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The Breakfast Buffet: Rutgers again has life, Seton Hall’s resume, Javon Freeman-Liberty

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

Rutgers again has life
It hasn’t been an easy start to the season for the Scarlet Knights. They lost a buy game a few weeks ago to Lafayette and their most experienced guard — Geo Baker — has been out of the lineup for multiple reasons during the last few games. None of it mattered on Thursday night in Piscataway against top-ranked Purdue. Ron Harper Jr.’s buzzer beater from half court gave Rutgers its first ever win over a team that was ranked number one in the AP poll. It also brought a jolt back to this team’s season. The Scarlet Knights may be just 5-4, but this is an experienced unit that has several pieces back from last year’s team that nearly reached the Sweet 16. Harper finished with 30 points and 10 rebounds in the win. Rutgers will next face in-state rival Seton Hall on Sunday in Newark.

Seton Hall again has an impressive early resume
The Pirates have built up an exceptional amount of equity for the second week of December. In addition to a road win at Michigan, Seton Hall now also owns a victory over Texas on its resume following Thursday night’s 64-60 triumph at the Prudential Center in Newark. Those are two wins that will travel all the way to Selection Sunday much like Seton Hall’s two early wins over Maryland and Kentucky did during the 18-19 season. Kevin Willard has always been as aggressive as any coach in the Big East in terms of the way that he’s put together his non-conference schedule. He’s again reaping the benefits. The Pirates are 8-1 and will play Rutgers on Sunday and Iona on Dec. 18th at Madison Square Garden prior to opening Big East play on Dec. 20th against St. John’s.

Javon Freeman-Liberty and DePaul visit Louisville
Never heard of Freeman-Liberty? Make it a priority then to watch DePaul’s burgeoning star tonight on the road against Louisville (6-2) at the KFC Yum Center. The Big East has had an incredible start to the season, but one thing that’s not getting enough attention is the quality job that first-year head coach Tony Stubblefield is doing at DePaul (7-1). A big reason for that is Freeman-Liberty. The 6-4 guard isn’t just playing like one of the best perimeter players in the Big East — he’s playing like one of the best perimeter players in the country. Freeman-Liberty is averaging 21.8 points, 8.8 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 1.9 steals while shooting 49.6 percent from the field and 42.5 percent from three-point range. He’ll be the focal point tonight of a Louisville defense that’s held six of its last seven opponents under 70.

On The Side

  • Ochai Agbaji’s offensive numbers are ridiculous. In addition to averaging 22.6 points, Kansas’ star wing is shooting 57.4 percent from the field and 45.8 percent from three-point range; Agbaji shot just 42 percent from the field and 37.7 percent from long distance last season. “I think he’s an NBA two-guard,” Kansas coach Bill Self said of Agbaji. “He’s improved so much from last season.” The Jayhawks are 7-1 and will next host Missouri on Saturday at Phog Allen Fieldhouse.
  • Wisconsin (8-1) still hasn’t lost a game this season with Johnny Davis (20.5 points, six rebounds) in the lineup. The Badgers will put their six-game winning streak on the line on Saturday against Ohio State in Columbus.
  • Providence (9-1) will not play a game outside of New England until it visits DePaul on Jan. 1st. The Friars’ lone game away from the Dunkin Donuts Center during that stretch is on Dec. 18th at UConn.
  • The Atlantic 10 has a combined record of just 76-57 as a conference. It’s hard to see any team from this league other than St. Bonaventure earning an at-large bid to the 2022 NCAA Tournament.
  • Colorado has a dangerous buy game tonight against Milwaukee and five-star freshman Patrick Baldwin Jr. The 6-9 forward missed a few weeks due to injury, but returned to the lineup last Saturday against Robert Morris and tallied 26 points and seven rebounds. A potential lottery pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, Baldwin (17.4 points, eight rebounds) is the son of Milwaukee head coach Pat Baldwin.

Daily Specials

  • Appalachian State at Furman
  • Murray State at Memphis
  • Loyola Chicago at Vanderbilt
  • DePaul at Louisville
  • Milwaukee at Colorado

Leftovers