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The Breakfast Buffet: UConn’s trip to Butler, Texas has become the hunted, Rutgers/Ohio State

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 trip to Hinkle Fieldhouse
Are the Huskies going to be a serious contender in the Big East? If so, they need to win today’s game at Butler. Dan Hurley’s squad is coming off an emotional victory earlier in the week at Marquette where sophomore guard James Bouknight only scored six points and Tyrese Martin scored zero, but the Huskies still found a way to win by 11. UConn is 5-1, with its only loss coming against Creighton in a game that the Huskies easily could have won. This program has again regained momentum after years of being irrelevant nationally. We’ll see if it can continue today. Tip off is at 4 PM ET on CBS Sports Network.

Texas has quickly become the hunted
It’s amazing how quickly things can change. Many wondered if Shaka Smart would do enough this season to get Texas in position to advance in the NCAA Tournament and now after last week’s win at Kansas the Longhorns are being mentioned as one of the top teams in the sport. We’ll find out how tough they are today when they visit West Virginia. The Mountaineers — who are still adjusting their style of play after losing Oscar Tshiebwe — are coming off an emotional win earlier in the week at Oklahoma State, where they erased a 19-point deficit with 11 minutes remaining.

Rutgers tries to get back on track against Ohio State
You know that Scarlet Knights have officially arrived as a program when it feels like a big deal that they have lost two straight. Steve Pikiell’s squad will try to get back on track today at the RAC against Ohio State, a team that beat the Scarlet Knights a few weeks ago in Columbus and outrebounded them by 20. The Buckeyes will be without point guard CJ Walker, who is out due to torn ligaments in his hand. 

On The Side

  • Oklahoma needs to get Austin Reaves on track offensively if it wants to challenge for a spot in the top half of the Big 12. The veteran guard is just 4-22 from three-point range over his last three games and is shooting just 25 percent from long distance on the season. The Sooners visit Kansas today at Phog Allen Fieldhouse. Tip off is at 4:30 PM ET on CBS. 
  • Gonzaga’s unsung presence has been Florida transfer Andrew Nembhard. The steady point guard has been tremendous for the Bulldogs in reserve and elite at taking care of the ball. In Nembhard’s last four games, he has 18 assists to one turnover. 
  • Iowa’s Jordan Bohannon is averaging 17.7 points over his last three games and is shooting 15-23 from three-point range during that span. This is the guy that will ultimately raise the Hawkeyes’ long-term ceiling. Fran McCaffery’s squad is back in action on Sunday at home against Minnesota. 
  • I really hope that the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee values the eye test. Since teams played fewer guarantee games this season, records will not be as inflated. Programs like Indiana (7-5) and Seton Hall (8-5) both have very good basketball teams even if their record states that they’re only a couple of games over .500. 
  • The Division 1 Council will officially vote on Monday regarding a one-time transfer exception for all sports, according to multiple sources close to the situation. The proposed notification dates in legislation for intent to transfer is May 1st for fall and winter sports and July 1st for spring sports.

Daily Specials

  • Ohio State at Rutgers
  • Texas at West Virginia
  • Baylor at TCU
  • UConn at Butler
  • Oklahoma at Kansas

Leftovers: