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The Breakfast Buffet: UConn has reaffirmed its place as a blue blood, Rodney Terry, North Carolina

Here’s today’s installment of “The Breakfast Buffet”, the morning column 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

UConn has reaffirmed its place as a blue blood program in college basketball
It’s been nine years since the Huskies have played in the Final Four, but now that they’re back it’s almost as if they never left. UConn’s first Final Four appearance under Dan Hurley again cements its place among the elite programs in college basketball. The Huskies now have a chance to win a national title for the third time in 13 years with three different coaches — Hurley, Kevin Ollie (2014), and Jim Calhoun (2011).

Rodney Terry had a birthday that he’ll never forget
The 55-year old Terry wishes that he was preparing Texas for the Final Four this week in Houston, but he got a pretty good consolation prize on Monday, which also just happened to be his birthday. Terry officially had the interim tag removed yesterday and agreed to a five-year deal worth approximately $3 million dollars annually to become the Longhorns’ permanent head coach. That’s one heck of a birthday gift.

North Carolina will have a completely different look next season
That may not necessarily be a bad thing. After beginning the season as the No. 1 team in the AP Top 25, the Tar Heels never met expectations and missed the NCAA Tournament after finishing 20-13. Since the conclusion of the season, two of North Carolina’s top six scorers — Caleb Love and Puff Johnson — entered the transfer portal while two other starters — Pete Nance and Leaky Black — exhausted their eligibility. Hubert Davis returns two All-ACC players in R.J. Davis (16.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.2 assists) and Armando Bacot (15.9 points, 10.4 rebounds), but a full makeover is officially occurring in Chapel Hill. The Tar Heels will have three new starters next season alongside both Davis and Bacot. North Carolina received a commitment on Monday from Brown transfer Paxson Wojcik (14.9 points, 7.2 rebounds).

On The Side

  • Miami is averaging 81.3 points in the NCAA Tournament. UConn is surrendering an average of 59.3 points in the NCAA Tournament. Something’s gotta give on Saturday at the Final Four in Houston.
  • San Diego State is 8-1 this season in games decided by five points or fewer.
  • Only one of Florida Atlantic’s top five scorers — Vladislav Goldin — is a transfer.
  • UConn is 13-1 this season in games where Nahiem Alleyne scores eight or more points.
  • For the first time since 1938, this week’s Postseason NIT will not be played at Madison Square Garden as the event will take place at Orleans Arena in Las Vegas.

Leftovers