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
FDU’s win over Purdue is the biggest upset in the history of the NCAA Tournament
That is not hyperbole. Unlike UMBC’s win over Virginia in 2018 or St. Peter’s upset over Kentucky a year ago, the Knights’ win over the Boilers on Friday night in Columbus was different because they started the NCAA Tournament in the First Four and those other teams did not. Another important aspect of this? FDU didn’t earn an automatic qualifier by winning the NEC Tournament —- Merrimack did, but was ineligible for the postseason. The Knights are the second No. 16 seed to beat a No. 1 seed in the history of the NCAA Tournament. Tobin Anderson’s squad will face Florida Atlantic on Sunday for a berth in the Sweet 16 at Madison Square Garden.
March pain continues for Purdue
It’s been a brutal couple of years for this program in the NCAA Tournament. In 2018, the Boilers could have made the Final Four, but their starting center Isaac Haas suffered an elbow injury and they were eliminated in the Sweet 16. One year later, Purdue lost to Virginia in dramatic fashion in the Elite Eight. Two years later in 2021, it fell to North Texas in the first round after earning a four seed. And last season? The Boilers were upset by St. Peter’s in the Sweet 16 in Philadelphia. Friday night’s loss to FDU was worse than all of those defeats. This is going to follow Matt Painter around for the rest of his career. The dark side of March is a real thing.
Houston plays a road game against Auburn
The Cougars haven’t lost away a road game all season and they’ll have to continue that trend today if they hope to reach the Sweet 16. Houston’s matchup with Auburn in Birmingham (7:10 PM ET, TBS) is as difficult of a second round game as a No. 1 seed has had to endure in several years. It will also come with a hobbled backcourt as both Marcus Sasser (groin) and Jamal Shead (knee) are nursing injuries. Auburn’s campus is located just 112 miles from Legacy Arena, which is where tonight’s game will be played.
On The Side
- Penn State is prepared to make a significant, long-term commitment to Micah Shrewsberry as soon as the Nittany Lions conclude their season, a source told College Hoops Today on Friday. Shrewsberry has been reportedly linked to the head coaching vacancies at both Georgetown and Notre Dame. Penn State will face Texas today in Des Moines (7:45 PM ET, CBS).
- UConn’s two centers — Adama Sanogo and Donovan Clingan — combined for 40 points and 22 rebounds in Friday’s win over Iona.
- Duke is only allowing 61.7 points during its current 10-game winning streak entering today’s matchup against Tennessee in Orlando (2:40 PM ET, CBS).
- Pitt has won multiple games in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2009.
- Kentucky’s Oscar Tshiebwe has 90 rebounds in his last five games. Tshiebwe had 25 rebounds in Friday night’s win over Providence.
Leftovers
- The Breakfast Buffet: UConn’s dominance, Andre Jackson, Florida Atlantic’s path is similar to Loyola Chicago in 2018
- The Breakfast Buffet: Things come full circle for Gonzaga and UConn, Kansas State, Rodney Terry
- The Breakfast Buffet: Markquis Nowell, UCLA will always be left wondering what could have been, FAU
- The Breakfast Buffet: Rick Barnes’ best chance to return to the Final Four, Adama Sanogo, Gonzaga/UCLA
- The Breakfast Buffet: Tobin Anderson, the Big East’s roster of head coaches is elite, Bobby Hurley
