College Hoops Today

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The Breakfast Buffet: Nebraska/Ohio State, Seton Hall, Jeremiah Wilkinson

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

Nebraska/Ohio State
The Huskers don’t normally present a Quad 1 opportunity for an opponent on its home floor, but that’s the case for the Buckeyes tonight in Columbus. Ohio State has put together a solid 10-3 record through 13 games in its second season under Jake Diebler, but has yet to truly earn a significant win against a team that’s projected to be a high seed in the NCAA Tournament. That can change tonight. Nebraska’s 14-0 start is the best in program history and Fred Hoiberg’s squad already owns wins over both Illinois and Michigan State.

A dream season is unfolding for Seton Hall
Is it great coaching, great evaluating, or divine intervention? Probably a little bit of all three. The Pirates were picked last in the Big East Preseason Poll, but are now 13-2 after Sunday’s dramatic comeback victory over Creighton in Newark and on a trajectory to potentially play in the NCAA Tournament for the first time under Shaheen Holloway. I know it’s only Jan. 5th, but the facts are the facts: Seton Hall is one win away from doubling its entire win total from all of last season and has avoided any potholes during its non-conference schedule. Eight or nine more wins between now and Selection Sunday may be enough to cement this group’s place into March Madness.

Jeremiah Wilkinson is the SEC’s least appreciated transfer
Along with Vanderbilt, Georgia’s 13-1 start has been the surprise of this conference and the presence of Wilkinson is a major reason why. After averaging 15.1 points last season at Cal, the 6-3 guard headed to Athens with hopes of being in a winning situation and playing on a team that had a chance to advance to the NCAA Tournament. He’s well on his way. Wilkinson had 31 points in Saturday’s overtime win over Auburn and is averaging 18.3 points all while playing like one of the best perimeter players in the SEC. Remember the name.

On The Side

  • Prediction: Kansas (10-4) will lose 10 or more games for the third straight season. Prior to last year, the Jayhawks had never tallied double-digit losses in back-to-back seasons under Bill Self. 
  • Tonight’s game between USC and Michigan State in East Lansing is the second installment of three Big Ten road games for the Trojans in a seven-day span. That’s a long time to be away from Los Angeles in the beginning of January.
  • Clemson is 5-0 losing to BYU at the buzzer in the Jimmy V Classic in early December. The Tigers are aiming for three straight NCAA Tournament appearances for the first time ever under Brad Brownell. 
  • Nate Bittle has been a bright spot in an 8-6 start for Oregon. The veteran big man is averaging 22.0 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 3.5 blocks in his last four games entering tonight’s tilt against Rutgers in Piscataway.
  • VCU has a burgeoning star in Terrence Hill Jr. The 6-3 sophomore has scored 19 or more points in four of the Rams’ last eight games.

Daily Specials

  • Nebraska at Ohio State
  • Oregon at Rutgers
  • USC at Michigan State

Leftovers