College Hoops Today

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The Breakfast Buffet: Miami/Kentucky, PJ Hall, Nolan Hickman

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

Miami/Kentucky
The game of the night in college basketball will take place at Rupp Arena as the Hurricanes visit the Wildcats in the first ever ACC/SEC Challenge. All five of Miami’s starters — Bensley Joseph, Nijel Pack, Wooga Poplar, Matthew Cleveland, and Norchad Omier — are in either their junior or senior seasons. Even with all that experience, Jim Larranaga knows that this team will have its hands full with Kentucky, who enters tonight at 5-1 with its only loss coming against Kansas in the Champions Classic. “They’ve got so many weapons, so many players who can make a three-point shot and stretch your defense out,” Larranaga said of the Wildcats on this week’s edition of the College Hoops Today Podcast. “But their greatest way of scoring is in transition.” Kentucky is averaging 105 points in its last three games and has six players — Antonio Reeves, Rob Dillingham, Tre Mitchell, D.J. Wagner, Reed Sheppard, and Justin Edwards — averaging in double figures.

PJ Hall enters the national spotlight
Clemson’s first power conference game of the season occurs tonight in Tuscaloosa as the Tigers will visit Alabama as part of the ACC/SEC Challenge. It’s also a major showcase for the 6-10 Hall, who has had a terrific start to the year. Through five games, Hall is averaging 21.4 points and 6.8 rebounds while shooting 54.8 percent from the field. Those are All-ACC first-team caliber numbers. Brad Brownell’s team is 5-0 entering tonight’s tilt with the Crimson Tide, who are 4-1.

Nolan Hickman is quietly enjoying a breakout season for Gonzaga
The Bulldogs’ perimeter is about much more than Ryan Nembhard (11.2 points, 5.4 assists, 3.8 rebounds) who has looked the part early for Gonzaga after transferring from Creighton. Hickman — who averaged just 7.7 points a year ago — is coming into his own. Through five games, the 6-2 guard is averaging 13.6 points and has scored in double figures in every single outing. Hickman only scored a total of eight points in four NCAA Tournament games last spring. His ascension is critical for Gonzaga, who is 4-1 entering tonight’s game in Spokane against Cal State Bakersfield.

On The Side

  • Under Tommy Lloyd, Arizona is 10-3 in games decided by five points or fewer.
  • Kadin Shedrick is playing like an all-conference caliber player for Texas. The 6-11 big man is averaging 19.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, and one block in his last three games. Shedrick averaged just 6.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks last season at Virginia.
  • Three of Baylor’s top four scorers — Ja’Kobe Walter, RayJ Dennis, and Jayden Nunn — were not members of the Bears’ program last season.
  • NC State has a gem in freshman wing Dennis Parker Jr. The 6-6 Parker is averaging 8.2 points and four rebounds in 19.4 minutes and is an integral part of Kevin Keatts’ rotation. The Wolfpack are 4-1 and will visit Ole Miss tonight as part of the ACC/SEC Challenge.
  • College Hoops Today reported on Monday that Syracuse, Texas, and St. Joe’s will headline the 2024 Legends Classic. The fourth team in the event is currently TBD.

Daily Specials

  • Mississippi State at Georgia Tech
  • LSU at Syracuse
  • Miami at Kentucky
  • NC State at Ole Miss
  • Clemson at Alabama

Leftovers