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The Breakfast Buffet: Creighton visits Marquette, Jackson Shelstad, Judah Mintz

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 visits Marquette
The loser of this game will be under .500 in conference play and that’s not a place you want to be if you have dreams of winning a Big East regular season title. Creighton can’t be the team that it’s capable of being this season unless it starts getting more offensive mileage out of Steven Ashworth. A transfer from Utah State, the 6-1 Ashworth is averaging just 8.6 points and is in the midst of a major shooting slump as he’s just 4-20 from three-point range in his last four games. Marquette meanwhile, should have a major advantage in this game because of its overall speed and athleticism. Keep an eye on Chase Ross as a potential difference maker as Marquette is 22-1 over the past two seasons in games where he scores six or more points. Tip off is at 2 PM ET on CBS.

Jackson Shelstad takes centerstage for Oregon against UCLA
He’s not Payton Pritchard, but Shelstad’s early play as a freshman for Oregon feels like it’s been comparable. Playing without their projected starting power forward (Nate Bittle) and center (N’Faly Dante) due to injuries, the Ducks are 9-3 entering today’s game against UCLA in Eugene (4 PM ET, CBS) and a big reason for that is Shelstad’s impact at point guard. The 6-foot freshman is averaging 14 points and 2.9 assists while shooting 48.4 percent from the floor and 38.2 percent from three-point range. Shelstad also severely outplayed USC’s Isaiah Collier — who’s projected to be one of the top picks in the 2024 NBA Draft — in Oregon’s 82-74 win over the Trojans on Thursday. The Bruins — who are coming a road win at Oregon State — will have their hands full with this guy today in Eugene.

Judah Mintz leads Syracuse into the guts of ACC play
The Orange are 9-3 entering today’s game against Pitt at the JMA Wireless Dome, but haven’t truly helped or hurt themselves yet in terms of their resume for the 2024 NCAA Tournament. They do though, have a star in the 6-4 Mintz. While his production level and overall efficiency hasn’t received a great deal of national attention, Mintz is currently playing like one of the best players in the ACC. He enters today’s game averaging 19.8 points, 3.7 assists, 3.7 rebounds while shooting 37.8 percent from three-point range — he only shot 30.3 percent from long distance a year ago as a freshman. If Syracuse is going to play its way into the NCAA Tournament picture, it will be because of Mintz.

On The Side

  • Tennessee needs more out of Dalton Knecht. The 6-6 wing is averaging just five points in his last three games while shooting just 5-21 from the field and 2-7 from three-point range during that span. The Vols need this guy to play like an SEC Player of the Year candidate if they’re going to wind up with a favorable seed in the 2024 NCAA Tournament.
  • Villanova is 6-1 this season in games where Brendan Hausen makes multiple three-point shots.
  • Alabama’s matchup today with Liberty in Birmingham is its seventh Quad 1 game in its first 13 outings.
  • Kansas State’s Ques Glover (knee) is expected to make his season debut on Jan. 2nd against Chicago State, Jerome Tang told College Hoops Today this week. The 6-foot guard averaged 14.7 points last season at Samford and should immediately add to the Wildcats’ depth.
  • Did McNeese AD Heath Schroyer make the best non-power conference hire in last spring’s coaching cycle with Will Wade? The Cowboys are now 11-2 and have won buy games at Michigan, LSU, and UAB.

Daily Specials

  • Pitt at Syracuse
  • Creighton at Marquette
  • Indiana State at Michigan State
  • Alabama/Liberty (Birmingham)
  • Wichita State at Kansas

Leftovers