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
Kentucky tries to end its home losing streak against Ole Miss
Mercurial would probably be the best word to describe this group of Wildcats. Kentucky’s talent base and potential upside is undeniable, but its substance still leaves a lot to be desired. Three straight losses at Rupp Arena for the first time ever and a defense that’s allowing an average of 95.5 points in its last four home games has raised major questions. A word to the wise: Don’t sleep on the Rebels’ ability to put up points tonight. Chris Beard has had better teams during the course of his coaching career, but Ole Miss’ perimeter troika of Jaylen Murray (14.3 points), Matthew Murrell (16.8 points), and Allen Flanigan (15.7 points) is legitimate. This isn’t a “get well” game for the Wildcats.
Kevin McCullar’s health is officially a concern for Kansas
I’ve seen enough. The Jayhawks had major depth issues with McCullar (19.5 points, 6.4 rebounds, 4.6 assists) in the lineup and without him they might very well be swallowed up by the rest of the Big 12. The 6-6 McCullar didn’t play in Kansas’ loss at Texas Tech on Monday and has missed three of his last five games due to a nagging knee injury. Kansas doesn’t have the roster to survive in this conference without him unless it’s playing at Allen Fieldhouse. The Jayhawks are now 1-5 on the road in Big 12 play and will next visit underrated Oklahoma on Saturday.
The hourglass is running out on Joel Soriano’s career
St. John’s fifth-year center was playing like an All-American earlier in the season, but has recently regressed. In his last three games, the 6-11 Soriano is averaging just 6.7 points and 5.7 rebounds. The Red Storm aren’t going to play their way into the NCAA Tournament with this type of production from their star. Rick Pitino’s team will take a 14-10 record into tonight’s game at Providence, who is 15-9 and also firmly in the bubble picture. Tip off is at 7 PM ET on CBS Sports Network.
On The Side
- North Carolina has not won an outright ACC regular season title since the 2016-17 season. The Tar Heels lead Duke and Virginia by one game for first place in the ACC standings entering their game tonight at Syracuse.
- UConn’s average margin of victory in Big East play is 14.3 points.
- Three of Iowa State’s top six scorers — Tre King, Robert Jones, and Hason Ward — are fifth-year seniors.
- Saint Mary’s Augustas Marciulionis is averaging 13.8 points and six assists in WCC play. This guy has had a major hand in the Gaels’ resurgence after an 8-6 start. Randy Bennett’s team has won 12 consecutive games.
- There is zero reason why the Mountain West has six teams competing for at-large berths to the NCAA Tournament and the Atlantic 10 only has one in Dayton. Zero!
Daily Specials
- Marquette at Butler
- Iowa State at Cincinnati
- Ole Miss at Kentucky
- Oklahoma at Baylor
- Colorado State at San Diego State
Leftovers
- The Breakfast Buffet: Kansas/Iowa State, Jaxson Robinson, Mike White
- The Breakfast Buffet: Indiana eyes a signature win against Illinois, St. John’s bench, SEC needs to a better job spacing out games
- Episode 481 — Ole Miss’ Chris Beard
- The Breakfast Buffet: Jeremy Fears, UCLA is desperate for a win against Rutgers, the Mountain West
- The Breakfast Buffet: Cooper Flagg is taking things to another level, Kentucky, RJ Luis
