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The Breakfast Buffet: Hall-of-Fame Tip Off, Kennedy Chandler/Collin Gillespie, Marquette

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

The Hall-of-Fame Tip Off at Mohegan Sun
This feels more like a pair of regional semifinals during the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament rather than an early season tournament in mid-November. Villanova, Tennessee, Purdue, and North Carolina comprise the field in the Hall-of-Fame Tip Off in what is the best early season event of the 21-22 season. All four teams are ranked in the Top 21 of the ROTHSTEIN 45. A really good team is going to leave Mohegan Sun on Sunday night with two losses after playing a pair of games this weekend.

Kennedy Chandler against Collin Gillespie
Villanova’s matchup with Tennessee features two great programs and two elite coaches in Jay Wright and Rick Barnes, but the most intriguing matchup in this game is at point guard. Chandler — a five-star freshman — has been sensational out of the gate for the Vols, averaging 18 points, five assists, and 1.5 steals through his first two games. His matchup against Gillespie — a fifth-year senior and All-American — will represent a major challenge. The cagey veteran is three inches bigger than Chandler and loves to abuse his opponents with his size, strength, and overall basketball IQ. Gillespie has been lethal posting up opposing point guards during the past few seasons for Villanova and is currently averaging 17.3 points and 3.7 assists. This is a classic individual showdown of youth versus experience.

Shaka Smart has early momentum at Marquette
This team was picked ninth in the Big East Preseason Poll. Early indications are that’s definitely not where it’s going to finish. Marquette’s dramatic come from behind win over Illinois early in the week propelled it to back-to-back wins over Ole Miss and West Virginia in the first two rounds of the Charleston Classic. That’s three power conference wins already for the Golden Eagles, who are thriving in their first season under their new head coach. Smart was passionate and exuberant on the sidelines in Friday night’s win over West Virginia, yelling out scowls and exuding emotion. This is more in line with the way that he coached when he was at VCU. It can’t be stated enough how perfect the marriage feels between Smart and Marquette. The Golden Eagles will play Atlantic 10 favorite St. Bonaventure on Sunday in the title game of the Charleston Classic.

On The Side

  • Purdue’s Mason Gillis will be available to make his season debut on Sunday at Mohegan Sun, Matt Painter confirmed to College Hoops Today on Friday. He missed the first few games of the season due to an OWI related suspension. The 6-6 Gillis started for the Boilers at power forward last season and averaged 5.2 points and 4.1 rebounds.
  • Gonzaga’s Julian Strawther is quietly one of the most improved players in the country. Through four games, the 6-7 wing is averaging 14.8 points and 5.5 rebounds. Strawther averaged just 3.4 points and 1.2 rebounds last season.
  • Memphis freshman Jalen Duren was ridiculous in the Tigers’ win over over Western Kentucky on Friday night, scoring 22 points and grabbing 19 rebounds. The 6-11 Duren was a five-star prospect and is projected to be one of the top picks in the 2022 NBA Draft. Memphis is 4-0 and will next face Virginia Tech in next week’s Preseason NIT at the Barclays Center.
  • The sleeper game of the day in college basketball is in Des Moines as Drake hosts Richmond. The Bulldogs aren’t getting the same attention at Loyola Chicago in the Missouri Valley Conference, but return nearly everyone of significance from last year’s team that won a game in the NCAA Tournament. Richmond needs to bounce back and earn a quality win after losing to Utah State last week in Annapolis.
  • One thing I never thought I’d write this season? Nevada is 1-3 after four games.

Daily Specials

  • Villanova/Tennessee (Mohegan Sun)
  • Purdue/North Carolina (Mohegan Sun)
  • Stanford at Baylor
  • Richmond at Drake
  • Colgate at Syracuse

Leftovers