The Buzzer

This week's Grace under Pressure Award goes to DePaul senior
guard Willie Coleman, who sank a free throw with no time left in
overtime, and the score tied at 60 to upset No. 3
Cincinnati--despite being subjected to a stream of trash talk
from two Bearcats, Melvin Levett and Pete Mickeal, who hovered
behind him while he was at the foul line. Said Coleman, "They
were cocky and talked smack all game. They tried to psych me
out, but I just put them out of my mind and tried to imagine
myself shooting in an empty gym."...

New Mexico, which as of Sunday had dropped four of its last
five, including last Saturday's 72-68 loss to Hawaii, is ranked
No. 25 this week but might have to win the WAC tournament to
receive an NCAA berth. The Lobos have played a cupcake schedule,
which has included Simon Fraser, Cornell, New Hampshire and
Sacramento State, and have an RPI of 107. The lowest RPI of any
at-large team since the NCAAs expanded to 64 teams in 1985 was
Georgia in '91, with a power rating of 69. Adding to the Lobos'
woes was the indefinite suspension last week of 6'7" junior
forward Damion Walker for violating team rules....

Memphis used to be able to keep the local high school talent at
home, but lately the area's best players have gotten away.
Memphis natives Tony Harris (Tennessee), Robert O'Kelley (Wake
Forest) and Cory Bradford (Illinois) are all leading their
respective teams in scoring. Meanwhile, Memphis was 10-11 and
had gone 3-7 in Conference USA.

--B.J.