BRUINS POLISHING UP THEIR DANCING SHOES BRACKETOLOGIST: UCLA IN, DESPITE BAD LOSS.

Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer

A leading NCAA bracketologist says UCLA will be in the NCAA tournament, and Bruins coach Ben Howland, a postseason veteran, believes his team will be in the 65-team field.

Yet, there will be sweaty palms and nail-biting for the Bruins today as they await the NCAA selection show. The Bruins will watch as a team in hopes of earning an at-large berth, which would send the school back to the NCAAs for the first time since 2002.

``They're going to be a middle-of-the-bracket team, an eight, nine, maybe even a 10 (seed),'' said Jerry Palm, who operates collegerpi.com and is considered one of the top NCAA bracket analysts. ``I don't really see how they get left out.''

Many analysts don't even list UCLA as a bubble team because of its resume.

UCLA (18-10) finished in a tie for third in the Pac-10 Conference, which is rated fourth in the RPI, and played a top-35 schedule. Even after Thursday's disheartening opening-round Pac-10 Tournament loss to Oregon State, UCLA is No. 40 in the latest mock RPI.

``I think that we have had a very strong year,'' Howland said. ``When you look at the NCAA Tournament, you look at the overall campaign, including how you played down the stretch. I feel good about our chances of getting in the tournament.

``I think we deserve to be in the NCAA Tournament. We definitely don't want to (end) with a bitter taste in our mouth. We want to get back to work here and (get) another opportunity.''

Palm said UCLA has several things working in its favor, including a 6-5 road mark, and a strong finish, even with the disappointing loss to the Beavers. UCLA won four of its last five games, and eight of its last 12.

Although UCLA owns only one marquee win - a 95-86 defeat of Washington - the Bruins played a tough schedule. Among the losses are games at Michigan State, on a neutral floor to Boston College, at Washington and Arizona (twice).

UCLA's losses to teams not expected to be in the NCAA field were against Cal, and twice to Oregon State. Other factors working in UCLA's favor is Pac-10 history. In the past 16 years, every team that finished third or tied for third in the league reached the NCAAs, as did 60 of the past 61 Pac-10 teams to win at least 11 conference games.

Furthermore, early conference tournament losses by bubble teams, such as Virginia Tech, Maryland, Indiana, Vanderbilt, Notre Dame, DePaul, Texas A&M, Arkansas and Akron should help UCLA.

``I think they're going to make it,'' Palm said. ``UCLA has done some good things. They beat Washington, they won at Notre Dame, which is a team that may, or may not, make it. They seem to have trouble with Oregon State, for whatever reason, but for the most part, they've done more good than bad.''

Palm said the only negative he found on UCLA's resume was its record against teams in the top 50 of the RPI.

``My one concern is that they're 1-7 against the RPI top 50,'' Palm said. ``If they get left out, that'll be why.''

Just that bit of doubt is enough to cause worry for the Bruins.

``It's going to be nerve-racking for me,'' UCLA point guard Jordan Farmar said of waiting for an NCAA invitation. ``I know that.''

Palm said UCLA's loss to the Beavers was hurtful, but only in a seeding sense. While several mock brackets had the Bruins as either an eighth or a ninth seed, the showing against Oregon State could drop UCLA to a 10th seed.

Of course, that might not be the worst thing, since the winner of the No. 8 vs. No. 9 game gets the No. 1 seed in the second round, and the No. 10 seed usually winds up playing the No. 2 seed.

As for forecasting where the Bruins will go - Boise, Idaho; Tucson, Ariz.; Cleveland; Indianapolis; Worcester, Mass.; Charlotte, N.C.; Oklahoma City; and Nashville, Tenn., are the sites for the first two rounds - Palm said it is basically impossible to tell where a low seed will be sent.

``They try to keep, best to their ability, a Pac-10 team out West,'' Palm said. ``But there's a chance (the Bruins are) somebody you can send to Worcester. That can happen. When you're in the middle of the bracket, you don't get much in the way of priority in that.''

Brian Dohn, [phone]

brian.dohn(at)dailynews.com

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Senior Dijon Thompson will get one last chance to show his wares, should UCLA be selected today as one of the 65 teams in the NCAA Tournament.

Edna T. Simpson/Daily News

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