Yesterday saw a breakdown of the first eight teams in the Oakland Region. Now here is a look at the bottom eight (excluding Oral Roberts.)
9. Bucknell (26-4, 14-0 Patriot League)
Last year Bucknell shocked the nation by winning in the first round of the NCAA tournament over then 3-seed Kansas. They hope to repeat that success this year after coming off an undefeated romp through the Patriot League and the team's first ever appearance in the Associated Press top 25. The Bison play a slow tempo game and are in the top 20 in forcing turnovers. Their only weakness comes when playing catch-up. If the pace of the game picks up, the Bison have a hard time adjusting.
10. Alabama (17-12, 10-6 SEC)
After losing star player Chuck Davis in mid-season, it seemed the Tide were destined to miss out on the big dance. However, freshman Richard Hendrix was able to step in and help maintain a strong force on the inside for Alabama, averaging eight rebounds per game. The Tide turned things around during SEC play winning ten league games on their way to their fifth-consecutive NCAA tournament. Matching the inside presence and controlling the boards is the key to beating them.
11. San Diego State (24-8, 13-3 Mountain West)
Forward Mohamed Abukar transferred from Florida and added to an already talented roster this season. With his addition, the last piece of the puzzle was in place to lead the Aztecs to the regular season and tournament championships of the Mountain West Conference. The starting lineup is young with three juniors and two freshmen, but they are playing confident through the last half of the season. The last appearance by San Diego State in the NCAA tournament was in 2002 when lost in the first round.
12. Kent State (25-8, 15-3 Mid-American)
Kent State has one of the deepest benches in the nation, with seven players averaging between seven and 15 points a game. The MAC was a balanced league this season, but the Golden Flashes managed to win both the regular season and tournament titles to earn the automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. They prefer a faster style of play, but they have trouble dealing with scoring droughts. If they go too long without a basket they lose focus and the games get tighter. This is their first appearance in the tournament since their Cinderella Elite Eight run in 2002.
13. Bradley (20-10, 11-7 Missouri Valley)
Bradley started the season with a 9-7 record and little hope for an NCAA bid. They finished by winning 11 of their final thirteen games, and in the MVC tournament they lost in the championship to Southern Illinois. The key to their success has been a strong inside presence. Seven-foot tall sophomore Patrick O'Bryant is averaging 13.3 points and 8.2 rebounds per game. If he gets in foul trouble early, it could be a long day for Bradley. This is their third appearance in the tournament, but in both of their previous appearances, in 1950 and 1954, they reached the championship game.
14. Xavier (21-10, 8-8 Atlantic 10)
After starting 12-2, the "X-men" went on to lose 8 of their next 13, and had to rely on a strong showing in the A-10 tournament to earn a bid to the big dance. The Musketeers worked their way through the conference tournament and beat St. Joseph's for the championship to earn the automatic bid. They are young and inexperienced at point guard, but they finished the season on a roll and hope top carry that into the NCAA tournament. Their last appearance was in 2004 when they lost a three-point heartbreaker to Duke in the Elite Eight.
15. Belmont (20-10, 15-5 Atlantic Sun)
Our neighbors from Nashville are making their first appearance in the tournament after beating cross-town rival David Lipscomb in the Atlantic Sun tournament. They have won 12 of their last 13 games, and they rely on leading scorer Justin Hare (15.9 points per game) to win games. They are ranked 14th in the nation in points per possession, but they also are ranked near the bottom in defensive rebounds, allowing opponents to grab 35.3 percent of their missed shots.
