College Hoops Today

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The Breakfast Buffet: Charles Bediako against Florida’s frontline, Illinois/Nebraska, Bryson Tiller

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

Charles Bediako goes against Florida’s frontline
The most polarizing player in college basketball — at least for the last few weeks — will step up a weight class today in Gainesville against the sport’s deepest and most seasoned baseline. Time will tell if the 6-11 Bediako will remain available for the Alabama long-term, but he is averaging 13.5 points and 4.5 rebounds in the two games he’s played this season for the Crimson Tide since he was granted a temporary restraining order to play college basketball after the NCAA ruled him ineligible. It will be interesting to see how he performs today against Florida’s quartet up front of Thomas Haugh (17.4 points, 6.5 rebounds), Alex Condon (13.3 points, 8.2 rebounds), Reuben Chinyelu (12.0 points, 11.0 rebounds), and Micah Handlogten (4.7 points, 6.2 rebounds). All four players were integral parts for the Gators during last season’s run to the national title.

Illinois/Nebraska
Two of the best teams in the country will trade blows today at Pinnacle Bank Arena in what is yet another massive conference game in the Big Ten. America is running out of adjectives for Keaton Wagler, who followed up his 46-point performance last weekend in Illinois’ win over Purdue at Mackey Arena with a 22-point, eight-assist, five-rebound game in Thursday night’s victory over Washington in Champaign. The Huskers meanwhile, are getting closer to full health as Fred Hoiberg told College Hoops Today on Friday that Braden Frager (ankle) will be a game-time decision for today’s game and Rienk Mast (illness) is expected to return to the lineup. Neither played in Tuesday night’s loss at Michigan. The 6-7 Frager has not played since Jan. 21st and averages 12.2 points while Mast (14.6 points, 6.0 rebounds) is just coming off a one-game absence.

Bryson Tiller is breaking out for Kansas
While Darryn Peterson’s load management issues continue to be the headline surrounding the Jayhawks’ program, Tiller is quietly doing work in the shadows. The 6-11 freshman had the best seven-day stretch of his college career this week and averaged an impressive 18.5 points and 7.0 rebounds in a pair of wins over BYU and Kansas State. Tiller was also 14-21 from the field during this two-game span. Keep a close eye on this kid over the next month.

On The Side

  • Michigan’s two Quad 1 victories this week — Tuesday at home against Nebraska and Friday on the road at Michigan State — puts the Wolverines on the inside track to be the number one seed in the Midwest Region on Selection Sunday. That means Sweet 16 and Elite Eight games at the United Center in Chicago.
  • Arizona’s 22-0 start is the best in program history.
  • The most underrated part of Cameron Boozer’s game? His three-point shooting ability. Duke’s star freshman is currently 32-84 (38.1 percent) from long distance this season.
  • Purdue’s three-game losing streak is about to get the perfect antidote: A trip to College Park today to face Maryland (1 PM ET, CBS) and a home game against depleted Oregon next Saturday at Mackey Arena.
  • Saint Louis is a combined 48/92 (52.2 percent) from three-point range in its last three games. 

Daily Specials

  • Purdue at Maryland
  • Alabama at Florida
  • Iowa State at Kansas State
  • Illinois at Nebraska
  • Iowa at Oregon

Leftovers