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The Breakfast Buffet: Villanova begins a brutal stretch at Marquette, Alex Karaban, New Mexico

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

Villanova begins a brutal stretch at Marquette
The Wildcats’ performance during their next five games will ultimately determine the type of season that they’re going to have. After today’s tilt against Marquette in Milwaukee, Villanova will return to Philadelphia to host UConn before back-to-back road games at St. John’s and Butler. Kyle Neptune’s team will then play Marquette again at home. That’s five consecutive games against five NCAA Tournament caliber teams and one against arguably the sport’s best team in UConn. Villanova is currently 11-5 and 4-1 in Big East play.

Alex Karaban has changed UConn’s program
Dan Hurley has regularly said that the ceiling for his team immediately became higher when he started prioritizing offense on the same level that he did both rebounding and toughness. That thought process directly correlated with Karaban’s arrival in Storrs. A starter on last season’s team that won the national title, the 6-8 forward probably didn’t get the credit that he deserved a year ago, but now he’s in the middle of the best stretch of his career. In his last four games, Karaban is averaging 21.8 points while shooting a blistering 16-24 from three-point range. Those are “video game” like numbers. Karaban’s ability to stretch the floor and create spacing has presented a completely different dynamic for UConn that wasn’t readily available prior to his arrival. The Huskies have won five straight games and are a perfect 5-0 without Donovan Clingan, who has been out with a foot injury, but could return as early as this week.

New Mexico has the highest ceiling in the Mountain West
And that was on full display during Saturday’s 88-70 win over San Diego State at The Pit. The Lobos don’t have the pedigree of the Aztecs or the non-conference resume of Colorado State, but if all things are equal, this looks like it can be the best team in the conference. Richard Pitino’s squad boasts veteran firepower on the perimeter with Jaelen House and Jamal Mashburn Jr. along with a major talent in sophomore Donovan Dent; all three players can perform on a given night like they’re the best guard in the Mountain West. Freshman big man JT Toppin — who had 17 points and 16 rebounds against San Diego State — is the best interior freshman in the country that not enough people are talking about. As of Sunday, there were six teams from the Mountain West — New Mexico, San Diego State, Colorado State, Utah State, Nevada, and Boise State — that were ranked in the Top 44 of the NET. The Lobos’ ceiling is the highest among those six teams.

On The Side

  • Duke is 6-0 this season in games where Tyrese Proctor scores in double figures. Can you say X-Factor? Proctor’s consistency may ultimately determine whether or not the Blue Devils can get to the Final Four in April. 
  • Iowa’s Owen Freeman is separating himself as the best freshman in the Big Ten. The 6-10 big man had 22 points and 10 rebounds in Friday night’s win over Nebraska and is averaging 15.8 points and nine rebounds in his last four games. The Hawkeyes next visit Minnesota tonight in Minneapolis.
  • Boise State officially joined the Mountain West party last week with a pair of Quad 1 wins over Colorado State and Nevada. The Broncos are now 12-4 and aiming for their third consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance under Leon Rice.
  • It’s officially time to order a CODE RED on Virginia, who has lost its only four road games this season by a combined 80 points. There is ZERO resistance from this team away from Charlottesville.
  • After losing at Purdue and VCU to begin the season, Samford has now won 15 straight games and is tied with Utah State for the nation’s longest winning streak.

Daily Specials

  • Ohio State at Michigan
  • George Mason at GW
  • Villanova at Marquette
  • Notre Dame at Boston College
  • Iowa at Minnesota

Leftovers