. They’re also 0-3 in Big Ten play for the first time since the 01-02 season after Monday night’s 25-point loss at Minnesota. The experiment with Rocket Watts as this team’s primary point guard appears to be over as he’s clearly more comfortable off the ball in an attacking role. Who steps in now as the Spartans’ floor general? That’s the million dollar question in East Lansing. After four years of Cassius Winston, Michigan State is simply lost on both ends of the floor at the most important position in basketball. The last three floor generals that have faced the Spartans — Marcus Carr (Minnesota), D’Mitrik Trice (Wisconsin), and Boo Buie (Northwestern) — are averaging 26 points against Tom Izzo’s squad. Don’t discount freshman A.J. Hoggard from getting a long look at point guard moving forward.

It’s time for Memphis to answer the bell
It’s time for the Tigers to play like the top challenger to Houston in the American Athletic Conference. It’s time for Penny Hardaway to get his alma mater back to being nationally relevant. Memphis enters tonight’s tilt with South Florida at FedEx Forum at just 5-4 following last week’s home loss to Tulsa where it scored just 49 points. I fully understand why the Tigers’ administration felt that it had to move on from Tubby Smith a few years ago and hire Hardaway to re-energize its fan base.  At some point though, you have to win. Hardaway is a combined 48-28 in two plus years as Memphis’ head coach while Smith was 40-26 in two seasons with the Tigers. Neither coach made the NCAA Tournament or finished higher than fifth in the American Athletic Conference.

Iowa needs Jordan Bohannon to get going offensively
Part of the reason why people were so bullish on the Hawkeyes entering this season was because Bohannon and his shot making ability were returning from a hip injury. The 6-1 guard made as many big shots as anybody in the Big Ten two seasons ago, but has struggled to regain his vintage form. Through nine games this season, Bohannon is averaging just 6.9 points while shooting 30.6 percent from the field and 27.9 percent from three-point range. He’s a much better player than he’s playing. Prior to suffering an injury last season, Bohannon had a career average of 41 percent from long distance. If he regains his vintage form, Iowa’s offense — which already is averaging 95.1 points — will reach an entirely different level. 

On The Side

  • Maryland is now 25-10 over the past three years in games where Aaron Wiggins scores in double-figures. The 6-6 wing had 15 points in the Terps’ win at Wisconsin on Monday and continues to establish himself as this team’s X-Factor. If Wiggins can become an all-conference caliber player, Maryland can make the NCAA Tournament.
  • Through five games, Duke sophomore forward Matthew Hurt has essentially doubled his averages in points (18.8) and rebounds (7.6) compared to last season as a freshman (9.7 points, 3.8 rebounds). The 6-9 Hurt has been a consistent presence in what has been an inconsistent start for the Blue Devils due to a combination of injuries and other factors related to COVID-19. 
  • Need another reason to believe in Creighton? The Bluejays are winning close games against good teams without getting elite production from their best player. In two wins last week against UConn and Xavier, Marcus Zegarowski was only a combined 6-25 from the field and 2-13 from three-point range. 
  • Alabama’s SEC opener tonight against Ole Miss in Tuscaloosa isn’t a must win, but it’s a very important game for the Crimson Tide. Nate Oats’ squad had high aspirations entering the season and is just 5-3 entering conference play. After tonight’s tilt with the Rebels, Alabama will head to Knoxville on Saturday to face Tennessee. 
  • There will be teams from the Big Ten in the 2021 NCAA Tournament that are below .500 in conference play. Embrace it now — the league is too good!

Daily Specials

  • Miami at Virginia Tech
  • Purdue at Rutgers
  • Florida State at Clemson
  • Northwestern at Iowa
  • Houston at Tulsa

Leftovers: