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The Breakfast Buffet: Trayce Jackson-Davis, Bill Self visits his alma mater, D.J. Burns

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

Indiana’s Trayce Jackson-Davis has separated himself as college basketball’s second-best player
Nobody is going to leap Purdue’s Zach Edey in the National Player of the Year Race, but Jackson-Davis also deserves major praise for the type of season that he’s having. The 6-9 big man is averaging 20.2 points, 11.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and three blocks, but has really taken this to another level during his last 12 games. During that span, Jackson-Davis is averaging 23.3 points, 13.9 rebounds, four assists, and 3.3 blocks. Those are “video game” like numbers.

Bill Self visits his alma mater
The Jayhawks played great basketball in Saturday’s blowout win over Oklahoma, but the Cowboys are playing their best basketball of the season. Winners of five straight games and seven of its last eight, Oklahoma State (16-9) enters tonight’s game in Stillwater against Kansas (20-5) with all sorts of momentum and a chemistry that is second to none in the sport. “Everyone is completely bought into their roles,” Oklahoma State coach Mike Boynton told College Hoops Today after Saturday’s win over Iowa State at Hilton Coliseum. “Nothing is above the team.” The Cowboys are only allowing an average of 63.6 points during their current five-game winning streak.

D.J. Burns has emerged as an anchor for NC State
The 6-9, 275 pound center is one of the main reasons why the Wolfpack are trending towards their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2018. Over his last five games, Burns is averaging 19.2 points and 7.4 rebounds while shooting 58.1 percent from the field. His presence could be a major bonus for NC State (20-6) during the postseason, who haven’t always had a bonafide low post scoring presence under Kevin Keatts. The Wolfpack will next visit Syracuse (15-10) tonight.

On The Side

  • Rylan Griffen is emerging as a potent reserve for Alabama. The 6-5 wing is averaging 12.4 points in his last five games.
  • Jim Larranaga said Monday on the College Hoops Today Podcast that the key to Miami’s “small ball” success during the past two years has been related to Jordan Miller’s ability to thrive on both sides of the floor as a 6-7 power forward. “He can guard guys who are 6-10 or 7-feet tall,” Larranaga said of Miller, who’s averaging 15 points and 5.8 rebounds.
  • UConn (18-7) has three of its final five regular season games at home. The two road games during that span? At St. John’s and at Villanova. The Huskies could go into the Big East Tournament with all sorts of momentum.
  • One big thing to remember about Northwestern (18-7)? Boo Buie, Chase Audige, and Robbie Beran can all return next season for a fifth year of eligibility due to COVID.
  • Leonard Hamilton exclusively told College Hoops Today on Monday that despite Florida State’s struggles, he fully intends to return next season.

Daily Specials

  • Creighton at Providence
  • NC State at Syracuse
  • Missouri at Auburn
  • Kansas at Oklahoma State
  • Kansas State at Oklahoma

Leftovers