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The Breakfast Buffet: Marquette gets a taste of Ryan Kalkbrenner, Cason Wallace, a massive night in the Big 12

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

Marquette gets a taste of Ryan Kalkbrenner
The Golden Eagles — who are in sole possession of first place in the Big East — did not go toe to toe with the 7-1 Kalkbrenner (14.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.3 blocks) when they beat the Bluejays earlier this season in Milwaukee because Kalkbrenner was out due to illness. That will change tonight in Omaha. Creighton is 11-3 since Kalkbrenner returned to the lineup on Christmas Day after a three-game absence. With a win, the Bluejays will be tied with Marquette for first place in the conference.

Cason Wallace is benefiting from Kentucky’s role allocation
Mike Brey told me years ago at a Notre Dame practice that depth is “overrated in games, but underrated in practice”. That’s a good way to sum up what is currently happening with Kentucky. As both Sahvir Wheeler and CJ Fredrick aim to get healthy, the rest of the Wildcats’ rotation now has clear cut roles. It’s helping Wallace. The 6-4 freshman has 23 assists to five turnovers in his last three games all while running Kentucky’s offense with the poise of a surgeon. Wallace has averaged 38.5 minutes in his last two games and had 16 points, six rebounds, and six assists in Saturday’s win over Tennessee at Rupp Arena.

A massive night in the Big 12
It feels like that could be written on a daily basis, but it’s the utmost truth. Texas (21-6) aims to keep pace for a Big 12 regular season title at home against Iowa State (17-9) while Baylor (20-7) looks to avenge its early season loss to Kansas State (20-7) at Bramlage Coliseum. And Texas Tech (15-12)? The Red Raiders — who are still in the bubble picture — will go for their fourth win a row at Oklahoma (13-14). It all sounds delicious!

On The Side

  • North Carolina’s Caleb Love (17.2 points) has taken 122 more shots this season than Armando Bacot. The 6-11 Bacot is currently leading the Tar Heels in both scoring (17.3) and rebounding (11.1).
  • Mick Cronin said on this week’s edition of the College Hoops Today Podcast that UCLA needs Tyger Campbell to regain his vintage form in order to have a chance to again play deep into the NCAA Tournament. “There’s going to have to be a game or two in March where he gets hot from three-point line and he gets 15 or he gets 20 in game,” Cronin said of Campbell, who is only averaging 6.4 points in his last five games. Campbell is also just 4-19 from three-point range during that span.
  • Texas A&M (20-7) is 14-2 since it lost to Wofford on Dec. 20th. The only two losses for the Aggies during that span? At Arkansas and at Kentucky. Texas A&M will host Tennessee tonight in College Station.
  • Nebraska’s Keisei Tominaga is averaging 23.6 points over his last five games while shooting 67.5 percent from the field and 45.4 percent from three-point range during that span. Those are All-Big Ten caliber numbers.
  • The return of La Salle transfer Jack Clark has been a big boost for NC State’s bench. In his three games since returning from injury, the 6-8 Clark is averaging nine points and seven rebounds in reserve.

Daily Specials

  • Baylor at Kansas State
  • Tennessee at Texas A&M
  • Marquette at Creighton
  • Iowa State at Texas
  • Indiana at Michigan State

Leftovers