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The Breakfast Buffet: Illinois has “it”, Jericho Sims, San Diego State is hiding in plain sight

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

Illinois has “it”
I’m picking Illinois to win the national title. It doesn’t matter what its path is. It doesn’t matter if it beats Ohio State in the Big Ten Tournament finals later today (3:30 ET, CBS). This team has the star power, intangibles, and role allocation needed to win six straight games in the NCAA Tournament. It also has something that isn’t being talked about enough and will be needed to go through the controlled environment in Indianapolis during the next few weeks — mental stamina. The Illini ooze the power of belief. Illinois has won 13 of its last 14 games since falling at home to Ohio State on Jan. 16th.

Jericho Sims could become a star in the NCAA Tournament
I’m not saying Sims is going to do what Jordan Bell did for Oregon four years ago when the Ducks went to the Final Four, but it certainly feels like he’s on that type of trajectory. In two games this past week at the Big 12 Tournament, the 6-10 Sims completely dominated the interior and averaged 16.5 points, 12.5 rebounds, and three blocks. If he does three quarters of that in the NCAA Tournament, Texas will have a chance to play deep into the bracket. 

San Diego State is hiding in plain sight
One year after San Diego State was projected to be one of the top seeds in the NCAA Tournament, Brian Dutcher’s team feels like it’s barely on the national radar. It may not stay that way for long. The Aztecs don’t have the same buzz that they did a year ago with Malachi Flynn, but they’re still 23-4 and on a 14-game winning streak. They also defend. Six of San Diego State’s opponents during its current winning streak have scored 60 points or less.  

Success in conference tournaments doesn’t automatically equate to winning a national title
Recent history proves just that. Six of the last eight national champions — Kentucky (2012), UConn (2014), Duke (2015), Villanova (2016), North Carolina (2017), and Virginia (2019) — did not win their respective conference tournaments before winning six straight games in the NCAA Tournament. This is something to keep in mind when you fill out your bracket later on today. The most recent teams to win their conference tournaments and then the national title was Louisville in 2013 and Villanova in 2018. 

Remember the name Jason Preston
Some power conference assistant is going to be sleepless all week when his team draws Ohio in the Round of 64 later tonight. That’s because of Preston. It’s very rare when a mid-major program has a pro prospect at point guard, but that’s exactly what Preston is. The 6-4 floor general has great size for his position and simply makes plays that others can’t. Preston had 22 points, seven assists, and six rebounds in Saturday’s MAC title game against Buffalo. He’s had six games this season with at least 20 points, five assists, and five rebounds.

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