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
UConn is doing historical things in the NCAA Tournament
This is the team that we saw begin the season 14-0. After a few unexpected losses during the guts of Big East play, the Huskies have recalibrated their attack and are ripping through the NCAA Tournament like a chainsaw through butter. UConn has won its first four games in the bracket by an average of 22.5 points, highlighted by Saturday’s 28-point win over Gonzaga in the Elite Eight. The Huskies will make their first Final Four appearance since 2014 next week in Houston.
Andre Jackson continues to flourish at the point of attack
When UConn was rolling early in the season, the 6-6 Jackson was initiating offense as a primary facilitator in a “point forward” type of role. The same thing has resurfaced in the NCAA Tournament. In four games, Jackson has 31 assists and just six turnovers. He’s also averaging 7.8 points and seven rebounds during that span. There’s no better utility player in the sport.
Florida Atlantic’s path is very similar to Loyola Chicago in 2018
A pattern of winning throughout an entire season? Check. Elite in close games? Check. A head coach that’s been a breakout star in the NCAA Tournament? You better believe it. Five years after the Ramblers advanced to the Final Four under Porter Moser, the Owls have done the same under Dusty May. In 2018, Loyola Chicago won three of its four games in the NCAA Tournament by a combined four points and won 32 games in total prior to the 2018 Final Four. Meanwhile, Florida Atlantic will enter the Final Four next week in Houston 35 wins and its four NCAA Tournament victories coming by a combined 19 points.
On The Side
- San Diego State’s bench is averaging 26.7 points during the NCAA Tournament while Creighton is only averaging 5.3 points in reserve. This is a big thing to monitor in today’s Midwest Regional Final.
- Creighton is much better than a six seed. Since Ryan Kalkbrenner returned to the lineup in December after missing multiple games with an illness, the Bluejays are 18-6.
- Miami is 10-2 this season in games where Wooga Poplar scores in double figures.
- Four of Texas’ top seven scorers — Marcus Carr, Sir’Jabari Rice, Timmy Allen and Christian Bishop — are in their fifth season of college basketball.
- UConn’s Jordan Hawkins is 16-31 from three-point range in the NCAA Tournament.
Leftovers
- Episode 397 — Georgetown’s Ed Cooley
- Weekend Brunch: Why Zach Edey’s return means that Purdue’s expectations are again “Final Four or bust”
- Creighton/UNLV, New Mexico/Santa Clara to headline Jack Jones Classic
- USC to play Kansas State, Oregon to face Georgia on opening night in Las Vegas
- Saint Mary’s no longer slated for Diamond Head Classic, will instead play in Continental Tire Main event with Xavier, SDSU, and Washington
