But there is another freshman sensation in the South Regional in Houston. His name is Kalin Lucas, the penetrating point guard for Michigan State, who will try to stop Rose - or at least neutralize him - when the fifth-seeded Spartans meet top-seeded Memphis tonight.

"He was noticeable. He was very noticeable," Rose said of his memories of Lucas from their meetings in AAU games the last few years. "He didn't just pop into the limelight. He's been there."

The NCAA tournament ramps things up a bit, however, and when Lucas scored 19 points in Michigan State's second-round win over Pitt last week, this week's freshman-on-freshman guard matchup became obvious.

Rose is projected as a top-three NBA pick.

Not as many basketball insiders know about Lucas, and those who do don't seem to appreciate him all that much. He was steady this season, averaging 10 points and four assists, but was left off the Big Ten's list of all-conference newcomers.

Spartans slowed. Michigan State reserve forward Marquise Gray was limited in practice yesterday with a knee injury, but coach Tom Izzo expects him to play against Memphis.

Izzo said Gray had twisted his knee in practice, but Izzo was not sure of the extent of the injury.

Texas trim-down. On campus, the women call him "Sexy Dexy." He's heard "Dex-a-Trim" a few times as well.

That's what happens when a player loses more than 70 pounds to get down to a slim 290-plus. For Texas sophomore forward Dexter Pittman, the weight loss has been the key to evolving from just a big body to potentially a big-time college basketball forward.

The Longhorns will likely need the 6-foot-10 Pittman for valuable minutes and points if they hope to match up in Houston tonight with Stanford's' 7-foot twins, Brook and Robin Lopez.

"I knew I had to do that, to be dedicated, if I wanted to be a player and help my team out," Pittman said.

Noise alert. Stanford players insist the noise inside Houston's Reliant Stadium will not bother them.

After the catcalls they heard at UCLA and the edgy jabs spewed at Oregon State, they're convinced playing Texas in an NFL stadium in Houston will be just another road game. "Same thing," Brook Lopez said. "Just a bigger arena."

The third-seeded Cardinal have not gotten this far since 2001. Texas is 6-0 in NCAA tournament games played in the Lone Star State since 2002.