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Bracketology 101
Andrew Lawrence
April 13, 2006
As bracket-busters abounded, the young Gators stepped in to take the title
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April 13, 2006

Bracketology 101

As bracket-busters abounded, the young Gators stepped in to take the title

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  FIRST ROUND SECOND ROUND REGIONAL SEMIS REGIONAL FINALS    
ATLANTA BRACKET 1 Duke (30-3)
16 Southern (19-12)
1 Duke, 70-54 1 Duke, 74-61
J.J. Redick led four Blue Devils in double figures and kept Duke dancing toward a title.
4 LSU, 62-54
Garrett Temple (14) held Redick to 11 points and sent LSU to lock horns with UT.
4 LSU,70-60 OT 2 UCLA, 59-45
Jordan Farmar (above) had 12 points and four assists, and his team's stifling D sent LSU and Big Baby back to the Big Easy.
3 Florida 73
2 UCLA 57
At 40, Billy Donovan became the second-youngest coach (behind Indiana's Bob Knight) to win an NCAA championship.
8 G. Washington (26-2)
9 UNC-Wilmington (25-7)
8 G. Washington, 88-85
5 Syracuse (23-11)
12 Texas A&M (21-8)
12 Texas A&M, 66-58 Darrel Mitchell's trey with 3.9 seconds left sent LSU into its first Sweet 16 since 2000.
4 LSU, 58-57
4 LSU (23-8)
13 Iona (23-7)
4 LSU, 80-64
6 West Virginia (20-10)
11 Southern Illinois (22-10)
6 West Virginia, 64-46 6 West Virginia, 67-54
By ending the Demons' Cinderella story, the Mountaineers set up a tussle with Texas.
2 Texas, 71-74
Kenton Paulino's deep three as time expired saved Texas from OT but not from LSU.
3 Iowa (25-8)
14 Northwestern St. (25-7)
14 Northwestern St., 64-63
7 California (20-10)
10 N.C. State (21-9)
10 N.C. State, 58-52 Beating N.C. State put the Longhorns in the Sweet 16 for the fourth time in five seasons.
2 Texas, 75-54
2 Texas (27-6)
15 Penn (20-8)
2 Texas, 60-52
OAKLAND BRACKET 1 Memphis (30-3)
16 Oral Roberts (21-11)
1 Memphis, 94-78 1 Memphis, 72-56
A blowout of Bucknell put the Tigers in their first regional semifinal since 1995.
1 Memphis, 80-64
The Tigers ended Bradley's dream run, but they too would be stopped, by UCLA.
8 Arkansas (22-9)
9 Bucknell (26-4)
9 Bucknell, 59-55
5 Pittsburgh (24-7)
12 Kent State (25-8)
5 Pittsburgh, 79-64 The Braves' surprising Sweet 16 berth was one of two for the Missouri Valley Conference.
13 Bradley, 72-66
4 Kansas (25-7)
13 Bradley (20-10)
13 Bradley, 77-73
6 Indiana (18-11)
11 San Diego State (24-8)
6 Indiana, 87-83 3 Gonzaga, 90-80
Adam Morrison wasn't on his game, but the Zags' cast got him another shot, vs. UCLA.
2 UCLA, 50-45
Arron Afflalo (above) scored 15 as UCLA overcame a 17-point deficit to beat Gonzaga.
3 Gonzaga (27-3)
14 Xavier (21-10)
3 Gonzaga, 79-75
7 Marquette (20-10)
10 Alabama (17-12)
10 Alabama, 90-85 Jordan Farmar's five treys lifted UCLA past Alabama and into their first regional since '02.
2 UCLA, 62-59
2 UCLA (27-6)
15 Belmont (20-10)
2 UCLA, 78-44
WASHINGTON, D.C. BRACKET 1 Connecticut (27-3)
16 Albany (21-10)
1 Connecticut, 72-59 1 Connecticut, 87-83
After surviving the Cats, the Huskies prepared for a battle with Washington.
1 Connecticut, 98-92 OT
Back-to-back close calls had UConn on
the ropes against George Mason.
8 Kentucky (21-12)
9 UAB (24-6)
8 Kentucky, 69-64
5 Washington (24-6)
12 Utah State (23-8)
5 Washington, 75-61 Guard Brandon Roy scored 21 points against Illinois to set up Husky vs. Husky.
5 Washington, 67-64
4 Illinois (25-6)
13 Air Force (24-6)
4 Illinois, 78-69
6 Michigan State (22-11)
11 George Mason (23-7)
11 George Mason, 75-65
11 George Mason, 65-60
The Patriots ousted the defending champs, then readied to meet the Shockers.
11 George Mason, 63-55
An inspired effort by Folarin Campbell (42) helped prolong the Pats' improbable run.
3 North Carolina (22-7)
14 Murray State (24-6)
3 North Carolina, 69-65
7 Wichita State (24-8)
10 Seton Hall (18-11)
7 Wichita State, 86-66 A pair of clutch shots sealed Wichita State's first trip to the Sweet 16 in 25 years.
7 Wichita State, 80-73
2 Tennessee (21-7)
15 Winthrop (23-7)
2 Tennessee, 63-61
MINNEAPOLIS BRACKET 1 Villanova (25-4)
16 Monmouth (19-14)
1 Villanova, 58-45 1 Villanova, 82-78
'Nova was the victor in this Catfight, but it would struggle against BC's taller players.
1 Villanova, 60-59 OT
Randy Foye scored 29 points, but could he match that effort against the Gators?
8 Arizona (19-12)
9 Wisconsin (19-11)
8 Arizona, 94-75
5 Nevada (27-5)
12 Montana (23-6)
12 Montana, 87-79 A blowout win over Montana matched the Eagles against a former Big East foe.
4 Boston College, 69-56
4 Boston College (26-7)
13 Pacific (24-7)
4 Boston College, 88-76 2OT
6 Oklahoma (20-8)
11 Wis.- Milwaukee (21-8)
11 Wis.- Milwaukee, 82-74 3 Florida, 82-60
A pummeling of the Panthers landed Florida in its first Sweet 16 since '00.
3 Florida, 57-53
Al Horford (42) had 15 boards to set up a rematch of the '05 second-round game.
3 Florida (27-6)
14 South Alabama (24-6)
3 Florida, 76-50 2 UCLA, 50-45
7 Georgetown (21-9)
10 Northern Iowa (23-9)
7 Georgetown, 54-49 After beating down the Buckeyes, the Hoyas set their sights on upending Florida.
7 Georgetown, 70-52
11 George Mason, 86-84 OT
2 Ohio State (25-5)
15 Davidson (20-10)
2 Ohio State, 70-62 3 Florida, 75-62 3 Florida, 73-58
Joakim Noah (13) led the defense with four blocks and eight boards as Florida held George Mason to just 18.2% from three-point range.

[This article contains a table. Please see hardcopy of magazine or PDF.]

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