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
Creighton returns to action against North Dakota
The facts are the facts: Creighton did not play its best game against St. Thomas on Monday, winning by just 12 points on a night where it shot just 8-34 from three-point range. Not to worry, the Bluejays have 120 minutes — tonight’s game against North Dakota and the two games that follow — before things truly reach another weight class. After Creighton’s first four games of the season, it will play 27 consecutive games against teams from a power conference or teams that will be a in power conference a year from now (BYU, Dec. 10th). Getting ready for that type of a gauntlet begins simply by playing better tonight against North Dakota than it did on Monday against St. Thomas. Once Creighton faces Texas Tech on Nov. 21st in the first round of the Maui Invitational, its schedule will remain at an exceptionally high level from then until Selection Sunday.
Marquette hosts an interesting opponent in Central Michigan
Never heard of the Chippewas? Ask Toledo and Akron, who won the MAC regular season and tournament titles respectively last season. Central Michigan — who finished just 7-23 a year ago in its first season under Tony Barbee — lost to those two teams by a combined two points in the final two games of last year and returns three starters — Kevin “Boopie” Miller, Brian Taylor, and Nicolas Pavrette — from a season ago. The Chippewas also added two impact newcomers in Coppin State transfer in Jesse Zarzuela (14.7 points) and freshman Reggie Bass, who had 19 points and six rebounds in a recent exhibition game. Marquette opened its season with a 10-point win over Radford on Monday and is still trying to create a new identity following the losses of both Justin Lewis (16.8 points) and Darryl Morsell (13.4 points).
The first big game of the Frank Martin era at UMass
That is not hyperbole. UMass’ game against Towson —- the consensus favorite in the CAA — is clearly the best head-to-head matchup on today’s college basketball schedule. The Tigers return four players — Nicolas Timberlake, Cameron Holden, Charles Thompson, and Jason Gibson — who averaged 9.8 points or more on last season’s team that won 25 games and the CAA regular season title. On paper, Towson looks like a dangerous 13 seed that could be a tough out in the 2023 NCAA Tournament. If the Minutemen get a win, it would be a quality victory and a sign that Martin — who is noticeably rejuvenated by his new gig — is capable of making his first season in Amherst a productive one. Both teams enter tonight’s matchup at 1-0.
On The Side
- Chris Beard’s decision to to start Dylan Disu at center in Texas’ opener against UTEP is something of note. The 6-11 Disu was never fully healthy last season after a knee injury, but put up big numbers (15 points, 9.2 rebounds, 1.2 blocks) two years ago at Vanderbilt before transferring to Austin. Extending his usage should help aid the Longhorns’ ability to protect the front of the rim defensively.
- How’s this for irony? Purdue — a program that’s always been built on players with experience under Matt Painter — started two freshman guards — Braden Smith (seven points, four rebounds, four assists) and Fletcher Loyer (17 points) — in its first game against Milwaukee. There’s always high expectations in West Lafayette, but it’s only natural to expect that this perimeter combo will have some growing pains in November and December.
- Butler’s Manny Bates had 25 points, 11 rebounds, and three blocks in Monday night’s win over New Orleans. It was a career-high in points and the second-most rebounds that the 6-11 Bates — who played the last few seasons at NC State before transferring —- has ever tallied in a college game. This should be one of the top newcomers in the Big East.
- Saint Mary’s freshman Aidan Mahaney could be the next great player in Randy Bennett’s program. The 6-3 guard — who played exceptionally well during the Gaels’ foreign tour to Australia over the summer — had 25 points against Oral Roberts earlier this week in his college debut. Saint Mary’s hosts Vermont tonight in Moraga.
- St. John’s had 29 turnovers in its opener against Merrimack, with its two primary guards — Posh Alexander and Andre Curbelo — combining for 10. This is something to monitor as the Red Storm seek their first NCAA Tournament appearance under Mike Anderson.
Daily Specials
- Towson at UMass
- North Dakota State at Kansas
- Central Michigan at Marquette
- North Dakota at Creighton
- Vermont at Saint Mary’s
