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The Breakfast Buffet: Texas’ opportunity, Iowa/Rutgers, Tennessee’s defense

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

Texas can make a statement at Kansas
Shaka Smart is 1-10 against the Jayhawks since he took over in Austin in 2015 and has never beaten Kansas at Phog Allen Fieldhouse. That has a chance to change today. Texas has the better roster in today’s matchup in Lawrence, but will that translate to a win? If it does, it will only continue to reiterate the notion that the Longhorns are set to be a major player at the top of the Big 12. Kansas has gotten off to a terrific start with its only loss coming against Gonzaga, but even Bill Self would tell you that this group of Jayhawks doesn’t have the type of talent that’s been normally associated with this program. This is a golden opportunity for both Smart and Texas to send a message.

Iowa’s trip to the RAC
Just another day in the Big Ten, right? Rutgers has proven that a lack of fans in the stands won’t inhibit its ability to protect its home court as the Scarlet Knights have already beaten Syracuse, Illinois, and Purdue this season in Piscataway. Can Steve Pikiell’s team do the same today against Luka Garza and Iowa? Without question. Rutgers isn’t just one of the best teams in the Big Ten; it’s one of the best teams in the country. 

Tennessee’s defense is becoming appointment television
The 2000 Baltimore Ravens have nothing on these Vols. Tennessee isn’t just elite defensively; it’s violent defensively. This team doesn’t just try to deny the opponent from the right to score, it hunts the opponent for 94-feet like a flock of seagulls going after a ham sandwich. Rick Barnes’ team enters today’s game against Alabama at 7-0. The Crimson Tide have the potential to be one of the elite offensive teams in the sport and are averaging 77.3 points each time they take the floor.

On The Side

  • Scottie Barnes’ transition from power forward in high school to point guard in college is something to always take into consideration when you’re evaluating Florida State. “There’s a learning curve involved,” Florida State coach Leonard Hamilton said on Friday. “I’m amazed that Scottie is doing as well as he is at the position right now considering he’s never played it before.” The 6-9 Barnes is averaging 11.1 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 4.3 assists. The Seminoles’ game against Duke tonight in Tallahassee has been postponed due to issues related to COVID-19.
  • Oklahoma State needs to get a split in its next two games. The Cowboys are currently 0-2 in Big 12 play and can’t dig too big of a hole. The only problem? Oklahoma State plays at Texas Tech today and then returns home to Stillwater to host West Virginia on Monday. That’s a brutal 48-hour stretch, even if the Mountaineers are without Oscar Tshiebwe, who stepped away from West Virginia’s program earlier this week due to personal reasons.
  • John Calipari is 14-0 against Mississippi State since becoming Kentucky’s head coach in 2009. Will the Bulldogs’ bad luck against the Wildcats end today in Starkville? Mississippi State is 5-1 this season with sophomore guard Iverson Molinar in the lineup. The 6-3 Molinar is averaging 18.7 points, four rebounds, and 3.7 assists. 
  • Wichita State interim head coach Isaac Brown is going for his fifth straight win today at Ole Miss. Brown — who was a long-time assistant to Gregg Marshall — has won his last two road games at Tulsa and South Florida. Wichita State is 5-2 overall. 
  • One Pac-12 storyline to keep an eye on? Arizona’s ability to compete for a place at the top of the league standings despite the fact that it won’t be eligible for the postseason. The Wildcats will visit undefeated Washington State tonight in Pullman. 

Daily Specials

  • Texas at Kansas
  • Iowa at Rutgers
  • West Virginia at Oklahoma
  • Alabama at Tennessee
  • Colorado at UCLA

Leftovers: