COLORADO CONNECTION
Brett Olson, 6-5, G, Denver: A former standout at Highlands Ranch High School, Olson has made an immediate impact at DU, starting every game and averaging around 30 minutes per game. After Denver’s impressive victory over Middle Tennessee State on Saturday, Olson is averaging 7.0 points and ranks third on the team in 3-point shooting (.446), behind senior teammate Brian Stafford (.471) and fellow freshman Royce O’Neale (.455).
SEED GAMES
Projecting the top 16 teams in the NCAA Tournament
No. 1 seeds: Syracuse, Kentucky, Ohio State, Kansas.
No. 2 seeds: Missouri, Duke, Baylor, North Carolina.
No. 3 seeds: Michigan State, Florida, UNLV, Creighton.
No. 4 seeds: Murray State, Wisconsin, Marquette, Michigan.
ON THE BUBBLE
School: Virginia Commonwealth.
The Rams, NCAA Final Four darlings a year ago under dynamic coach Shaka Smart, began the weekend in a four-way tie atop the Colonial Athletic Association at 10-2 in league play. VCU lacks impressive nonconference wins and, with an 84 RPI computer power ranking last week, the Rams may have to win the Colonial tournament to return to the NCAA Tournament.
ON THE RISE
School: Notre Dame.
The Irish’s hopes to return to the NCAA Tournament appeared dim two weeks ago after they lost three of five games to fall to 11-8 and 3-3 in the Big East. But Notre Dame rode into Saturday’s home game against Marquette riding a three-game winning streak (including victories over No. 1 Syracuse and Connecticut) to climb from 98 to 65 in RPI in one week. So, did the Irish’s luck turn bad in a big Big East game? Notre Dame didn’t exactly hurt its reputation when it blasted No. 15 Marquette 76-59, blowing out the Golden Eagles 46-33 in the second half.
