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The Breakfast Buffet: Texas A&M can move the needle against Kentucky, LSU/Alabama, Marquette visits Villanova

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 A&M can move the needle against Kentucky
Buzz Williams has worked for nearly three years to get the Aggies’ program in position to play a game like this. After going through two rebuilding seasons to start his tenure in College Station, Williams has Texas A&M at 15-2 entering tonight’s home game against Kentucky. The Aggies haven’t truly helped or hurt themselves yet, but deserve credit for winning the games on their schedule that they’re supposed to win. This team’s only two losses to date have come against Wisconsin and TCU. The national perception surrounding Texas A&M will change it can beat an opponent of Kentucky’s caliber tonight on its home floor.

LSU/Alabama
What a difference a year makes. 12 months ago, the Tigers were an offensive juggernaut while the Crimson Tide were playing the best defense that they had ever played under Nate Oats. Now, the roles are reversed. According to KenPom, LSU is currently the top-ranked defense in college basketball while Alabama is 54th. Conversely, the Crimson Tide are ranked ninth in overall offense while the Tigers are 103rd. This is an important game for Alabama (11-6), who has dropped three straight.

Two hot teams meet in Philadelphia
Villanova has won six straight games. Marquette has won four straight games. Something’s gotta give tonight on the Main Line. The Wildcats have regained their vintage form following a brutal non-conference schedule that left a bevy of calluses. Shaka Smart’s team is on a similar trajectory. Marquette (12-6) is a team that has a first-year head coach and a new rotation as five of its top eight scorers are in their first year in the Golden Eagles’ program. They’ll all be tested tonight unlike they’ve been tested before. Villanova has won six home games this season by an average of 29.2 points. Tip off for this game is at 8 PM ET on CBS Sports Network.

On The Side

  • Gonzaga’s three primary subs — Anton Watson, Nolan Hickman, and Hunter Sallis — are averaging a combined 31.3 points in WCC play. The Bulldogs’ bench is developing. Mark Few’s squad will next host San Francisco on Thursday (11 PM ET, CBS Sports Network).
  • The sample size was small, but UCLA (11-2) saw tangible progress out of five-star freshman Peyton Watson last weekend against Oregon and Oregon State. The 6-8 forward has a chance to be an elite defender. Watson finished last week’s two-game stretch with a combined 14 points, 13 rebounds, and four blocks. This is an important piece to monitor moving forward in Westwood.
  • Rutgers (10-6) has home games remaining against Iowa (tonight), Michigan State, Ohio State, Illinois, and Wisconsin. The Scarlet Knights can play their way back into the bubble conversation if they own the RAC. It starts tonight against the Hawkeyes in Piscataway.
  • The best coaching job in America that nobody’s talking about is being done by Wyoming’s Jeff Linder. The Cowboys are 13-2 entering tonight’s game in Laramie against San Jose State after losing their best player from last season — Marcus Williams — to Texas A&M as a transfer. Williams is currently starting for the Aggies at point guard.
  • Liberty’s Darius McGhee has the makings of being a mid-major star during the NCAA Tournament. McGhee scored 40 or more points in a game for the second time this season when he tallied 48 against Florida Gulf Coast last weekend. He was currently fourth nationally in scoring (22.8) entering Tuesday night’s game against Jacksonville.

Daily Specials

  • LSU at Alabama
  • Marquette at Villanova
  • Kentucky at Texas A&M
  • Iowa at Rutgers
  • Xavier at DePaul

Leftovers