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The Breakfast Buffet: UConn’s Big East opener, Gonzaga’s defense, Myles Johnson’s big test

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’s Big East opener against Creighton
The Huskies last played a game as a member of this conference on March 9, 2013 and their return to the league is going to be met with a stern test. UConn’s matchup with Creighton today at Gampel Pavilion puts Dan Hurley’s squad against one of college basketball’s top offenses. The Bluejays average 86.3 points and 10.9 made three-point shots each time they take the floor. UConn (3-0) hasn’t played since it beat USC at Mohegan Sun on Dec. 3rd due to issues related to COVID-19. 

Gonzaga has a defense
America has raved for weeks about this team’s offense and Jalen Suggs’ long-term potential, but Saturday’s win over Iowa displayed the Bulldogs’ ability to guard the opponent at a high level. Gonzaga held Iowa to 88 points — 12 below its season average — in an 11-point win and also stifled the Hawkeyes into shooting just 4-of-22 from three-point range. Iowa entered Saturday’s game averaging 11.7 made shots from long distance. Mark Few’s squad will next face Virginia next Saturday in Fort Worth. The game will be on CBS. 

Myles Johnson’s big test
Rutgers’ 6-11 big man was a massive anchor in the paint earlier in the week at Maryland (10 points, 16 rebounds, two blocks) and he’ll need to be exceptionally productive again today against Illinois in Piscataway. Kofi Cockburn looked like Shaquille O’Neal during the 2000 NBA Playoffs in the Illini’s rout of Minnesota earlier in the week, as he scored 33 points on 15 shots. The combination of Johnson and 6-11 freshman Cliff Omoruyi have to make things uncomfortable for the 7-foot, 285 pound Cockburn if the Scarlet Knights are going to protect their home court advantage and improve to 2-0 in league play.

On The Side

  • UCLA can’t be the best team in the Pac-12 or a national factor if it doesn’t get more from Chris Smith. The 6-9 senior has a combined 10 points in his last two games and is just 2-16 from the field during that span.
  • Kerwin Walton could wind up being an X-Factor for North Carolina. The Tar Heels freshman sniper came off the bench and scored 13 points in 15 minutes in Saturday’s win over Kentucky and was 3-3 from three-point range. Roy Williams’ squad entered the game with the Wildcats shooting just 27 percent from long distance as a team.
  • Tonight’s matchup between Saint Louis and Minnesota features a matchup of two of college basketball’s most underappreciated guards in the Billikens’ Jordan Goodwin and the Gophers’ Marcus Carr. Despite only standing 6-3, Goodwin averages 11 rebounds, which is tied for 12th nationally.. 
  • Wisconsin has a chance to get out of the gate quickly in Big Ten play. Four of the Badgers’ first six league games are in Madison, with their two road games taking place at Michigan State and Penn State. With the exception of the trip to East Lansing on Christmas Day, everything else in that stretch feels like it should be attainable. 
  • Ready for a positive take on Kentucky despite its 1-5 start? The Wildcats have shown tangible improvement since they lost to Georgia Tech and were being blown out in the first half against Notre Dame. This team needs to focus on two things: Getting Keion Brooks back healthy and putting everything in its power into beating Louisville next Saturday at the KFC Yum Center. 

Daily Specials

  • Creighton at UConn
  • Illinois at Rutgers
  • Marquette at Xavier
  • Oklahoma State at Texas
  • Michigan State at Northwestern

Leftovers: