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The Breakfast Buffet: March Madness Edition

Who’s hungry for college basketball?

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

Duke needs to get healthy
We knew that the Blue Devils were likely going to be without Caleb Foster (8.5 points) for the NCAA Tournament due to a foot injury, but it was also announced on Wednesday night that Duke will be without Patrick Ngongba for today’s Round of 64 matchup with Siena. The 6-11 Ngongba — who averages 10.7 points and 6.0 rebounds — is also nursing a foot injury. I know that the Blue Devils won the ACC Tournament last week without Ngongba in the middle, but there’s a good chance that they’ll need his presence as early as Saturday against either TCU or Ohio State in the Round of 32. Duke can’t get to a Final Four without Ngongba back in the lineup.

Miami proved it belongs
The best story in college basketball added another major chapter on Wednesday night in Dayton. Miami University’s 89-79 win over SMU was beyond decisive and it reiterated that the Redhawks fully belonged in the NCAA Tournament. Travis Steele’s squad made 16 three-point shots in the victory and also had 20 assists on 29 made field goals all while displaying a beautiful, unselfish brand of basketball that fans in the arena and at home salivating for more. On Friday, they’ll get it as Miami will face Tennessee in the Round of 64 in Philadelphia.

Nebraska plays for a piece of history
A four seed in the NCAA Tournament is great. Tying the program record for wins is great. But for the Huskers, all of those accomplishments will be forgotten if Fred Hoiberg’s team doesn’t win a game in March Madness for the first time ever. Nebraska faces Troy later today in Oklahoma City (12:40 PM ET, TRUTV) in what’s arguably the biggest game in the history of this program.

On The Side

  • The Toyota Center in Downtown Houston — the site of this year’s South Regional — is just 2.4 miles from the Fertitta Center. Kelvin Sampson is two wins away from playing two home games to go to the Final Four. The Cougars will begin NCAA Tournament play today against Idaho.
  • Something to keep in mind if St. John’s and Kansas win their respective games on Friday? Rick Pitino and Bill Self have never faced each other head-to-head as power conference head coaches. The two Hall-of-Famers have only squared off once previously, which occurred a few years ago when Pitino was at Iona.
  • Louisville announced on Wednesday that Mikel Brown Jr. (back) will be OUT for today’s NCAA Tournament game against South Florida and will also be unavailable for the Cards’ game in the Round of 32 if they advance. The 6-5 Brown averages 18.2 points, 4.7 assists, and 3.3 rebounds and has not played since Feb. 28th.
  • TCU’s David Punch is averaging 25.0 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 3.0 blocks in his last two games entering today’s Round of 64 matchup with Ohio State. Remember the name.
  • Here’s an idea: Let’s merge the Postseason NIT — who only had four power conference teams participate this season — with FOX’s College Basketball Crown in Las Vegas.

Leftovers