Nash Awaits Second Big Challenge, Jayhawk Jacque

With Maryland and Duane Simpkins out of the way, Santa Clara’s Steve Nash has a new objective - outplay Kansas’ Jacque Vaughn.

The matchup for Sunday’s second-round West Region game in Tempe, Ariz., was set Friday.

“He’s a great player, one I have a tremendous amount of respect for,” Nash said of Vaughn, a second-team All-America. “He’s a great leader and I think that’s what I respect him most for.

“This is a really exciting bracket for me because of the great guards. I used to watch Duane Simpkins play in high school.”

Simpkins was held to 10 points and four assists by Santa Clara, which got 28 points and 12 assists from Nash, who also was 17 of 18 from the free-throw line. Vaughn had 12 assists and three steals in 27 minutes against South Carolina State but only scored five points and sat out most of the second half as Kansas cleared its bench.

Moore doubtful

Ricky Moore, Connecticut’s freshman guard, will almost certainly miss his team’s second-round game against Eastern Michigan in Indianapolis this afternoon because of a shoulder injury.

Moore, who was fifth among the Huskies in minutes played although he did not start a game, suffered a partial dislocation of his right shoulder in the first half of Connecticut’s first-round victory over Colgate on Thursday. He had worn a shoulder harness since suffering a similar injury on Feb. 6.

Minor future

Oklahoma’s Ryan Minor finished his college career on a disappointing note, missing 10 of 11 3s and going 6 for 20 from the field in the Sooners’ loss to Temple.

Temple coach John Chaney, however, thinks Minor will go on to have a successful pro career.

“Minor does a good job of splitting (defenses), getting to the basket and drawing fouls,” Chaney said. “He’s going to be a great player at the next level.”