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Tampa subregional
© St. Petersburg Times, published March 18, 2003
These are high times in the Rocky Mountains as both Colorado and Colorado State are making rare appearances in the NCAA Tournament.
No. 10 seed Colorado, which plays No. 7 Michigan State at 7:10 p.m. Friday at the St. Pete Times Forum, is making its third appearance since 1969.
Colorado State (19-13), surprise winner of the Mountain West tournament, is seeded No. 14 and plays No. 3 Duke on Thursday in Salt Lake City.
"I think the first thing it could possibly help is fan support for both programs," said CU coach Ricardo Patton, who guided the Buffaloes to their last NCAA appearance in 1997. "I think fans will realize if they get behind their programs, then they'll help those programs win. Then I think it'll filter down to kids at the high school level."
It is the first time CU and CSU both have made the tournament since 1969, when the Rams eliminated the Buffaloes 64-56. The only way they could meet again (host CU won the regular-season game 93-72) this season would be in the championship game, which, considering the highest seed to win the NCAA Tournament is No. 8 Villanova in 1985, is unlikely.
LUCKY ONES: Michigan State and Colorado were sweating it out Selection Sunday. Michigan State expected to get in, but even the Spartans (19-12) were a little surprised by the No. 7 seeding.
Colorado (20-11) seemed to win a head-to-head duel with Texas Tech (18-12) for the sixth and final bid granted to a Big 12 school. CU was knocked out of the conference tournament by Oklahoma, which then knocked out Texas Tech in a semifinal.
But Tech seemed to get a leg up with its quarterfinal win over Texas, an NCAA Tournament No. 1 seed, in the previous round. Also, the Red Raiders' loss to Oklahoma came in overtime, while CU lost by 15. And Tech beat CU in their regular-season meeting in Lubbock.
The selection committee said it pays no attention to conference affiliation, but many believe CU snared its bid from the Red Raiders.
"We can't sit back and be happy we won 20 games or we're in the tournament," Patton said. 'If that's all it's about, getting in, then we might as well phone it in."
GOOD DANCERS: Under coach Tom Izzo, no one has done better than Michigan State in the NCAA Tournament. Izzo's .800 winning percentage (16-4) is tops among active coaches, and his teams reached Final Fours in 1999, 2000 and 2001. The Spartans won the title in 2000, defeating Florida in the championship game.
AND THE RPI SAYS: The much-maligned RPI, the computer formula based on winning percentages used to assist the selection committee, has Michigan State 15 spots ahead of Colorado at No. 31. RPI does not take into account margin of victory.
AND THE ODDSMAKERS SAY: The Spartans are a three-point favorite.