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The Breakfast Buffet: A.J. Hoggard, Oregon’s big week, why college basketball needs a sixth man award

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

A.J. Hoggard is taking his game to another level for Michigan State
This guy is an example of what college basketball used to be. What exactly does that mean? Throughout his career, Hoggard has battled his peers and battled himself to be in better condition. Now a junior, he’s playing the best basketball of his career. The 6-4 point guard has 41 assists to just seven turnovers over his last four games and is a major reason why the Spartans are on a seven-game winning streak. Hoggard is also averaging 12 points and four rebounds each time that he takes the floor. As he keeps improving, so will Michigan State, who is now 12-4 and has only lost one game with Malik Hall in the lineup.

Oregon has a big weekend
Dana Altman hasn’t missed the NCAA Tournament in back-to-back seasons at Oregon since his first two years in Eugene, but he’s on pace for that to happen unless the Ducks start turning a corner. That process begins this weekend. Oregon hosts Arizona State tonight and Arizona on Saturday in what is as pivotal of a two-game stretch as this program has had all season. Decimated by injuries, the Ducks got both Jermaine Couisnard and Nate Bittle back in the lineup last week, but are still playing without a starter in Colorado transfer Keeshawn Barthelemy, who has been out since November. At 9-7, Oregon currently doesn’t own a win over a team that’s projected to be in the NCAA Tournament. The next 72 hours will determine if the Ducks have any chance to be relevant for an at-large bid on Selection Sunday.

It’s time for college basketball to have a National Sixth Man of the Year award
There’s so many great reserves in our sport and all of them deserve to be recognized while having something to strive for at the conclusion of each season. In this current period where there is such a focus on instant gratification — especially through social media — creating an annual award that commends the nation’s top reserve is something that simply makes too much sense not to do. It would also create yet another category for fans and media to follow and forecast on a regular basis. If a National Sixth Man of the Year award currently existed, it would put an even bigger focus on guys like Tennessee’s Zakai Zeigler, UCLA’s David Singleton, and UConn’s Donovan Clingan, who are all having terrific seasons for teams who have a chance to be high seeds in the NCAA Tournament.

On The Side

  • Illinois’ Terrence Shannon Jr. has regained his early season form. In his last two games, the 6-6 lefty is averaging 24.5 points and 9.5 rebounds. As Shannon goes, so do the Illini.
  • This season began with a Final Four or bust type feel for Kentucky. The Wildcats are now officially trending out of the NCAA Tournament picture after Tuesday’s home loss to South Carolina. John Calipari’s squad will next visit Tennessee on Saturday in Knoxville.
  • Iowa State’s Gabe Kalscheur is averaging 18 points over his last four games while shooting 12-25 from three-point range during that span. The Cyclones are 4-0 in Big 12 play.
  • After starting the season 8-10 from three-point range, Arizona’s Courtney Ramey is just 21-63 from long distance in his last 11 games.
  • Iowa’s next three games are all at home, starting with tonight’s matchup with Michigan. The Hawkeyes are 10-6 and coming off back-to-back victories over Indiana and Rutgers. Fran McCaffery’s team could be on the verge of making a move.

Things To Sample

  • Michigan at Iowa
  • Arizona State at Oregon
  • Utah at UCLA
  • Gonzaga at BYU
  • Arizona at Oregon State

Leftovers