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The Breakfast Buffet: Jordan Hawkins, Norchad Omier, VCU continues to be a gateway to power conference jobs

Here’s today’s installment of “The Breakfast Buffet”, the morning column 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

Jordan Hawkins is having a “Ben Gordon” like NCAA Tournament for UConn
In no way am I comparing Hawkins to Gordon as a basketball player, but Hawkins is doing for the Huskies what Gordon did 19 years ago in 2004 when UConn won its second national title under Jim Calhoun. The 6-5 sophomore has really come into his own over his last two games and is averaging 17.3 points during the NCAA Tournament. Hawkins has scored a combined 44 points in his last two games and is also 16-31 from three-point range in the NCAA Tournament. If he continues to play at this type of a level, the Huskies could roll over both of their opponents this week in Houston.

Norchad Omier can’t get into foul trouble against UConn
The Arkansas State transfer has played much bigger than his 6-7 frame all season, but he’s yet to have to deal with a two-headed monster at center like the Huskies’ combo of Adama Sanogo and Donovan Clingan. The first key to battling that duo is having an ability to stay on the floor. Omier hasn’t played less than 26 minutes during the Hurricanes’ four NCAA Tournament games and his presence is a major reason why Miami is in the Final Four. Omier is averaging 10.5 points and 13.3 rebounds in the NCAA Tournament.

VCU continues to be a gateway to power conference jobs
Mike Rhoades became the fifth consecutive head coach to leave the Rams for a power conference gig when he accepted the head coaching vacancy at Penn State on Wednesday. The four coaches who preceded him in Richmond — Will Wade (LSU), Shaka Smart (Texas), Anthony Grant (Alabama), and Jeff Capel (Oklahoma) — all took a similar path. Don’t be shocked if Ryan Odom — who VCU officially announced as Rhoades’ successor on Wednesday evening — is next to follow suit a few years down the road.

On The Side

  • Four of San Diego State’s top five scorers — Matt Bradley, Darrion Trammell, Jaedon LeDee, and Micah Parrish — are transfers.
  • Florida Atlantic’s Michael Forrest has scored 19 points in his last two games. He didn’t score a single point during the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament.
  • UConn has an 8-1 all-time record in Final Four games.
  • Miami’s Nijel Pack is averaging 18.3 points in the NCAA Tournament. That’s approximately 4.5 points more than he’s averaged for the entire season.
  • Nine of Shaka Smart’s former assistants — Mike Rhoades (Penn State), Mike Morrell (UNC Asheville), Jeremy Ballard (FIU), K.T. Turner (UT Arlington), Will Wade (McNeese), Mike Jones (UNCG), Dwight Perry (Wofford), Darrin Horn (Northern Kentucky) and Luke Yaklich (UIC) — are Division 1 head coaches.

Leftovers