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The Breakfast Buffet: March Madness Edition

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

The UConn Invitational hits Boston
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: The three teams — San Diego State, Illinois, and Iowa State — who will join the Huskies tonight at TD Garden are at a major disadvantage. UConn is playing this weekend’s games — starting with tonight’s tilt against the Aztecs — just 84 miles from its campus in Storrs and will be playing a pseudo home game. It’s going to take a herculean effort from any of these teams to beat the Huskies in New England. Another thing to remember? Dan Hurley’s squad is 33-3 and has won nine straight games.

Arizona/Clemson
Very few games in the Sweet 16 are going to have a contrast in styles like this one. The Wildcats want to play as fast as possible. The Tigers want to play slow and methodical. Something’s gotta give tonight in Los Angeles. According to the analytics website KenPom.com, Arizona enters tonight’s game ranked 16th in adjusted tempo while Clemson is ranked 257. Remember: Brad Brownell’s team held Baylor to just 64 points last Sunday after the Bears scored 92 in an opening round win over Colgate. A fascinating chess match awaits in the City of Angels.

The ACC needs Pat Kelsey to invigorate Louisville
All conferences need their biggest brands to be successful and that hasn’t been the case with the Cardinals. Louisville has not made the NCAA Tournament since 2019 and hasn’t won a game in March Madness since 2017. Kelsey will hopefully change that. Many people will talk about the infectious energy that Kelsey presents as soon as he walks into a room, but his most impressive attribute is the amount that he’s won. The 48-year old head coach went to two NCAA Tournaments while he was at Winthrop and would have went to another in 2020 if the event wasn’t cancelled due to COVID. He also led Charleston to back-to-back NCAA Tournaments during the past two seasons as he compiled a combined overall record of 58-12. Kelsey wins. That’s just what both Louisville and the ACC desperately need.

On The Side

  • Under Kelvin Sampson, Houston has advanced to the Sweet 16 or better in five straight NCAA Tournaments. Prior to his arrival, the Cougars advanced to the Sweet 16 or better five times from 1950-2014.
  • UConn’s average margin of victory in its last eight NCAA Tournament games is 22 points.
  • North Carolina is 7-0 this season when Elliot Cadeau scores in double figures.
  • Illinois is averaging 91.3 points in its last four games.
  • If North Carolina beats Alabama and Arizona beats Clemson tonight in Los Angeles, Caleb Love will face his old team on Saturday for the right to go to the Final Four. This is March!

Leftovers