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The Breakfast Buffet: Braeden Smith, Cal has an opportunity to make a statement against Louisville, Conference play is here

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

Braeden Smith is turning a corner for Gonzaga at point guard
The former Patriot League Player of the Year when he was at Colgate, Smith is now having a major impact for the Bulldogs at the most important position on the floor. The veteran floor general — who’s been viewed as a bit of an afterthought for Gonzaga at point guard thanks to the strong start by Mario Saint-Supery (7.8 points, 4.4 assists, 3.1 rebounds) — is now asserting himself at an all-conference caliber level. In the Bulldogs’ last three games, the 6-foot Smith is averaging 15.7 points, 6.7 assists, and 3.3 rebounds all while boasting an assist-to-turnover ratio of 20:2. Mark Few’s squad is 13-1 and will next visit San Diego tonight.

Cal has an opportunity to make a statement against Louisville
The Bears may have had the quietest 12-1 start in the history of college basketball, but that will change tonight if they can beat the Cardinals at Haas Pavilion. Mark Madsen’s team did earn wins over both Utah and UCLA in November, the Bruins were without their leading scorer Tyler Bilodeau (19.0 points, 5.2 rebounds). A win tonight could change the Bears’ trajectory this season in their second year under Madsen. Louisville has played the last two games without freshman point guard Mikel Brown Jr. (16.6 points, 5.1 assists, 3.0 rebounds), who has been out with a back injury.

Conference play is here
We’ve had bits and pieces of league games over the past few weeks, but things really kick into high gear this week. The ACC and Big East get going for real tonight while the Big 12, Big Ten, and SEC will follow suit in a few days. For the best teams in college basketball except for Gonzaga and Saint Mary’s, it’ll be games against power conference opponents from now until Selection Sunday.

On The Side

  • Nebraska’s Fred Hoiberg is today’s guest on INSIDE COLLEGE BASKETBALL NOW. To watch the full interview, click HERE.
  • Villanova has never finished better than sixth in the Big East regular season standings since Jay Wright’s retirement following the 2022 Final Four.
  • Marquette is 0-7 against power conference opponents entering tonight’s game against Seton Hall in Milwaukee.
  • SMU’s B.J. Edwards (13.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, 5.5 assists) is now the only player in college basketball this season to tally multiple triple-doubles.
  • New Mexico is quietly on a seven-game winning streak and will take a 10-2 record into tonight’s game at Boise State. 

Daily Specials

  • Florida State at North Carolina
  • Pitt at Miami
  • Seton Hall at Marquette
  • Louisville at Cal
  • New Mexico at Boise State

Leftovers