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The Breakfast Buffet: Providence aims to make history, a big day in the SEC, Kansas/Baylor

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

Providence aims to make history
No place in college basketball will be more electric today than the Dunkin Donuts Center. Providence’s program has been to the Final Four and enjoyed a handful of deep runs in the NCAA Tournament, but the Friars have never won a Big East regular season title. That can change tonight with a win against Creighton. The Bluejays are now moving forward without freshman point guard Ryan Nembhard (11.3 points, 4.4 assists, 3.1 rebounds), who suffered a season-ending wrist injury in Wednesday’s win at St. John’s.

A big day in the SEC
This league — which has made its name thanks to its prowess on the gridiron — has a very big day on the hardwood. Four teams from the SEC who are ranked in the Top 18 of this week’s AP Top 25 — Arkansas, Kentucky, Auburn, and Tennessee — will take part today in a pair of heavyweight matchups. The Razorbacks — who have won 12 of their last 13 games — will host Kentucky at Bud Walton Arena (2 PM ET, CBS) while Auburn visits Tennessee. All four of these teams are good enough to get to the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament. Remember: This is more than just a football conference.

Kansas/Baylor
The teams with the two most Quad 1 wins in college basketball square off in Waco. The big question is whether or not the Bears will be healthy. Baylor has already lost Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua for the season due to a knee injury and its three primary guards — James Akinjo, Adam Flagler, and LJ Cryer — have all been in and out of the lineup with numerous injuries. Kansas has won six of its last seven games and is firmly in position to be a number one seed in the NCAA Tournament.

On The Side

  • Today’s game between Duke (24-4) and Syracuse (15-13) at the Carrier Dome could be the last time that Mike Krzyzewski and Jim Boeheim face each other unless these two teams play in the NCAA Tournament. Krzyzewski is 11-5 all-time against Boeheim, who was Krzyzewski’s assistant with USA Basketball in the Olympics.
  • Michigan State (18-9) has lost five of its last six games entering today’s tilt against Purdue (24-4) in East Lansing. The Spartans’ next two games after they face the Boilers? At Michigan and at Ohio State. Yikes!
  • Gonzaga has won its last five games at Saint Mary’s entering tonight’s tilt in Moraga. All five victories came by double figures.
  • Wisconsin’s Johnny Davis has more than doubled his rebounding average from last season, going from 4.1 to 8.3. Now a sophomore, Davis has already grabbed 77 more rebounds than he did a year ago as a freshman.
  • Looking for an off-the-radar player who could become a star during Championship Week? Try UNLV’s Bryce Hamilton. The 6-4 senior is averaging 25.5 points and 6.7 rebounds over his last six games while making a total of 23 three-point shots during that span.

Daily Specials

  • Kentucky at Arkansas
  • Auburn at Tennessee
  • Kansas at Baylor
  • Creighton at Providence
  • Gonzaga at Saint Mary’s

Leftovers