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The Breakfast Buffet — March Madness Edition

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

Thursday’s win over Arizona was Kelvin Sampson’s finest hour
The fact that the Cougars won this game was not a surprise — it was how they won. Houston never trailed in Thursday night’s 72-60 win over Arizona — the top seeded team in the South Region — and continued to look like a team that was peaking at the right time. The Wildcats entered this matchup averaging 84.6 points and were held almost 25 below their average. Remember: Houston lost two perimeter starters — Marcus Sasser (17.7 points) and Tramon Mark (10.1 points) — early in the season and its product has not been diminished. The Cougars will take a 32-5 record into Saturday’s Elite Eight matchup with Villanova. Is there a better coach in the sport than Sampson? It doesn’t seem like it.

Jeremy Roach emerged for Duke
Roach had been playing very good basketball in the NCAA Tournament, but his level of play reached another dimension on Thursday night against Texas Tech. The sophomore point guard had the ball in his hands when things mattered most and was instrumental in propelling the Blue Devils to the Elite Eight. Roach had 15 points, five assists, and four rebounds while shooting an impressive 7-11 from the field in Duke’s 78-73 victory. The Blue Devils will face Arkansas on Saturday in San Francisco with a berth to the Final Four on the line.

Tyger Campbell needs to control the pace for UCLA against North Carolina
The Tar Heels are averaging 94 points in their first two NCAA Tournament games. The Bruins are allowing an average of 54.5 points in their first two NCAA Tournament games. Something’s gotta give tonight in the Sweet 16 in Philadelphia. That’s where Campbell comes into play. UCLA’s steady veteran point guard has become synonymous with a slower tempo and that could be the key tonight against the Tar Heels. In two NCAA Tournament games, Campbell has a combined nine assists to just three turnovers. Tip off for this game is at 9:39 ET on CBS.

Doug Edert is an X-Factor for St. Peter’s against Purdue
America’s new favorite mustache — Edert — made major headlines this week thanks his to NIL deal with Buffalo Wild Wings. He’ll make major headlines again if he can help the Peacocks upset Purdue in tonight’s Sweet 16 matchup in Philadelphia. In order for St. Peter’s to have a chance in this game, it has to consistently make shots from long distance over the top of the Boilers’ vaunted frontcourt duo of Zach Edey and Trevion Williams. That’s where Edert comes into play. The 6-2 guard is 3-4 from three-point range in the NCAA Tournament and hit a massive shot from long distance in the Peacocks’ upset win against Kentucky in the Round of 64. Tip off for this game is at 7:09 PM ET on CBS.

Parity continues to be the story in the NCAA Tournament
There’s 12 teams left in the bracket and only one of those teams — Kansas — is a No. 1 seed. Unlike last season when Baylor and Gonzaga pushed out from the rest of the country, this season has been dominated by both balance and parity. Only three of the top eight seeds in the NCAA tournament — Kansas, Duke, and Villanova — are still alive and in contention for a national title.

Leftovers