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The Breakfast Buffet: Tennessee’s toughest yet awaits at Illinois, Braden Smith vs. Wade Taylor, a new era of Kentucky/Louisville

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

Tennessee’s toughest game of the season will be today’s trip to Illinois
The Vols — who are currently ranked FIRST in the ROTHSTEIN 45 — have won all nine of their games this season by double figures, but the weight class will change today in Champaign against the Illini. Brad Underwood’s team is 7-2 and coming off a six-point win over Wisconsin on Tuesday. Tennessee’s collective perimeter experience with Zakai Zeigler (12.1 points, 8.0 assists, 2.0 steals), Chaz Lanier (19.1 points), and Jahmai Mashack (6.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.1 steals) should play a major role in this game as all three players are in at least their fourth season of college basketball.

A great point guard matchup between Braden Smith and Wade Taylor IV in Indianapolis
Both of these players are having All-American caliber starts to the 2024-25 season and both of their teams — Purdue and Texas A&M — look the part of units that will be very high seeds in the 2025 NCAA Tournament. With Zach Edey no longer in West Lafayette, the 6-foot Smith (13.2 points, 8.8 assists, 4.8 rebounds) has become the face of the Boilers’ program while Taylor (16.1 points, 4.5 assists, 3.5 rebounds) has had the same type of impact for Buzz Williams in College Station at point guard that Justin Robinson had for him at Virginia Tech and Junior Cadougan had for him at Marquette. This is a Sweet 16 caliber game. Tip off is at Noon ET on CBS.

A new era of Kentucky/Louisville
Today’s game at Rupp Arena is more than just the first time that Mark Pope has coached the Wildcats and Pat Kelsey has coached the Cards in this historic rivalry. It’s also the first time since Jan. 2, 2001 that neither John Calipari or Rick Pitino has coached in this game. Both teams are dealing with injuries, but Kentucky is in much better shape than Louisville, who currently has three key players — Kasean Pryor (knee), Koren Johnson (shoulder), and Aboubacar Traore (arm) — out indefinitely. Both Pryor and Johnson are out for the season. The Wildcats have played their last two games without starting point guard Lamont Butler (12.9 points, 3.9 assists), who’s nursing an ankle injury. Kentucky is 9-1 in its first 10 games while Louisville is 6-4.

On The Side

  • Tonight’s meeting between Gonzaga and UConn at MSG is the third meeting between the two programs in the last three seasons. The Huskies were a perfect 7-0 last season at the World’s Most Famous Arena.
  • Iowa State’s Curtis Jones looks primed to be college basketball’s best sixth man this season. The 6-5 wing had 23 points and six rebounds in Thursday’s comeback win at Iowa. Jones — who’s essentially a sixth starter for the Cyclones — is currently averaging 17.0 points and 4.7 rebounds while shooting 41.1 percent from three-point range.
  • Marquette is 20-2 over the past three seasons in games where Ben Gold scores in double figures. Can you say X-Factor? The Golden Eagles will next visit Atlantic 10 favorite Dayton tonight. Tip Off is at 7 PM ET on CBS Sports Network. 
  • The sleeper game of the day in college basketball? Arizona State’s matchup with undefeated Florida in Atlanta. The Sun Devils are 8-1, with their only defeat coming by eight points at Gonzaga on Nov. 10th.
  • Xavier has won five straight games against Cincinnati in the Crosstown Shootout entering today’s game at Fifth Third Arena. 

Daily Specials

  • Purdue/Texas A&M (Indianapolis)
  • Arizona/UCLA (Phoenix)
  • Louisville at Kentucky
  • Tennessee at Illinois
  • Gonzaga/UConn (MSG)

Leftovers