First Look

UCLA AT A GLANCE

Regional seeding: No. 8.

Conference: Pacific 10 (11-7, sixth).

Bid: At-large.

Tournament record: 83-30, 37 appearances.

Last NCAA appearance: 2001, lost to Duke in round of 16.

Coach: Steve Lavin (Six seasons, 133-58).

Scoring leaders: Jason Kapono 16.7; Billy Knight 13.9; Matt Barnes 13.4, Dan Gadzuric 11.3.

Rebound leaders: Gadzuric 7.6; Barnes 5.9.

Assist leaders: Cedric Bozeman 3.4; Barnes 3.3.

Field-goal percentage leaders: Gadzuric 55.4%; T.J. Cummings 51.6%; Andre Patterson 52.0%.

Three-point basket leaders: Kapono 84; Knight 53; Barnes 39.

Last 10 games: 5-5.

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MISSISSIPPI AT A GLANCE

Nickname: Rebels.

Regional seeding: No. 9.

Conference: Southeastern (20-10, sixth).

Bid: At-large.

Tournament record: 3-5, five appearances.

Last NCAA appearance: 2001, lost to Arizona in round of 16.

Coach: Rod Barnes (Four seasons, 86-45).

Scoring leaders: Justin Reed 14.6; David Sanders 12.7; Aaron Harper 11.6; Jason Harrison 10.0.

Rebound leaders: Reed 6.7; Derrick Allen 6.1.

Assist leaders: Harrison 3.9; Sanders 2.7.

Field-goal percentage leaders: Sanders 55.8%; Allen 53.2%; Reed 47.8%.

Three-point basket leaders: Harper 78; Harrison 50; Sanders 35.

Last 10 games: 4-6.

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THE BREAKDOWN

FORWARD: UCLA’s Matt Barnes has a difficult matchup at power forward against 6-foot-8, 230-pound Justin Reed, the Rebels’ leading scorer and rebounder. Reed, a sophomore, will probably spend time double-teaming center Dan Gadzuric, however. Barnes should be able to get open shots from the perimeter, although until scoring 15 points against California in the first round of the Pac-10 tournament, he has been cold lately. Jason Kapono, UCLA’s leading scorer, will be matched against 6-7 sophomore Aaron Harper, who leads Mississippi with 78 three-point baskets.

CENTER: Gadzuric could be the dominant force because Mississippi does not have a true center. Forwards Derrick Allen and Reed are the tallest Rebel starters at 6-8, and 6-9 Richard Kirklin is the only reserve with any height.

GUARD: Point guard is the most intriguing matchup, with 5-5 Rebel senior Jason Harrison going against 6-6 Bruin freshman Cedric Bozeman. Harrison is the type of quick penetrator that has given Bozeman fits. At the other guard, UCLA’s Billy Knight and Mississippi’s David Sanders appear even.

COACHING: Steve Lavin clearly is not getting the most out of the current team. Barnes has led the Rebels to the dance three of his four seasons.

FINAL ANALYSIS: The team that shakes its doldrums and plays an inspired 40 minutes will win.

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Steve Henson