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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

Kelvin Sampson is in the opposite position he was in 23 years ago
In 2003 when Sampson was at Oklahoma, he was the top seed in the East Region, but lost to Syracuse in the Elite Eight in a game that was played down the road from the Orange’s campus in Albany. Life is now hitting him back. Houston will play Illinois tonight at the Toyota Center in Downtown Houston, a venue that’s just 2.4 miles from the Fertitta Center, which is where the Cougars play their home games on campus. Sampson is just 80 minutes away from winning two pseudo home games to advance to the Final Four for the second straight season.

Arkansas has to rebound against Arizona
That’s easier said than done. The Razorbacks’ achilles heel all season has been their ability to hold their own on the glass against bigger teams who possess great size and physicality. That’s the Wildcats’ bread and butter thanks to their lethal front court troika of Koa Peat, Tobe Awaka, and Motiejus Krivas. Arkansas needs massive games up front out of Trevon Brazile, Malique Ewin, and Nick Pringle, who has missed the past few games with a hamstring injury, but is expected to return to action tonight. Remember: John Calipari’s team has been out rebounded by 28 in a pair of games this season against Duke and Florida. Tip off for tonight’s game is 9:45 PM ET on CBS.

Pryce Sandfort is due for a big game against Iowa
Nebraska’s best offensive player has had a major hand in the Huskers’ first-ever trip to the Sweet 16, but he’s yet to have a big game this season against the Hawkeyes. In two meetings this season against Iowa, the 6-7 Sandfort is averaging just 14 points, which is approximately four points below his current average. That needs to change tonight in Houston if Fred Hoiberg’s squad is going to have a chance to advance to the Elite Eight. Sandfort is averaging 19 points in the Huskers’ first two NCAA Tournament games.

On The Side

  • Michigan AD Warde Manuel told College Hoops Today the following regarding Dusty May’s future with the Wolverines: “I want Dusty to be the coach at Michigan for a long time and continue to achieve great success. I will actively work with him towards making all that happen.” May is expected to be a candidate for the head coaching vacancy at North Carolina.
  • Alabama’s Aden Holloway didn’t travel with the team to Chicago for Friday’s Sweet 16 game against Michigan, Nate Oats told College Hoops Today on Wednesday night. Holloway didn’t play in last week’s NCAA Tournament games after being arrested early last week in a marijuana related incident and averages 16.8 points.
  • T.J. Otzelberger told reporters on Wednesday that Iowa State’s Joshua Jefferson (ankle) will be a game-time decision for Friday’s Sweet 16 game against Tennessee. The 6-8 forward DNP in the Cyclones’ last game and averages 16.4 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 4.8 assists.
  • Purdue’s C.J. Cox (leg) practiced on Wednesday and is questionable for today’s Sweet 16 game against Texas, a school spokesman told College Hoops Today. The 6-3 Cox suffered the injury on Sunday against Miami and averages 8.5 points
  • The WCC feels a lot different moving forward. Gonzaga is headed for the new Pac-12 in 2026-27 while Saint Mary’s lost Randy Bennett to Arizona State. It will be very interesting to see how the WCC responds moving forward as it aims to remain nationally relevant in the new landscape of college sports.

Leftovers