College Hoops Today

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The Breakfast Buffet: Tobe Awaka, Nebraska’s defense, Texas/Kentucky

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

Tobe Awaka is a National Sixth Man of the Year Award candidate
I’ve said for years that college basketball is doing a disservice to the sport by not having this year award on an annual basis, but that hasn’t stopped me from handing it out each and every March. Awaka is on the short list. The bruising big man is essentially a sixth starter for 18-0 Arizona, who will host Cincinnati tonight in Tucson. Undersized yet incredibly effective, the 6-8, 255-pound Awaka has shoulders that stretch from New York to California and regularly carves out space in the paint regardless of the opponent. He’s averaging 10.7 points and 9.8 rebounds in just 20.8 minutes while shooting 59.6 percent from the field. There’s not many reserves in the sport more formidable than this guy.

Nebraska’s defense at Pinnacle Bank Arena deserves more attention
An 18-0 start for a program that has never won a game in the NCAA Tournament is a major story. The Huskers’ defense at home isn’t far behind. At Iowa State, Fred Hoiberg was strictly known as an offensive coach. He reversed course in Lincoln. In four games this season against power conference opponents at Pinnacle Bank Arena, Nebraska is holding its competition to an average of 55.3 points. That’s beyond impressive. The Huskers will try and keep the good times rolling tonight against Washington in Lincoln.

Texas/Kentucky
The Longhorns are mercurial. The Wildcats are riding a wave of emotion after back-to-back road wins last week at LSU and Tennessee. Sounds like a fascinating contrast tonight at Rupp Arena. Texas seemed like it was on the verge of putting its disappointing start to the season in the rear view mirror after back-to-back wins over Alabama and Vanderbilt, but it took a step backwards by losing at home last Saturday to Texas A&M. How it responds tonight at Rupp Arena will be a telling sign of where Sean Miller’s squad is headed. This is the first of two home games for Kentucky this week as the Wildcats will also host Ole Miss on Saturday.

On The Side

  • Brad Underwood told reporters on Tuesday that Illinois’ Kylan Boswell (14.3 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.4 assists) — one of the best perimeter defenders in the country — will likely be out for the next month due to a hand injury. This is a major blow for the Illini, who are 15-3 and will host Maryland tonight in Champaign.
  • Rick Pitino will go for his 900th win as a collegiate head coach on Saturday. His opponent? Xavier, coached by Richard Pitino.
  • Texas A&M (14-4) is 4-1 in games this season that have been decided by five points or fewer. The Aggies will host Mississippi State tonight in College Station.
  • John Mobley is averaging 27 points in Ohio State’s last two games while shooting 11-23 from three-point range. That’s utterly ridiculous.
  • San Diego State will take a seven-game winning streak into tonight’s game at Grand Canyon.

Daily Specials

  • Notre Dame at North Carolina
  • Texas at Kentucky
  • Cincinnati at Arizona
  • Washington at Nebraska
  • San Diego State at Grand Canyon

Leftovers