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The Breakfast Buffet: Illinois’ time is now, Big Ten depth, UCLA/USC

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

Illinois’ time is right now
It’s been 16 years since this program played in a Final Four and the next two months represent its best chance to get back since. Illinois enters today’s game against Wisconsin in sole possession of second place in the Big Ten standings and a push for a conference regular season title would put the Illini in position to be a one or two seed in the NCAA Tournament. Remember: This is not a blue blood program that regularly churns out 30-win seasons and has deep runs in the NCAA Tournament. When will Illinois again have a guard the caliber of Ayo Dosunmu in his junior season? When will it again have a big man as physically imposing as Kofi Cockburn to anchor the paint on both sides of the floor? Nobody knows the answers to those two questions, but everyone knows that this sentiment can’t be debated: Illinois’ time is right now. 

12 Big Ten teams are still in contention for the NCAA Tournament
How many will hear their name called on Selection Sunday? That’s to be determined, but as of today every Big Ten team aside from Nebraska and Northwestern has at least a puncher’s chance to hear its name called on March 14th. One big thing to keep in mind? With many leagues in college basketball not trending to have their normal volume of representation in the NCAA Tournament, the door is open for the Big Ten to clean up. 10 or more teams in the NCAA Tournament from this conference is still a very legitimate possibility.

UCLA has to “go over the top” of USC
Interior scoring is not going to be an easy thing for the Bruins tonight at the Galen Center. USC averages 5.7 blocks each time it takes the floor and 7-foot freshman Evan Mobley — the potential number one pick in the 2021 NBA Draft — averages 2.9 of those. With post up opportunities not likely to come at a premium, UCLA is going to have to extend the defense and hope that its deep plethora of wings — Jaime Jaquez, Johnny Juzang, Jake Kyman, and David Singleton — can make shots from distance. The winner of this game will be in sole possession of first place in the Pac-12 standings. Mick Cronin’s squad is 8-1 since losing Chris Smith to a season-ending ACL tear.

On The Side

  • Alabama’s Jordan Bruner (knee) remains a few weeks away from returning to action, according to Nate Oats. The 6-10 big man was averaging 7.8 points and 5.3 rebounds prior to injury. The Crimson Tide will travel to Missouri today in a battle of the top two teams in the SEC.
  • West Virginia’s staff privately feels that the Mountaineers are not where they need to be defensively. Bob Huggins’ team is surrendering an average of 81.3 points over its last three games. West Virginia hosts Kansas today in Morgantown. Tip off is at 2 PM ET on CBS.
  • Ohio State’s Justin Ahrens has attempted 88 shots this season — 86 have been from three-point range. The 6-6 junior is good at what he knows and knows what he’s good at. Ahrens is currently averaging seven points and shooting 48.8 percent from long distance.
  • How is Duke going to hold its own today on the boards against North Carolina’s front court troika of Armando Bacot, Garrison Brooks, and Day’Ron Sharpe? The Tar Heels are currently second nationally in overall rebounding behind Wright State.
  • St. Bonaventure puts its seven-game winning streak on the line today against Saint Louis, who has lost two straight since returning from a lengthy COVID-19 pause. These are the two teams in the Atlantic 10 — as of now — that have the best chance of reaching the NCAA Tournament in 36 days. 

Daily Specials

  • Alabama at Missouri
  • Kansas at West Virginia
  • Wisconsin at Illinois
  • North Carolina at Duke
  • UCLA at USC

Leftovers: