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The Breakfast Buffet: Solomon Hall, UCLA begins a difficult stretch at Oregon, David Riley

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

Solomon Ball has been a consistent scoring threat for UConn
It’s been an up and down start to the season for the Huskies, but the sophomore jump that many anticipated Ball would make has come to fruition. Entering today’s game against Texas in Austin, the 6-3 Ball is averaging 12.6 points while shooting 50 percent from the field and 46 percent from three-point range. He’s scored in double figures in every single game this season. Last season as a freshman, Ball averaged 3.3 points and only reached double figures three times. His ascension has been a steady presence in UConn’s first month of the 2024-25 college basketball season.

UCLA begins a difficult stretch at Oregon
This is where they say “the plot thickens”. The Bruins will take a 7-1 record into today’s game against the Ducks in Eugene, but all seven of their victories have been in buy games and their one defeat was a one-sided loss to New Mexico in Las Vegas in Nov. 8th. We’re going to find out over the next three weeks just how improved Mick Cronin’s team is after he brought in seven newcomers during the offseason. After today’s game at Oregon, UCLA will face Arizona next Saturday in Phoenix followed by a buy game against Prairie View A&M on Dec. 17th. A matchup with North Carolina at MSG is next as part of the CBS Sports Classic on Dec. 21st which will precede a game against Gonzaga at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles one week later on Dec. 28th. A slew of litmus tests are coming for the Bruins starting with today’s matchup with Oregon, who’s currently a perfect 9-0.

David RIley had a breakout week
The 36-year old head coach led Washington State to back-to-back wins at Nevada and Boise State without Cedric Coward (17.7 points, 7.0 rebounds), who’s currently out with a shoulder injury. Neither game was in doubt. Riley went 62-38 in three years at Eastern Washington prior to taking his current post in Pullman. He’s now off to an 8-2 start in his first season with the Cougars, who are firmly in the mix to be the WCC’s third-best team behind Gonzaga and Saint Mary’s.

On The Side

  • The most impressive part of Kam Jones’ start to the season? His level of ball security. Jones has 25 assists to just three turnovers in Marquette’s last three games.
  • None of North Carolina’s three primary big men — Jalen Washington, Jae’Lyn Withers, and Ven Allen Lubin — have tallied a game this season with at least 10 rebounds.
  • Duke’s Tyrese Proctor is averaging career-highs in points (12.4), rebounds (4.4), field-goal percentage (43.2), and three-point field percentage (46.3) entering today’s game at Louisville.
  • Michigan State now has 45 assists on its last 58 made field goals.
  • Texas Tech’s Darrion Williams is the best kept secret in the Big 12. The 6-6 forward is one of the more versatile players in the sport and knows how to touch all areas of the box score. He’s averaging 20.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 3.0 assists in his last three games entering today’s matchup with Texas A&M in Fort Worth.

Daily Specials

  • Maryland at Purdue
  • Texas A&M/Texas Tech (Fort Worth)
  • UConn at Texas
  • Duke at Louisville
  • UCLA at Oregon

Leftovers