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The Breakfast Buffet: Paolo Banchero, Coach K’s final game at MSG, Kansas/Michigan State

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

Paolo Banchero’s college debut
Expect this kid to become a household name to all sports fans within the next 24 hours. The 6-10, 250 pound Banchero is a five-star prospect who’s already firmly in the discussion to be the top overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. He’s also Duke’s best prospect since Zion Williamson. Capable of terrorizing an opponent either inside or out, Banchero will likely regularly initiate offense this season for the Blue Devils, starting with tonight against Kentucky in the Champions Classic. His college debut will represent the first major platform for someone who is destined to be a marquee name in the sport from now until deep into the 2022 NCAA Tournament.

Coach K’s final game at Madison Square Garden
Mike Krzyzewski’s final season as Duke’s head coach kicks off tonight in a major way as the Blue Devils face Kentucky in the Champions Classic. This is not just another game on Krzyzewski’s farewell tour. In addition to facing another blue blood program — who has its own Hall-of-Fame head coach in John Calipari —tonight’s game is most significant because it’s the last time that Krzyzewski will coach at the World’s Most Famous Arena. Madison Square Garden has always served as a second home to Duke, as evidenced by the Blue Devils’ routine of playing at least one non-conference game a year in New York during Krzyzewski’s tenure in Durham. There’s been plenty of memories. Krzyzewski’s broke his mentor Bob Knight’s record at Madison Square Garden against Michigan State in 2011 to move into first place for all-time wins as a college basketball coach. He then earned his 1,000th career triumph at the World’s Most Famous Arena a few years later against St. John’s in 2015. That’s a lot of history in one place. More will be made tonight against Kentucky.

Kansas/Michigan State
The Spartans are the only team in tonight’s Champions Classic that’s not currently ranked in the AP Poll. That’s just fine with Tom Izzo. “I like my team — I don’t know if we’re ready for this type of challenge yet,” Izzo said Monday on the College Hoops Today Podcast. “But I like the challenge because you know — you’re either ready or you’re not ready.” The Jayhawks return four of their top five scorers — Ochai Agbaji, David McCormack, Jalen Wilson, and Christian Braun — from last season and also add the Big 12 Preseason Player of the Year in Arizona State transfer Remy Martin. Martin averaged 19.1 points in each of the past two seasons with the Sun Devils. Wilson will not play tonight as he begins a three-game suspension for a recent DUI. Michigan State freshman Max Christie —- who Izzo called “a potential star in the making” on Monday — will make his debut for the Spartans. The 6-6 Christie was a five-star prospect in high school.

On The Side

  • What can people expect from Kentucky tonight against Duke? Hopefully, significantly better ball security and three-point shooting than last season. The Wildcats had 313 assists to 349 turnovers as a team a year ago and shot just 33.6 percent from three-point range en route to a 9-16 finish.
  • Michigan State was 7-2 in games last season where Gabe Brown scored in double figures. The 6-8 wing averaged 7.2 points a year ago and led the Spartans in three-point field goal percentage at 42 percent. This is a critical piece to monitor in East Lansing.
  • Whoever does scheduling for Alabama is NUTS! The Crimson Tide open the 21-22 season tonight against Kenneth Lofton Jr. and Louisiana Tech in Tuscaloosa and will then host South Dakota State on Friday. The Jackrabbits won the Summit League regular season title last year and return nine players who averaged 10 minutes or more.
  • The sleeper game of the night in college basketball is in Fort Collins as Colorado State hosts Oral Roberts. The Rams return five starters from last season’s team that won 20 games and reached the Postseason NIT while the Golden Eagles return the nation’s top scorer in Max Abmas. The 6-foot Abmas averaged 24.5 points last season and 26.7 points in three NCAA Tournament games last spring as Oral Roberts advanced to the Sweet 16.
  • Two of college basketball’s coaches on the rise — Cleveland State’s Dennis Gates and BYU’s Mark Pope — will square off tonight when their respective teams meet in Provo. Both programs reached the NCAA Tournament last season.

Daily Specials

  • Kansas/Michigan State (Champions Classic)
  • Duke/Kentucky (Champions Classic)
  • Louisiana Tech at Alabama
  • Oral Roberts at Colorado State
  • Cleveland State at BYU

Leftovers