The Bruins are ranked fourth in the nation in both the ESPN/Coaches and Associated Press polls, while Michigan is unranked.

UCLA is being touted for having the best recruiting class in the nation, lead by McDonald’s All-American Jrue Holiday.

But don’t let the youth fool you. The Bruins are also a solid veteran team led by Preseason All-American Darren Collison, Josh Shipp, James Keefe and Alfred Aboya.

UCLA reached the semis by defeating Prairie View A&M 82-58 and Miami (Ohio) 64-59.

So far the Wolverines and second year coach John Beillein are doing a pretty good job in rebuilding a program that longs for its glory days of being one of the elite in the nations. Michigan Tech 77-55 and in a 76-56 win against Northeastern.

Sophomore guard Manny Harris has All-American, or at least All-Big 10 (plus one) written all over him. In the two wins he has averaged 28 points a game.

But two good games does not make a season. This will be the first real test of the season for the Wolverines against a UCLA team that is favored by 12 points.

The winner will play the winner of 10th ranked Duke/Southern Illinois game in the other semifinal tonight. The championship and consolation games are scheduled for Friday night.

All games will be shown on ESPN2.

Post from: EveryJoe

Game of the Day: UCLA vs. Michigan

Part of the reason is the less than desirable point guard play. Former walk-on David Merritt (now on scholarship) is still currently ahead of once prized recruit Kelvin Grady on the depth chart. We can thank Tommy Amaker for that wonderful piece of recruiting. His work has set the Michigan program back at least 4 years. But, at least he got Manny.

– Southern Illinois sneaked by Massachusetts by 7. It didn’t start out well for the Salukis however. UMass was up 11 at the half, but went cold in the 2nd. Part of the struggle was because UMass guard Chris Lowe had 10 turnovers. So maybe only Chris Lowe’s hands were cold.

Good news and bad news

The bad is that UMass didn’t get the win, and won’t advance to Madison Square Garden to face Duke. The good news is that we can say with near-absolute certainty that Chris Lowe’s worst game of the season is in the rearview mirror.

It’s remarkable that the Minutemen were even in a position to escape Carbondale, Illinois with a win over the Southern Illinois Salukis, given that Lowe, the team’s leader, committed 10 turnovers without registering a single assist.

We won’t see another game like that from Lowe again.

UMass actually had a 2 point lead with about 4 minutes to play.

So Southern Illinois will face Duke on November 20th at Madison Square Garden. Michigan will face the winner of the UCLA vs. Miami (Ohio) game (tonight at 8pm Kevin’s time) on the 20th at MSG as well.

–Keep an eye out for Kevin’s preview of the “eventual” championship game of UCLA vs. Duke.

STAT of the DAY

Crisler Arena’s paid attendance for Michigan’s tilt with Northeastern was 6,246.

Oh how the mighty have fallen.

Post from: EveryJoe

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