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The Breakfast Buffet: Javon Small, Wake Forest has a big week, John Blackwell goes Hollywood

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

Javon Small is playing like an All-American
A few weeks ago, it was clear that Small deserved the label of being the best all-around guard in the Big 12. As it turns out, that was an insult. The Mountaineers’ ability to remain nationally relevant and at the top of the Big 12 standings without Tucker DeVries (14.9 points, 4.9 rebounds) — who is still nursing an upper body injury — is a credit to small, who’s been one of the best guards in the country all season long. The 6-3 guard had 27 points, seven rebounds, five assists, and four steals in Saturday’s upset win over Iowa State and is averaging 19.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and 1.9 steals. West Virginia is 13-4 and will return to action on Tuesday night in Morgantown against Arizona State. Tip off is at 9 PM ET on CBS Sports Network.

Wake Forest has a big week
Many people — including myself — felt prior to this season that the Demon Deacons had a chance to be one of the best teams in the ACC. We’ll find out this week if that’s still a possibility. Steve Forbes’ squad will host North Carolina tonight in Winston Salem and Duke on Saturday in what is a massive stretch for a program that’s been on the cusp of making the NCAA Tournament the past few years, but ultimately came up short. Wake Forest is currently 14-4, but as of Monday was only ranked 77th in the NET. The Demon Deacons’ do have a non-conference win over Michigan that has aged nicely, but there’s not much else of substance on their resume. A massive 80-minute stretch lies ahead for this program.

John Blackwell goes Hollywood
The least appreciated guard in the Big Ten will take centerstage tonight in Westwood as Wisconsin — who’s 15-3 and on a seven-game winning streak — will visit UCLA. The 6-4 Blackwell is in the midst of a strong five-game stretch where he’s averaging 21.0 points and 5.4 rebounds. He averaged 8.0 points and 3.2 rebounds last season as a freshman. The Bruins are coming off their best performance of the season on Friday night against Iowa, where they held the Hawkeyes to just 70 points in a 24-point win. Tonight’s task will be much more arduous for Mick Cronin’s squad, who has a Quad 1 opportunity tonight at home against the Badgers.

On The Side

  • Ohio State is just 1-4 this season in games decided by five points or fewer entering tonight’s game against Purdue at Mackey Arena.
  • Arkansas’ three primary perimeter players — Boogie Fland, DJ Wagner, and Johnell Davis — are combining to shoot just 31.2 percent from the field and 25.0 percent from three-point range in SEC play.
  • George Mason’s Tony Skinn is the breakout star in the Atlantic 10. The Patriots are in sole possession in first place of the Atlantic 10 and will take a 14-5 record into tonight’s game at St. Bonaventure.
  • Remember: You need NIL to have a chance to have a good team in college basketball, but NIL alone does not guarantee you a good team.
  • Michigan’s Dusty May was this week’s guest on the College Hoops Today Podcast. 

Daily Specials

  • Vanderbilt at Alabama
  • Mississippi State at Tennessee
  • Ohio State at Purdue
  • UCF at Iowa State
  • Wisconsin at UCLA

Leftovers