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The Breakfast Buffet: Auburn visits Rupp Arena, St. John’s, Alabama/Tennessee

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.

Things To Sample

Auburn visits Rupp Arena
Is Kentucky a bonafide threat to play deep into the NCAA Tournament? We’ll have a better idea after today. Earlier this season, Mark Pope’s team stacked wins over Duke, Florida, Texas A&M, and Louisville when it was at full strength. Today, it will step into the ring against the Tigers, who are 26-2 and in the pole position to be the top overall seed on Selection Sunday. A fascinating 40 minutes lies ahead in Lexington.

St. John’s aims to make history
The Red Storm can clinch an outright Big East regular season title for the first time since 1985 with a win today over Seton Hall at MSG. How long ago is that? 40 years ago in 1985, Rick Pitino was an assistant under Hubie Brown with the New York Knicks and had still yet to be named the head coach of Providence College. I’ll be on the sidelines for this broadcast while Ian Eagle and Bill Raftery will have you covered from the booth. Tip off is at 2:15 PM ET on CBS.

Alabama/Tennessee
A great contrast in styles awaits in Knoxville between two teams who are firmly in the mix to be number one seeds in the NCAA Tournament. The Crimson Tide are averaging 91.5 points while the Vols are holding their home opponents to an average of just 63.3 points during SEC play. Rick Barnes’ squad was projected to be a two seed in Friday’s BRACKET BREAKDOWN, but could jump to the one line with a win today.

On The Side.

  • Is Jase Richardson emerging as Michigan State’s go-to guy? The 6-3 freshman has scored in double figures in six straight games and is averaging 16.8 points during that span. Richardson was the only player on the Spartans’ roster in score in double figures in Wednesday night’s win at Maryland.
  • The biggest bubble game of the day in college basketball is in Austin as Texas hosts Georgia. The Longhorns have lost five of their last six games while the Bulldogs are coming off a home win over Florida. Mike White has yet to lead Georgia to March Madness since taking over in Athens in 2022.
  • Xavier’s at-large hopes for the NCAA Tournament will hinge on whether or not it beats Creighton today at home. The Musketeers — who are 18-10 overall — need this game like they need oxygen.
  • Michigan is 10-4 this season in games decided by five points or fewer.
  • There’s a strong chance that 83.3 percent of the ACC — 15 of the league’s 18 teams — will not have at-large resumes good enough to make the NCAA Tournament.

Daily Specials

  • Auburn at Kentucky
  • Tennessee at Alabama
  • Seton Hall at St. John’s
  • Texas A&M at Florida
  • Arizona at Iowa State

Leftovers