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
Colby Jones is the player to watch in this weekend’s “Crosstown Shootout”
One of college basketball’s best rivalries will take place on Saturday at Fifth Third Arena as Cincinnati (6-3) hosts Xavier (6-3). If you’re familiar with these two teams, there’s a strong chance that you know just how good Jones is. If you’re not, you probably will after Saturday’s game. Capable of both initiating offense and serving as a go-to scorer, the 6-6 junior has quietly had a masterful start to the 2022-23 season. Through eight games, Jones is averaging 15.5 points, 5.8 assists, and 5.1 rebounds while shooting 48.8 percent from the field and 55 percent from three-point range. This is one of the best players in the Big East and a player whose star will only continue to rise throughout the season as Xavier aims to return to national relevance.
Keion Brooks steps back into the spotlight
After spending the first three years of his college career at Kentucky, Brooks has found a home at Washington (7-2). Now a primary focal point, the 6-7 forward looks like one of the top players in the Pac-12 and is averaging 16.6 points and seven rebounds entering tonight’s game against Gonzaga (6-3) in Spokane. Brooks never averaged more than 10.8 points during his time in Lexington. Washington already has a neutral site win on its resume over Saint Mary’s, but also lost at home to Cal Baptist.
The Mountain West is “in position to be in position”
It’s too early to think about whether or not this conference can get four teams in the NCAA Tournament like it did a year ago, but that doesn’t mean that the league isn’t off to a terrific start. The Mountain West is currently 72-27 as a conference and had six teams — New Mexico, UNLV, Utah State, San Diego State, Boise State, and Nevada — ranked in the Top 57 of this week’s NET rankings; five of those teams were ranked in the Top 45. Three teams from the Mountain West — New Mexico, UNLV, and Utah State — are still undefeated while San Diego State was ranked 21st in this week’s ROTHSTEIN 45.
On The Side
- Tennessee’s average margin of victory since losing to Colorado is 29 points. The Vols have held six of their last seven opponents to 50 points or fewer. Rick Barnes’ squad will next face Maryland on Sunday at the Barclays Center and then play Arizona in Tucson on Dec. 17th.
- A word to the wise: Keep an eye on Purdue’s Trey Kaufman-Renn. The 6-9 forward is averaging 11.5 PPG and 3.5 RPG in his last two games and is a major offensive talent. Kaufman-Renn redshirted last season.
- Villanova is 2-0 with five-star freshman Cam Whitmore in the lineup. The 6-7 forward is averaging 14 points and 4.5 rebounds and has completely changed the entire vibe around the Wildcats’ program. Don’t be shocked if Whitmore emerges as one of the top five players in the Big East this season — he’s that talented.
- Western Kentucky’s Luke Frampton is currently the nation’s top three-point shooter. Frampton has made 28-45 (62.2 percent) shots from long distance for the Hilltoppers, who are 7-1 overall.
- Brandin Podziemski averaged 1.4 PPG and 0.9 RPG last season at Illinois. He’s currently averaging 20.1 PPG and 9.3 RPG this season for Santa Clara, who is 8-2. Anarchy? Nope. Just college basketball.
Daily Specials
- Binghamton at Fordham
- Grambling at Vanderbilt
- Washington at Gonzaga
