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
Emanuel Sharp has solidified his place as Houston’s secondary offensive option
LJ Cryer (17.7 points) is playing like an All-American for the Cougars, but he needs help. Sharp is more than willing to oblige. The 6-3 sophomore is quietly enjoying a breakout season and had 21 points and six rebounds in Saturday’s four-point win over Texas A&M. It was the second straight game that Sharp — who’s currently averaging 13.6 points — has scored 20 or more points. Remember: Sharp averaged 8.3 points in three NCAA Tournament games last season as a freshman. With Terrance Arceneaux now done for the year with an achilles injury, Sharp’s presence as a consistent ancillary option to Cryer is critical for Houston — who is 11-0 — entering the Big 12.
Nebraska had a tremendous week
In seven days, the Huskers beat Michigan State at Pinnacle Bank Arena and Kansas State on the road. It was only the second defeat that the Wildcats have had on their home floor in two seasons under Jerome Tang. For a program like Nebraska that hasn’t been to the NCAA Tournament since 2014, this two-game winning streak represents tangible momentum. It’s taken Fred Hoiberg some time, but it seems like he’s found his niche in Lincoln. Unlike the offensive minded teams that we saw him coach at Iowa State, these Huskers are gritty and tough defensively as evidenced by their ability to hold Kansas State to just 46 points on its home floor on Sunday. Barring something unforeseen, Nebraska should be 11-2 when it resumes Big Ten play on Jan. 3rd against Indiana.
Michigan State has a trap game against Oakland
The Spartans have won 20 straight games against the Golden Grizzlies, but they’re also potentially primed for a letdown Tonight’s game comes a little more than 48 hours after Michigan State’s 24-point win over Baylor on Saturday in Detroit. And Oakland is capable. Greg Kampe’s team won at Xavier earlier this season and was extremely competitive in losses on the road against both Ohio State and Illinois. It won’t be intimidated. Keep an eye on 6-6 junior Trey Townsend (15.8 points, 7.5 rebounds), who had a 22-point effort in the Golden Grizzlies’ last game against Eastern Michigan.
On The Side
- UConn is a jump shot against Kansas away from being 11-0 entering Big East play after losing Adama Sanogo, Jordan Hawkins, Andre Jackson, and Joey Calcaterra from last season’s team that won the national title.
- Ohio State’s Bruce Thornton has 46 assists to just 10 turnovers in 350 minutes played. That’s just one turnover every 35 minutes!
- Ole Miss has won its first 10 games under Chris Beard — it won 12 during all of last season.
- San Diego State’s Reese Waters is a perfect 40-40 from the free throw line.
- Quincy Olivari is averaging 25 points over his last four games and has established himself as Xavier’s go-to option on offense. The Musketeers will open Big East play on Wednesday against St. John’s at Carnesecca Arena.
Daily Specials
- Oakland at Michigan State
Leftovers
- The Breakfast Buffet: Brooks Barnhizer, Rutgers’ dynamic freshmen enter the fire, Illinois visits Oregon,
- The Breakfast Buffet: UConn still needs more out of its sophomore class, Ian Jackson, UCF
- The Breakfast Buffet: Kansas needs more out of its transfers, Duke, Coleman Hawkins
- Episode 479 — BYU’s Kevin Young
- The Breakfast Buffet: Deivon Smith, Denver Jones, Big 12 play begins
