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
Arkansas visits Alabama
The Razorbacks have the requisites to be a trendy Final Four pick on Selection Sunday, but they’ve yet to be beat a marquee opponent in a true road setting away from Fayetteville. That can change tonight in Tuscaloosa. Arkansas has quietly won six of its last seven games and is getting All-American caliber point guard play from freshman Darius Acuff (21.2 points, 6.3 assists), who’s currently in the pole position to be the SEC Player of the Year.
Illinois hits the West Coast
The start of a three-game gauntlet for the Illini gets going tonight against USC at the Galen Center. There’s also a trip to Westwood on Saturday to face UCLA and then a massive showdown versus Michigan on Feb. 27th in Champaign. All three are Quad 1 opportunities and a slew of victories could push Brad Underwood’s into the discussion for a very high seed on Selection Sunday. Illinois is currently 21-5. This is ONLY February.
Nate Ament is thriving for Tennessee
The Vols have quietly won six of their last seven games and a major reason why is because Ament is producing at an incredibly high level. It doesn’t feel like he’s getting quite the same amount of attention as the other marquee members of this freshman class, but that could soon change. During this most recent seven-game stretch, the 6-10 Ament is averaging 23.6 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 2.9 assists. Keep a close eye on this kid over the next month — especially if the Vols keep winning. Tennessee will host Oklahoma tonight in Knoxville.
On The Side
- St. John’s has won four straight meetings against Marquette entering tonight’s game in Milwaukee.
- The four Big Ten teams from the West Coast — Oregon, Washington, UCLA, and USC — are a combined 6-19 in league games this season outside of the Pacific Time Zone.
- Auburn’s Keyshawn Hall (disciplinary) will be available for tonight’s game against Mississippi State, Steven Pearl told College Hoops Today. The 6-7 Hall did not play in the Tigers’ last game and averages 20.7 points and 6.8 rebounds.
- Only one of Miami’s (OH) final five regular season opponents — Bowling Green — is currently above .500. The Redhawks are currently 26-0.
- Utah State is 48-11 overall and 28-7 in Mountain West play over the past two seasons under Jerrod Calhoun entering tonight’s game against Boise State in Logan.
Daily Specials
- Creighton at UConn
- Arkansas at Alabama
- Arizona at BYU
- Kansas at Oklahoma State
- Illinois at USC
