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
Gonzaga/Michigan State
College basketball’s first game on an aircraft carrier in years takes place tonight in San Diego as the Bulldogs — who are currently ranked second in the ROTHSTEIN 45 — take on the Spartans. Gonzaga lost to Tennessee by 19 points a few weeks ago in a charity exhibition and needs its two sophomore guards — Nolan Hickman and Hunter Sallis — to make considerable jumps if it’s again going to have a chance to earn a high seed in the NCAA Tournament. For Michigan State to have a chance in this game, it needs to find a way to neutralize Drew Timme in the pivot. Keep an eye on 6-9 junior Mady Sissoko, who has to give the Spartans mileage defensively at the front of the rim. This is the start of an arduous non-conference stretch for both programs.
Adem Bona makes his college debut
UCLA’s five-star freshman did not play in the Bruins’ opener on Monday against Sacramento State due to the NCAA, but Bona will be available for tonight’s game against Long Beach State in Westwood. The 6-9 Bona is far and away the most talented big man that Mick Cronin has ever had as a head coach and a potential lottery pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. Bona shined this summer for Turkey at the FIBA U20 European Championship, averaging 17 points, 10.9 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks in seven games.
The biggest game of the Aaron McKie era
That might be putting it mildly. Desperate times call for desperate measures and Temple is desperate for a win entering tonight’s matchup with Big 5 rival Villanova at the Liacouras Center. The Owls opened their season with a home loss to Wagner and simply can’t afford to start the year with an 0-2 record. Following tonight’s game against Villanova, Temple will host Vanderbilt, face Rutgers at Mohegan Sun, and then face St. John’s in the first round of the Empire Classic at the Barclays Center with either Syracuse or Richmond looming the very next day. The Owls are just 36-40 under McKie and haven’t come close to reaching the NCAA Tournament during his tenure. If this team is going to have a chance to change that, it needs to beat Villanova tonight in North Philadelphia.
On The Side
- Houston had 19 offensive rebounds in its first game of the season against Northern Colorado. Can the Cougars get 20 tonight against St. Joe’s in the Veterans Classic? We’ll find out at 6 PM ET on CBS Sports Network.
- Alabama’s Nate Oats deserves credit for continuing to schedule difficult games against quality mid-majors as part of his non-conference slate. The Crimson Tide have another one tonight as Atlantic Sun favorite Liberty visits Tuscaloosa.
- Stanford (1-0) is about to quietly begin a critical five-day stretch. The Cardinal face Wisconsin tonight in Milwaukee and then will host San Diego State on Tuesday in Palo Alto. This program has never been to the NCAA Tournament under Jerod Haase.
- Is Davidson’s Foster Loyer about to become the Jimmer Fredette of the Atlantic 10? Don’t rule it out of the realm of possibility. The 6-foot senior is averaging 34 points, 7.5 rebounds, and six assists though his first two games and nearly tallied a triple-double in Wednesday night’s double-overtime win at Wright State. Loyer is also 11-20 from three-point range.
- It’s getting harder and harder for programs in mid-major leagues to put together at-large resumes for the NCAA Tournament, but the winner of tonight’s game between Toledo and UAB in Philadelphia will be “in position to be in position”. Both teams were picked at the top of their respective conferences in the preseason.
Daily Specials
- Gonzaga/Michigan State (San Diego)
- Houston/St. Joe’s (Veterans Classic)
- Villanova at Temple
- Liberty at Alabama
- Stanford/Wisconsin (Milwaukee)
