NCAA Player Primer: G Nic Moore, SMU
Each week leading to Selection Sunday, USA TODAY Sports' college basketball staff is highlighting a player to watch for in March and the most influential matchups of the upcoming weekend.
NIC MOORE, SMU JUNIOR GUARD
Vital stats: 5-9, 170 pounds
This season: 14.5 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 5.5 apg, 44.3% 3-pt FG%
Single-game spotlight: In SMU's 68-57 win against Tulsa on Saturday, Moore scored 23 points and had 7 assists. He made 7 of 12 shots from the field.
What they are saying: "He's terrific. I love him. He had not been playing great until our game. I have so much respect for him after playing against him. We've played some great guards this year. He does everything. It's like playing against a coach. He talks the whole time. He directs. He can shoot the ball like crazy. He has a great feel for when help is coming and is not coming and when to make the pass.
"He had a play in our game he went up to get a loose ball, hit his head, went out and came back and hit two threes. I told him after the game he was one of the best players — not just point guard — we have played against all year. He is a coach on the floor. There wasn't a possession when he was not talking. That's what you are trying to preach to your kids. And he has got it figured out. He is phenomenal. He has great disposition on the court." — Tulsa coach Frank Haith
What to expect come March: After narrowly missing out on the NCAA tournament last season, SMU is poised to reach the NCAAs for the first time since 1993. The Larry Brown-led Mustangs could earn a single-digit seed if they continue their success in the American Athletic Conference, which means fans could have the opportunity to watch one of the nation's most poised point guards in Moore for multiple games.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR THIS WEEKEND
1. Big East Supremacy: The Villanova-Butler matchup is a battle of the two nationally ranked teams from the Big East. It's arguably the best game this weekend. The sixth-ranked Wildcats aren't a surprise. But few expected No. 18 Butler to be quite this formidable. A No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament is not out of the question for Villanova. Butler, which remains in the hunt for a top-four seed in the NCAAs, is trying to avenge a Dec. 31 loss at Villanova.
2. The state of VCU: The Rams, who have rightly had high expectations this season, are now teetering because of injuries. Leading scorer Treveon Graham has missed two consecutive games with a high ankle sprain. Defensive catalyst Briante Weber is out for the season with a knee injury. VCU has now lost three of four games entering the road test at George Washington, which is also badly in need of a victory after a loss to Duquesne.
3. Battle of the legends: Anytime you get Jim Boeheim and Mike Krzyzewski matched up, it's must-see theater. No one can forget how Boeheim went berserk a year ago at Cameron Indoor Stadium before being ejected. And the game at the Carrier Dome was a classic. This season, Duke is the superior team. This is not a vintage Syracuse team, and the Orange won't be participating in the NCAA tournament. But it would be foolish not to watch.
4. Kansas: The Jayhawks are second in the RPI, but they aren't the second-best team in the nation, at least not yet. However, they may not be seriously challenged en route to at least a share of their 11th consecutive Big 12 regular season title. Each time Kansas takes a step back, as it did last weekend at Oklahoma State, the prime challengers also regress. Here's a chance for Baylor to rise up and win at Allen Fieldhouse. Or, and more likely, Kansas will maintain the distance between itself and all Big 12 challengers and earn its ninth top-50 victory of the season.
5. SEC separation: The SEC is better than most believe. After Kentucky, there's a handful of solid teams, and perhaps five teams total could make the NCAA tournament. But which is the second-best team in the league? Arkansas can be — and maybe should be. The Razorbacks can make a statement at Mississippi if they can win their third road game of the season against a top-50 team.