College Hoops Today

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The Breakfast Buffet: Michigan, Arkansas/LSU, Courtney Ramey

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 looks like the third best team in college basketball
Remember when it was Gonzaga, Baylor, and then everyone else? Those times have changed. Michigan’s 77-54 win over Wisconsin on Tuesday night in Ann Arbor was much more decisive than the final score indicated as the Wolverines were up by 40 points at one point in the second half. Juwan Howard’s team has now won three straight games by at least 19 points against teams who were ranked in the AP Top 25. That type of dominance hasn’t been seen yet this season by anyone other than Gonzaga and Baylor. The Wolverines (11-0) still play in the best conference in college basketball and are undoubtedly going to suffer some bumps along the way,, but right now they’re one of the top three teams in the sport. 

Arkansas-LSU should be loads of fun
Like offense? If so then you’ll love this game tonight in Baton Rouge. Both the Razorbacks and Tigers average 85 points or more and both look to attack whenever given the opportunity. This game could also feature two of the best freshmen in the country in Arkansas’ Moses Moody and LSU’s Cameron Thomas, who will be a game-time decision due to an ankle injury. The 6-4 Thomas is currently averaging 22.3 points and leads the SEC in scoring. 

Texas is at its best when Courtney Ramey is at his best
The man who made the pass to beat West Virginia on Saturday in Morgantown isn’t getting as much attention as the man who made the shot. That will eventually change. Andrew Jones’ game-winning three-pointer in Texas’ win this past weekend over West Virginia was a special moment, but it’s important to point out that he got the opportunity to have that special moment because of Ramey. Ramey’s presence of mind to not force something at the rim and pitch the ball out to Jones on the perimeter is just one of many things that he’s currently doing at a high level for the Longhorns. When he’s elite, so is Texas. In the Longhorns’ three games this season against West Virginia, Kansas, and Villanova, the 6-3 junior is averaging 18 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 3.3 assists. Ramey is also shooting 42.6 percent from three-point range. Shaka Smart’s squad goes for its seventh straight win tonight in Austin against Texas Tech.

On The Side

  • Oklahoma State’s resume is impressive. The Cowboys beat Kansas in Stillwater on Tuesday and also have road victories at Texas Tech, Wichita State, and Marquette. Mike Boynton’s squad is eligible for the postseason until the appeal for its one-year postseason ban is decided by the NCAA. 
  • Virginia Tech’s decision to hire Mike Young to replace Buzz Williams is looking like a stroke of genius. Young has taken a slew of players — Hunter Cattoor, Keve Aluma, and Justyn Mutts — who were initially recruited to play at the mid-major level and turned them into a top tier team in the ACC. The Hokies are 10-2 and own wins over both Duke and Villanova. 
  • Five of Colorado’s next seven games are in Boulder, starting with tonight’s matchup with Cal. The two road games for the Buffaloes during that span are in the Great Northwest against Washington and Washington State. Tad Boyle’s club has a tremendous opportunity during the rest of January to build on its 9-3 record. 
  • Notre Dame’s Nate Laszewski is quietly having a massive junior season. The 6-10 forward is averaging 17.2 points and 7.8 rebounds after averaging just 7.4 points and 4.6 rebounds a year ago as a sophomore. He’s also shooting an astronomical 57.5 percent from three-point range. The Irish (3-7) are in Charlottesville this afternoon to face Virginia. 
  • Northwestern needs to get Boo Buie back on track. After averaging nearly 20 points during the Wildcats’ first three Big Ten games, Buie has hit a wall. The 6-2 point guard is a combined 1-20 from the field in his last three tilts. Chris Collins’ squad will look to snap its three-game losing streak tonight at Ohio State.

Daily Specials

  • Notre Dame at Virginia
  • NC State at Florida State
  • Northwestern at Ohio State
  • Arkansas at LSU
  • Texas Tech at Texas

Leftovers: