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The Breakfast Buffet: UConn still needs more out of its sophomore class, Ian Jackson, UCF

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

UConn still needs more out of its sophomore class
Other than Solo Ball (12.5 points) — who has separated himself as the Huskies’ third offensive option behind Alex Karaban (16.5 points) and Liam McNeeley (13.9 points) — UConn’s crop of second-year players have been a bit inconsistent through the first two months of the season. That has to change if this team wants to again have a deep run in the NCAA Tournament. The Huskies’ two sophomore wings — Jaylin Stewart and Jayden Ross — have to be more reliable on both sides of the floor. The 6-7 Stewart had 10 points in 19 minutes in a win over Gonzaga at MSG on Dec. 14th, but has only scored a total of two points in the two games since. And Ross? Long, wiry, and built like a defensive back, this guy has an opening to have a major role for this team thanks to his length, athleticism, and intangibles, but has yet to carve out a consistent and cemented presence. Dan Hurley’s squad is 10-3 and has won six straight games entering today’s matchup with DePaul in Chicago. Tip off is at 2 PM ET on CBS Sports Network.

Ian Jackson is exploding for North Carolina
The five-star freshman has scored a combined 50 points in the Tar Heels’ last two games and has showed the form that made him one of the nation’s top high school prospects a year ago. The Tar Heels’ coaching staff has regularly discussed downshifting to a four-guard lineup because of their limitations up front and Jackson’s continued development will play a major role in that. The 6-4 guard will aim to put together another strong showing tonight as North Carolina takes on Louisville at the KFC Yum Center.

UCF looks like the sleeper team in the Big 12
It’s taken the Knights two months, but they’re finally healthy. They’re also more than capable. We haven’t heard much about Johnny Dawkins’ team since an opening night win over Texas A&M, but Tuesday’s 87-83 win at Texas Tech was a major statement. UCF has an All-Big-12 guard in veteran Darius Johnson (15.5 points, 4.4 assists) and two key additions from the transfer portal in Keyshawn Hall (George Mason) and Jordan Ivy-Curry (UTSA). 7-2 freshman Moustapha Thiam (8.0 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.6 blocks) is also a difference maker at the front of the rim defensively. With Jaylin Sellers and freshman Mikey Williams now fully healthy after a few early season injuries, Dawkins has bonafide depth and can play up to 10 different players each game. The Knights will take a 10-2 record into Sunday’s game against Kansas in Orlando. This smells like a bubble team.

On The Side

  • On Tuesday, I wrote about how Kansas needed more out of its transfers aside from Zeke Mayo. In Wednesday’s loss to West Virginia at Allen Fieldhouse, AJ Storr, David Coit, and Rylan Griffen combined for just three points. There are major holes right now in Lawrence.
  • Duke’s Isaiah Evans is emerging as one of the best sixth men in the country. The 6-6 freshman is averaging 10.8 points in 17.5 minutes off the bench in his last four games. This a potential X-Factor to monitor to Durham.
  • Marquette’s Kam Jones (20.1 points, 6.6 assists, 4.7 rebounds) now has six more assists than he did during all of last season. The best all-around guard in the sport, Jones might be the biggest challenger to Auburn’s Johni Broome in the National Player of the Year race.
  • Prediction: At least one SEC team will reach the NCAA Tournament with a 7-11 record in league play.
  • Drake’s Mitch Mascari is 40-of-81 from three-point range this season. The Bulldogs are 12-0 entering today’s game at UIC.

Daily Specials

  • UConn at DePaul
  • Cal at Pitt
  • Stanford at Clemson
  • North Carolina at Louisville
  • Villanova at Butler

Leftovers