COLORADO CONNECTION
Francisco “Paco” Cruz, 6-foot-3, 217 pounds, Sr., G, Wyoming.
The former Colorado Class 4A player of the year at Lincoln High School is completing his college career with his best season. Cruz entered the weekend averaging 11.9 points, ranking third among the Cowboys. A do-everything player, he is second among the Cowboys in 3-pointers, second in assists and fourth in rebounding and steals.
SEED GAMES
Projecting the top 16 teams in the NCAA Tournament:
No. 1 seeds: Syracuse, Kentucky, Ohio State, Kansas.
No. 2 seeds: Duke, Missouri, North Carolina, Michigan State.
No. 3 seeds: Baylor, Georgetown, UNLV, Florida.
No. 4 seeds: West Virginia, San Diego State, Vanderbilt, Creighton.
ON THE BUBBLE
Texas: The Longhorns are struggling. Now in his 14th season in Austin, coach Rick Barnes has never failed to guide the Longhorns to the NCAA Tournament. Texas had better start playing better to keep that string going. The Longhorns (13-8, 3-5 Big 12) lost Saturday at sixth-ranked Baylor 76-71. Replacing all five starters — including NBA first-rounders Jordan Hamilton, Tristan Thompson and Cory Joseph — off last year’s 28-win team has been a challenge. Texas began last week only No. 70 in the RPI.
ON THE RISE
Saint Louis: It has taken fifth-year coach Rick Majerus longer than he expected to get the program playing consistently, but this team looks as NCAA Tournament-worthy as his good Utah squads. Last week Saint Louis won at traditional Atlantic 10 kingpin Xavier, the kind of road effort that catches the eyes of the NCAA Tournament selection committee. Entering weekend, the Billikens were No. 51 in the RPI. They have nonconference wins over Washington, Villanova and Oklahoma.
