MIAMI SMALL TASK FOR UCLA?; MICHIGAN, `TRACTOR' LOOM IN 2ND ROUND.Byline: Jon Wilner Daily News Staff Writer First came the East, next the West, then the Midwest. When UCLA's name didn't appear, freshman guard Baron Davis Baron Walter Louis Davis (born April 13 1979, in Los Angeles, California) is an American professional basketball player currently starting at point guard for the NBA's Golden State Warriors. He began playing basketball at the age of five. started to worry. ``I was nervous,'' he said. ``I didn't think we'd get in. Then we came up on the last (region), and I was relieved. I was like, `At least we made it.' '' For the seniors, there was never a doubt. Their only curiosity was opponent and location. Several players believed the first-round foe would be Rhode Island Rhode Island, island, United States Rhode Island, island, 15 mi (24 km) long and 5 mi (8 km) wide, S R.I., at the entrance to Narragansett Bay. It is the largest island in the state, with steep cliffs and excellent beaches. , with Jim Harrick Jim Harrick (born July 25, 1938 in Charleston, West Virginia) is a former college basketball head coach who coached at Pepperdine University, UCLA, the University of Rhode Island and the University of Georgia. , or Murray State, with ex-assistant Mark Gottfried Mark Frederick Gottfried (born January 20, 1964 in Crestline, Ohio)<ref name="rtbio" >Mark Gottfried. Rolltide.com (2002-05-02). Retrieved on 2007-03-05. is a men's college basketball coach. , but they were matched in the Midwest. ``I'm glad they're playing,'' Toby Bailey John Garfield "Toby" Bailey (born November 19 1975 in Los Angeles, California, United States) is an American professional basketball player. He played college basketball at UCLA and was one of the stars of their 1995 National Championship team. said. ``I had a feeling something funny like that would happen. I thought we'd be playing one of them.'' Instead, the Bruins, the No. 6-seed in the South Regional, will play No. 11 Miami in the Georgia Dome Atlanta Falcons • • [ in Atlanta on Friday. (Tipoff time will be announced today, but expect a prime-time showing.) The Hurricanes (18-9) are an at-large qualifier from the Big East and one of the last teams in the tournament. Granted, the Bruins (22-8) haven't dominated anyone lately, but they could have done much worse as matchups go. Miami is small, and it doesn't shoot well from 3-point range. If form holds, UCLA UCLA University of California at Los Angeles UCLA University Center for Learning Assistance (Illinois State University) UCLA University of Carrollton, TX and Lower Addison, TX will face No. 3 Michigan in the second round. The Wolverines, with mammoth center Robert ``Tractor'' Traylor and a Big Ten tournament title, would be an obstacle of the first order. Kentucky and Duke are also in the South. ``I'm not even thinking about Michigan,'' said senior Kris Johnson, whose mother, Sabrina Sheran, lives in Atlanta. ``After being part of a first-round loss (Princeton), I'm not going to make that mistake again. I'm just concerned about Miami. It's tournament time, and crazy things happen.'' The Bruins believe they'll be part of the craziness. Despite five losses in their last 10 games, despite blowing a 15-point lead to Arizona, despite little depth, no size and their worst defensive team this decade, they're convinced a Final Four charge is realistic. ``We won't settle for anything less,'' Johnson said. ``We won't be happy with the Sweet 16 or the Regional final.'' Coach Steve Lavin Steve Lavin (born September 4,1964), a San Francisco, California native is a former college basketball coach and current ABC and ESPN TV analyst. As UCLA head basketball coach from 1996-2003, Lavin compiled a record of 145-78. believed a victory over Arizona would have elevated UCLA to a No. 4 seed, but he had no complaints with the No. 6 slot. Lavin told the players their arduous schedule - 13 games against tournament teams, including No. 1 seeds Arizona, Duke and North Carolina North Carolina, state in the SE United States. It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean (E), South Carolina and Georgia (S), Tennessee (W), and Virginia (N). Facts and Figures Area, 52,586 sq mi (136,198 sq km). Pop. - has them well-prepared for the rigors of March Madness. But closer examination reveals the NCAA NCAA abbr. National Collegiate Athletic Association Selection committee has little faith in the Bruins' survival skills. Compare UCLA to New Mexico, which is seeded No. 4 in the South and playing in Lexington, Ky. The Bruins beat UNM UNM University of New Mexico UNM UnumProvident Corporation UNM Under New Management UNM United Nations Medal UNM User Name Mapping by 11 points on a neutral court, without Johnson and Jelani McCoy. Both teams lost key players: McCoy and Royce Olney, the Lobos' injured guard. More, New Mexico is in a weaker league, played a weaker nonconference schedule and lost three of its last five games. There's no tangible reason for the Lobos to be seeded higher than UCLA, much less two slots higher. But after reviewing each team's performance, analyzing power ratings and pouring over paperwork, the nine-man committee believed New Mexico was two better. Good thing the Bruins have so much confidence in themselves. The NCAA doesn't. UCLA ON DECK: MIAMI HURRICANES Conference: Big East Record: 18-9 overall, 11-7 league Record against 1998 NCAA Tournament teams: 3-4 Best wins: Connecticut 76-67, West Virginia 70-66 Coach: Leonard Hamilton (eighth year) Most famous basketball alum: Rick Barry Last NCAA Tournament appearance: 1960, when the Hurricanes lost to Western Kentucky in the opening round. Best player: Junior forward Tim James is one of the Big East's best athletes. He leads the Hurricanes in scoring (16.9) and rebounding (9.5). Strengths: The Hurricanes held opponents to 37.7 percent shooting from the field and 29 percent from 3-point range. Only two teams, Syracuse and West Virginia, reached the 80-point barrier. The 'Canes are also deep: 10 players average nine minutes or more. Weaknesses: Miami doesn't shoot well from 3-point range (28.4 percent) and averaged just 70.4 points. The 'Canes have one senior (guard Kevin Norris), no regulars taller than 6-7 and lost five of their past nine games. Factoid fac·toid n. 1. A piece of unverified or inaccurate information that is presented in the press as factual, often as part of a publicity effort, and that is then accepted as true because of frequent repetition: : Miami did not have a basketball team from 1971-85. CAPTION(S): 2 Photos, Box PHOTO (1--Cover--Color) THE MADNESS BEGINS North Carolina, Kansas, Arizona and Duke earn top seeds while UCLA faces Miami in the first round of the NCAA men's basketball tournament Cover Design by Cesar Quebral (2) Members of the UCLA women's basketball team whoop whoop (hldbomacp) the sonorous and convulsive inhalation of whooping cough. whoop n. The paroxysmal gasp characteristic of whooping cough. it up after learning they will play Michigan in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Joe Binoya/Special to the Daily News BOX: UCLA ON DECK: MIAMI HURRICANES (see text) |
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