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The Breakfast Buffet: Nate Ament, Dylan Darling, Alabama/Gonzaga

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

Nate Ament comes to the forefront
There’s been a plethora of elite freshmen that have already made major headlines during the 2025-26 season, but Ament has mostly operated in the shadows. That should change during the next few days. After winning its first five games of the season against mid-major competition, Tennessee will face its first power conference opponent today against Rutgers in the Players Era Festival in Las Vegas. The Vols will then face Houston on Tuesday and an opponent that’s currently TBD on Wednesday. All of this means higher profile games for the 6-10 Ament, who enters today’s game against the Scarlet Knights averaging an impressive 18.8 points, 8.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 2.2 steals.

Dylan Darling steps up a weight class
Is a transfer from Idaho State really going to be St. John’s primary point guard in the most anticipated season that the Red Storm have had in decades? We’ll find over the next few days. Rick Pitino has shown tremendous early confidence in the 6-1 Darling (7.0 points, 4.7 assists), but he’s yet to play a game this season against power conference competition. It will be interesting to see how he responds today against Iowa State’s Tamin Lipsey (19.0 points, 5.3 assists, 4.3 rebounds) in St. John’s first game in the Players Era Festival in Las Vegas. The Red Storm will also play Baylor on Tuesday and an opponent that’s currently TBD on Wednesday.

Alabama/Gonzaga
This Final Four caliber showdown tonight in Las Vegas features a unique contrast in styles. The Crimson Tide possess one of the sport’s elite guard cores in the troika of Labaron Philon (20.5 points, 5.8 assists) , Aden Holloway (17.7 points), and Latrell Wrightsell (9.3 assists) while the Bulldogs are anchored by their sturdy power forward/center combination of Braden Huff (14.8 points, 4.8 rebounds) and Graham Ike (17.0 points, 9.2 rebounds). A fascinating chess match awaits between Nate Oats and Mark Few.

On The Side

  • The Maui Invitational could be a showcase event for NC State’s Darrion Williams. The ACC Preseason Player of the Year has looked the part early for Will Wade’s team, who opens the tournament this afternoon against Seton Hall. The 6-6 Williams is currently averaging 23.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 4.0 assists.
  • Kansas’ next six games are against power conference opponents. Remember: The Jayhawks won’t have prized freshman Darryn Peterson (21.5 points) this week in Las Vegas due to a hamstring injury. Bill Self’s squad will open the Players Era Festival later today against Notre Dame.
  • No program has more to gain this week in Las Vegas than San Diego State. The Aztecs lost a buy game last week against Troy and need to move the needle over the next few days in Sin City if they’re going to have any chance of earning an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. Brian Dutcher’s squad will face Michigan today in the Players Era Festival and then Oregon on Tuesday.
  • Auburn’s Keyshawn Hall (foot) will be a game-time decision for Monday’s game against Oregon in the Players Era Festival in Las Vegas, Steven Pearl told College Hoops Today on Sunday. Hall did not play in the Tigers’ last game is averaging 23.3 points and 11.0 rebounds.
  • Utah State’s MJ Collins looks like a potential Mountain West Player of the Year candidate. After only averaging 7.4 points last season at Vanderbilt, the 6-4 Collins is thriving with the Aggies and scored a whopping 40 points in Sunday’s win over Davidson. Collins is currently averaging 21.0 points while shooting a blistering 63.4 percent from the field and 52.6 percent from three-point range.

Daily Specials

  • Notre Dame/Kansas
  • St. John’s/Iowa State
  • Syracuse/Houston
  • Oregon/Auburn
  • Alabama/Gonzaga

Leftovers