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The Breakfast Buffet: Cooper Flagg visits MSG, Kentucky/Alabama, Houston

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

Cooper Flagg visits MSG
Duke’s annual game at the World’s Most Famous Arena is an annual tradition that goes back for decades. Expect another thrilling chapter tonight against Illinois. That’s because the 6-9 Flagg (19.7 points, 7.7 rebounds, 4.0 assists) — who’s currently in a close battle with Auburn’s Johni Broome (18.0 points, 11.0 rebounds, 3.4 assists) for National Player of the Year honors — has a chance to put on a show in the greatest basketball venue in the world. It will be the first and only time that he plays at MSG as a college player. The Illini may have the most talented roster in the Big Ten, but have had players in and out of the lineup for different reasons over the past month and are just 5-7 in their last 12 games.

Kentucky/Alabama
Two of the elite offensive minds in the sport — Mark Pope and Nate Oats — trade wits in what should be a shootout in Tuscaloosa. Both teams average in excess of 85 points, but the Crimson Tide’s defense is the one glaring area in this game to monitor. Alabama has surrendered an average of 102 points during its current two-game losing streak. This program can’t go back to the Final Four for the second consecutive season unless it gets better defensively.

Houston’s Big 12 dominance deserves more attention
Remember when people were wondering how this program was going to adjust to this league two years ago before it left the American Athletic Conference? Those takes are now a thing of the past. The Cougars have a two-game lead over Arizona for the top spot in the Big 12 standings entering today’s game against Iowa State at the Fertitta Center and are a combined 29-4 in Big 12 regular season games over the past two years. How ridiculous is that? Houston’s winning percentage in regular season games in its first two years in the Big 12 — 87.8 percent — is just one percent lower than its winning percentage in regular season games during its final two years in the American Athletic Conference, which was 88.8 percent.

On The Side

  • Wisconsin is averaging just 7.6 turnovers during its current five-game winning streak entering today’s game against Oregon in Madison.
  • Kansas is one loss away from losing 10 or more games in back-to-back seasons for the first time under Bill Self. The Jayhawks will host Oklahoma State today at Allen Fieldhouse. Tip off is at 4 PM ET on CBS.
  • Last season, North Carolina’s starting power forward and center — Harrison Ingram and Armando Bacot — averaged a combined 26.7 points and 19.1 rebounds. This season, the Tar Heels’ starting power forward and center — Jae’Lyn Withers and Ven-Allen Lubin — are averaging a combined 12.2 points and 8.4 rebounds. That’s where the void lies in Chapel Hill.
  • Does SMU have to beat Clemson today in Dallas to have a chance to earn an at-large berth to the NCAA Tournament? It certainly feels like it. The Ponies have already tallied 20 wins in their first season under Andy Enfield, but don’t own a single Quad 1 victory. That would change with a win over the Tigers today.
  • The game of the year in the Atlantic 10 will happen today at the Siegel Center as VCU hosts George Mason. The Rams trail the Patriots by one game for first place in the league standings. Tip off is at 4 PM ET on CBS Sports Network.

Daily Specials

  • Tennessee at Texas A&M
  • Oregon at Wisconsin
  • Iowa State at Houston
  • Kentucky at Alabama
  • Duke/Illinois (MSG)

Leftovers