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The Breakfast Buffet: Johnell Davis, Arizona/Utah, the ACC has put itself back “in position to be in position”

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

Johnell Davis is playing like an All-American
Florida Atlantic will take a seven-game winning streak into tonight’s game at UAB and that has directly coincided with an elite stretch from Davis, who was a star during the Owls’ run last season to the Final Four. The 6-4 wing is averaging 23.2 points, seven rebounds, and 3.4 assists in his last seven games. Davis has also vastly improved as a three-point shooter and has already made 46 shots from long distance this season while shooting an astronomical 49.5 percent from three-point range. He made 45 three-point shots during all of last season. This guy has separated himself as one of the best players in the country.

Arizona/Utah
The Wildcats have lost three of their last four games on the road while the Utes are a perfect 12-0 at home. This game is especially important for Utah because it’s the last time this season that Craig Smith’s team will have a Quad 1 opportunity in Salt Lake City. The Utes have really struggled away from home and have just one true road win, which came earlier this season at Saint Mary’s. Utah can take a major step towards its first NCAA Tournament berth since 2016 with a win tonight. Keep an eye on Deivon Smith for the Utes, who’s averaging 18.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, and six assists in his last two games.

The ACC has put itself back “in position to be in position”
All of the following things are true. The ACC has had three teams — Miami, Duke, and North Carolina — reach the past two Final Fours. The ACC has had an overall record of 21-10 in the last two NCAA Tournaments, but only five of its 15 teams have reached the NCAA Tournament each year during that span. Since realignment, the lowest number of teams that the ACC has had in the NCAA Tournament was six in 2014 and 2015. Meanwhile, prior to Clemson’s win over North Carolina on Wednesday night, the Tigers had lost six of nine games following an 11-1 start and looked vulnerable, but the victory in Chapel Hill should cement Brad Brownell’s squad as an NCAA Tournament team along with Duke and North Carolina. Virginia and Wake Forest are playing good basketball and deserve credit for beating the teams that they’re supposed to beat, but both still have work to do in order to make the NCAA Tournament despite significant recent rises in the NET. The combined record of the Cavaliers’ opponents during their seven-game winning streak is 82-74 while the Demon Deacons are still searching for their first Quad 1 win. Remember: This is ONLY February.

On The Side

  • South Carolina is 7-2 this season in games decided by six points or fewer.
  • Do not take what Isaiah Stevens is doing for granted. Colorado State’s All-American point guard has 38 assists and just five turnovers in his last five games.
  • Texas is by far the hardest team to figure out in the Big 12. The Longhorns are just 1-4 at home in conference play, but 3-2 on the road. Rodney Terry’s squad will return to action on Saturday against West Virginia.
  • St. John’s is now 9-4 in games where Jordan Dingle scores in double figures and 4-4 when he does not. I’ll say it again: This is the X-Factor for the Red Storm.
  • Nevada has a burgeoning star in Nick Davidson. The 6-9 sophomore is averaging 23.5 points and 11.5 rebounds in his last two games and has All-Mountain West first-team caliber ability in the future.

Daily Specials

  • Arizona at Utah
  • Arizona State at Colorado
  • Florida Atlantic at UAB
  • Washington at Oregon
  • UC Irvine at UC Santa Barbara

Leftovers