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
Darryn Peterson hopes to return for Kansas
The 6-6 Peterson (19.3 points) has only played in four games this season due to lingering injuries and with the top of the Big 12 featuring five teams — Arizona, Iowa State, Houston, BYU, and Texas Tech — that could play deep into the NCAA Tournament, Kansas needs its star guard in order to compete at the top of this league. Peterson is expected to return from a quad injury today in Orlando, according to the Big 12’s injury report, which was posted on Friday night. The Knights meanwhile, are 11-1 and off to their best start in program history. A fascinating 40 minutes lies ahead in the conference opener for both of these teams.
North Carolina has a tricky game at SMU
Not familiar with the Ponies? You may be by the end of the day. Just as he did at both Florida Gulf Coast and USC, Andy Enfield is gradually building a winner at SMU. The Ponies will take an 11-2 record into today’s matchup with the Tar Heels and are seeking their first at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament since 1993. SMU features one of the sport’s most underrated perimeters with Boopie Miller (19.9 points, 7.1 assists), Jaron Pierre (18.7 points, 5.3 rebounds), and BJ Edwards (13.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, 5.5 assists), who’s the only player in college basketball this season to tally multiple triple-doubles.
Fred Hoiberg should be a National Coach of the Year candidate
There are many coaches at the top of college basketball who are doing outstanding jobs with their respective teams, but any conversations — as of today — including this award have to include Hoiberg. Why? Nebraska’s 58-56 win over Michigan State on Friday night at Pinnacle Bank Area pushed the Huskers to 14-0 for the first time in program history. Nebraska isn’t just a feel good story anymore — it’s a legitimate factor both nationally and in the Big Ten. Hoiberg is doing things in Lincoln that have never been done before. Will 2026 finally be the year where this program wins a game in the NCAA Tournament? This is ONLY January.
On The Side
- Duke is 19-0 over the past two seasons in games where Isaiah Evans scores in double figures. The Blue Devils will visit Florida State today in Tallahassee. Tip off is at 3:45 PM ET on CBS.
- St. John’s is averaging 83.2 points since Rick Pitino put Ian Jackson (11.8 points) into the starting lineup on Dec. 13th against Iona. The Red Storm have won five of their last six games and will face Providence today at MSG.
- Houston has won nine straight meetings against Cincinnati entering this afternoon’s game at Fifth Third Arena.
- Four of Iowa’s top six scorers — Bennett Stirz, Tavion Banks, Cam Manyawu, and Isaia Howard — played for Ben McCollum last season at Drake. The Hawkeyes will host UCLA tonight in Iowa City.
- ESPN should make today’s 11 AM ET tip off between NC State and Virginia a weekly occurrence for the ACC moving forward. Why? No other games are in action at that time. Remember: Big games in college basketball feel like bigger games if they’re not competing with other big games.
Daily Specials
- Virginia at NC State
- Kentucky at Alabama
- North Carolina at SMU
- Tennessee at Arkansas
- Purdue at Wisconsin
Leftovers
- The Breakfast Buffet: Tobe Awaka, Nebraska’s defense, Texas/Kentucky
- INSIDE COLLEGE BASKETBALL NOW (1/20): Guest — Virginia’s Ryan Odom
- The Breakfast Buffet: Michigan returns home, Seton Hall/St. John’s, Kansas hits the road at Colorado
- INSIDE COLLEGE BASKETBALL NOW (1/19): Florida, Kentucky, The ACC, The Big East, JT Toppin, Darryn Peterson
- The Breakfast Buffet: Brad Brownell, Florida, St. John’s is thriving on the road
