No. 9 Runnin' Utes Holds at 3-seed in Latest Bracketology

Utah held steady in this week's Bracketology prognostications. Even while Utah is climbing the polls, their having a more difficult time climbing up the seed lines. However, taking care of business in Oregon will help set up the showdown next week in Salt Lake City, which could be for a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

Bracketology:

In this week's edition of ESPN.com Bracketology, NCAA Tournament expert Joe Lunardi has the No. 9 Runnin' Utes slotted as a three-seed in the South, taking on 14-seeded Eastern Washington. That would be an interesting matchup, as it is the school Utah raided to get former head coach Ray Giacoletti. However, they could run into Georgetown in the second round, a team no one wants to meet in the tournament and who could do some damage to brackets throughout the U.S. this year.

Others of note: Arizona (2 - West), UCLA (11 - East), Stanford (11 - Midwest play-in)

CBSSports.com's Bracketologist Jerry Palm has Utah slotted as a four-seed in the South, also taking on EWU. However, the Utes would run into either Murray State or the Big 10's Indiana in the second round.

Others of note: Arizona (2 - West), UCLA (11 - Midwest play-in), Oregon (12 - East play-in), Stanford (first four out).

Wooden Watch:

ESPN.com's Eamonn Brennan has Utah's Delon Wright still ranked third in the country behind Frank Kaminsky of Wisconsin and Jahil Okafor of Duke. Brennan writes "...make no mistake: Wright is the driving force behind [the No. 9-ranked Runnin' Utes'] success. Like Kaminsky and Okafor, he's so consistent that analyzing his output has become a matter of routine. Efficient scoring from a mix of penetration, mid-range efficiency (Wright shoots 58 percent from 2) and almost no 3-point attempts? Check, check and check. World-class ballhandling and passing? Yes. (Wright gets space in the lane because Loveridge and Taylor shoot well over 40 percent from 3; Loveridge and Taylor shoot over 40 percent from 3 because Wright collapses the defense so thoroughly. It's quite the virtuous cycle.) Elite perimeter defense on one of the nation's best defensive teams? That too.

Let's see: a 6-foot-5 guard who knows his way around the pick-and-roll. Does that sound like something the NBA might be interested in"

Definitely sounds like an NBA guard, and, who knows, he could take over for Andre Miller. The teams that seems to be the best fit for Wright would be Sacramento, Miami, or the L.A. native's home town Lakers.

In addition to the Wooden Award, Wright was recently named to the midseason list of finalists for the Oscar Robertson, Bob Cousy, and James Naismith Awards. He is on pace to become just the second Utes player to amass 1,000 points, 375 rebounds, 350 assists, 150 steals and 75 blocks in a career (Josh Grant).