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
Adem Bona is quietly turning a corner for UCLA
The five-star big man entered Wednesday night’s game at Maryland averaging just 2.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and one block this season against power conference opponents. Bona then responded with his best performance as a college player. The 6-10 freshman finished with 14 points, seven rebounds, and one block in the Bruins’ 87-60 win in College Park. Bona was also 7-8 from the field. This is the type of presence that UCLA (9-2) is going to need up front if it hopes to earn a high seed in the 2023 NCAA Tournament. The Bruins will next face Kentucky on Saturday in the CBS Sports Classic at Madison Square Garden.
Xavier’s decision to hire Sean Miller is working out incredibly well
Beyond the Musketeers’ 8-3 start during the non-conference portion of their schedule, Xavier’s administration got incredible news on Wednesday when the IARP announced that Miller did not receive any sanctions or penalties following the FBI’s investigation into Arizona’s program, where Miller was the head coach from 2009-21. This was something that was not anticipated when Miller was hired to return as Xavier’s head coach last spring after sitting out last season. Everyone close to this situation expected Miller to get some sort of a suspension, but ultimately, it never happened. Xavier knew that it needed Miller back last spring after the program’s NCAA Tournament drought continued; the Musketeers last heard their names called on Selection Sunday in 2018. Xavier’s administration now moves forward with a proven head coach who doesn’t have to serve a suspension that many thought he would, a good team that’s only getting better, and a cloud that’s been hovering over this program since the day that Miller was hired now finally gone. Miller previously served as the Musketeers’ head coach from 2004-09.
The SEC has heavyweights at the top
Who said this was just a football conference? In addition to Kentucky (7-2) — who’s arguably the biggest brand in college basketball — the SEC has at least three other teams — Alabama (9-1), Arkansas (9-1), and Tennessee (9-1) — that have all displayed both the talent and potential to advance deep in the 2023 NCAA Tournament. Another SEC program — Mississippi State — has been arguably the biggest surprise among power conference teams this season and is now 10-0 after Wednesday night’s win against Jackson State. There was a time not too long ago where the SEC was viewed as “Kentucky and then everyone else”. That period is unequivocally over.
On The Side
- Gonzaga’s Drew Timme (20.5 points, 7.9 rebounds) has shot 60 percent from the field or better in eight of his first 11 games. Don’t take this guy for granted.
- Kendric Davis (19 points, 4.9 assists, four rebounds) is on pace to be the American Athletic Conference Player of the Year for the second straight season, but this year he’s doing it at a different program. After spending the past three years at SMU, the 6-foot guard is now starring for Memphis, who plays in the same league as the Ponies.
- Branden Carlson is emerging into a legitimate “stretch five-man” for Utah. The 7-footer has made 16 three-point shots in his first 11 games and is shooting 47.1 percent from three-point range. Carlson — who’s averaging 15.2 points and 7.2 rebounds — only made 17 three-point shots during all of last season.
- St. John’s (10-1) is currently shooting 30.2 percent from three-point range as a team. Its starting backcourt — Andre Curbelo and Posh Alexander — is a combined 9-37 from long distance.
- Pepperdine has a star in Maxwell Lewis. The 6-7 sophomore is averaging 24 points and six rebounds over his last three games while shooting 58.3 percent from the field and 47.6 percent from three-point range during that span. The is the best player in the WCC that not many people know about.
Daily Specials
- Lehigh at Wisconsin
- North Alabama at Colorado
- Westminister at Utah State
- UC Irvine at Santa Clara
