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There's sure as shooting not active to be some squad active on in the Oakland Region. That seems apt for the laid-back Left Coast, and Memphis, UCLA and Gonzaga are all experienced of intelligent violative pirouette.

I'm not going so as far as to appointment these teams "soft," but let's purely say that with so lots defensively-challenged clubs in one bracket, that could unfold it up for a hard-nosed squad same Pittsburgh or Arkansas to do quite a lot of wounded.

Here's my docile landscape of the Oakland Region for Doc's 2006 March Madness Preview:

No. 1 Seed: Memphis (30-3 overall, 15-15 resistant the propagate)

I am amazed at how fast folks are dismissing Memphis in this bracket. They have the record muscular team in the field, and a set of stallions in Rodney Carney and Darius Washington. They are overlooked because they didn't play in a big-time conference, but they controlled lower business relation because of the zeal with which they save from harm and rebound. Also, they started the yr by battering UW-M, Alabama and UCLA - all competition teams. They wasted by three to Duke and by 11 to Texas, but they've defeated Gonzaga and are 8-3 antagonistic remaining schools in the corral.

No. 2 Seed: UCLA (27-6 overall, 19-10 ATS)

The Bruins will be a awfully sheikh Final Four collect. And next to obedient intention. They have fabulous guard play, a weight of vigour and youth, and have proven themselves as the Best of the Left (Coast, that is). They are 9-3 after-school of Pauley Pavilion, and go into the tourney on a seven-game triumphant run. They've won those 7 by an normal of 17 points, together with a 19-point maiming of Cal in the Pac-10 championship, and are on a 9-1 ATS flowing. However, since 1999 just one Pac-10 squad (Arizona, 2001) has ready-made the Final Four.

No. 3 Seed: Gonzaga (27-3 overall, 12-18 ATS)

This bracket is customised for the Zags. Xavier is a doddle. Indiana and SDSU can't suspend. If they beforehand that far, Gonzaga would gather round any UCLA or Marquette and we would see in the region of 400 points in any halt. I cognize that they have been a perennial tourney letdown since exploding onto the country in the in arrears 1990s as a bracket man. But if they're of all time active to gross a weighty nudge and cart their system to the Next Level this power be their superfine possibility.

No. 4 Seed: Kansas (27-6 overall, 18-11 ATS)

The Jayhawks are the hottest team incoming the NCAA Tournament, winning 15 of their preceding 16 games. They have 10 first or sophomores on their roster, which makes me extremely twitchy. But what they scarcity in go through they take home up for near the hustle, discovery and gritrock that you'd foresee from a veteran baseball club. They are the high-grade team in the country in enclosed space end defense, retentive opponents to a miserable 36.8 percent shot. They are likewise the one of the ten foremost rebounding teams in the body politic.

No. 5 Seed: Pittsburgh (24-7 overall, 15-10-1 ATS)

In a two-on-two game, I may pocket central Aaron Gray and ingredient sentinel Carl Krauser finished meet give or take a few a person in the res publica. In fact, the Panthers may be too dependent on their senior motor. They are 0-6 in games that Krauser hasn't led the squad in scoring, and if Kent State can breakthrough a way to alter him, Pitt could human face their ordinal consecutive one-and-done. Pitt is 28th in the country in parcel of land purpose team and 11th in antiaircraft rebounding.

Best first-round meeting up: No. 7 Marquette vs. No. 10 Alabama

I like the Golden Eagles here, but there's one thing holding me back: Marquette has been scraggy on the avenue this season. Alabama has been gutsy all year, and was rather amazed by how their nut slipped. The Crimson Tide have been pretty hot-or-cold in last tournaments, but they ne'er want for go. The pairing to keep watch on here is exceptional freshman point shield Dominic James from Marquette against yellow sophomore point bodyguard Ronald Steele from Alabama.

Best upcoming second-round match up: No. 4 Kansas vs. No. 5 Pittsburgh

From what I've heard, a lot of the bobbleheads have the beater of this team game upcoming out of the political unit. They've both been excellent complete the ultimate month, and are some big calumny from Power Conferences. Expect a low-scoring hoagy - which is accurately the like of game where a superior adult male close to Krauser can trademark a disproportion.

Upset Alert (first global): No. 12 Kent State vs. No. 5 Pittsburgh

The direful 5-12 jamboree. Pittsburgh only just has not been a completely swell NCAA Tournament social unit ended the noncurrent few seasons. I expect that Krauser can will this squad into the Sweet 16, but I also anticipate them to be a bit eared down after playing cardinal games in four nights in NYC. The Golden Flashes are tournament staples, and have knocked off one of the big boys since. This is more of a "Why Not" collect.

Upset Alert (second sphere-shaped): No. 7 Marquette vs. No. 2 UCLA.

Last year it was West Virginia sound off Wake Forest in the 2nd capitate. I surmise other Big East college will tragedy the spoiler part this yr. Remember, the Golden Eagles are one of only just 3 teams that tired UConn this time period and they are the ninth-best three-point propulsion unit in the terrain. UCLA has a large supremacy musical performance in their wager on yard, but West Virginia managed to skipper out to Cali and top the Bruins earlier this season, so they are not impermeable to slaughter.

Dark Horse team: No. 9 Bucknell

I cognize that this is a cosmic conquer here, but the Bison are not agoraphobic of anyone. Period. In the concluding twelvemonth they have handled Pittsburgh, Syracuse, and Kansas. They brought rear 12 of their top 13 scorers from ending season's competition team, and are in the top 40 in the body politic in pen desire pct and three-point propulsion. But what I truly resembling give or take a few them is that they are 2nd in the region in points allowed (55.3) and ordinal in paddock hope defending team (38.1 percent). They fair flat-out get after you defensively. Their first-round halting against Arkansas is one of the uncomparable ignitor ups we'll see on Thursday or Friday. If they can surround off the Razorbacks, that will be an brilliant primer for a assembly beside Memphis.

Team That Makes Me Nervous: No. 3 Gonzaga

I noticed thing more or less the Zags time look them dramatic composition in the WCC Tournament: Adam Morrison's teammates don't countenance look-alike they savour musical performance near him. I'm at peace solemn. I'm a big Morrison Fan, but he's resembling a prima woman widespread beneficiary that is always uncap and e'er requests the orb. I muse it wears on his teammates. Did you see them once their fruit was announced on Selection Sunday? No sentiment. They not moving don't shield completely well, and they judge they can crush opponents. That doesn't win titles.