For College Basketball Fans

"People forget that a guy like him makes the other guys look better. I saw a lot of people talking and writing about how he only got eight points against Oklahoma. Fine, Oklahoma slowed him down -- but who won the game? Carolina, going away. Why? Because Oklahoma had to give up something to guard Hansbrough and the other Carolina kids had open shots all day. There's not a statistic for that. People may not appreciate the guy, but I guarantee you coaches do."

"We're actually guarding people now."

Harden did nothing, he was really passive."

Q. Looking how things worked out here it looks like your coach is about really the only person who has experience in the tourney, so what's he been telling you guys to expect coming to the NCAA tournament?

LEO LYONS: It hasn't been much he said, he showed us his ring. And that's the ultimate goal. It's not too much to say. He's been there before, so we just follow him and hopefully he can get us back there.

Even more hate coming from MSM.

9. VCU plus 7 vs. UCLA: I fully expect UCLA to mail it in. The Bruins know they're not a Final Four team. Ben Howland isn't going to pad his contract with a Sweet Sixteen run. Why not cut the trip to Philly short and get back to Cali as soon as possible? Seriously. Meanwhile, Anthony Grant is eying jobs in the SEC (Alabama) and ACC (Virginia). Slapping around UCLA would pretty much cement his BCS resume. You gotta love VCU on the money line. The Rams 70-67.

"Should the seeds hold, Calipari and his Memphis Tigers will first be on a collision course with third-seeded Missouri. That's Missouri, coached by Mike Anderson. That's Mike Anderson, who used to coach at Alabama-Birmingham. That's Alabama-Birmingham, the last Conference USA school to beat Memphis."

Senior guard Chester Frazier, who sustained a hand injury Wednesday at the team's practice facility, is considered doubtful for Friday's quarterfinal game. A UI athletics spokesman said Frazier might be listed as doubtful for the weekend.