FIRST LOOK

* MICHIGAN AT A GLANCE: The Wolverines have taken a heady course in the NCAA tournament. All but three Michigan players shaved their heads for the tournament, saying they wanted to recapture the aura of the Chris Webber and Juwan Howard-led Fab Five of 1992 which reached the NCAA championship game before losing to Duke. Well, the Wolverines’ first-round game with Davidson was certainly no close shave as they held a double-digit lead virtually the whole way in an 80-61 victory. In fact, that was the case in Michigan’s run through the inaugural Big Ten tournament as it defeated Iowa, Minnesota and Purdue by an average of 12 points.

* UCLA AT A GLANCE: Speaking of the Fab Five, the Bruins lost to Webber, Howard and Co., 86-84 in overtime in the second round of the West Regional in 1993. Because of center Jelani McCoy’s late-season resignation from the team and lack of development of freshmen Rico Hines and Travis Reed, UCLA goes with the Lavin Five, which accounted for all of the points and all but two rebounds in Friday’s first-round 65-62 victory over Miami. News bulletin: Baron Davis did not foul out of the game.

MICHIGAN PROBABLE STARTERS

* F-Jerod Ward (6-9, 225), Sr, No. 32

* C-Robert Traylor (6-8, 300), Jr, No. 54

* G-Travis Conlan (6-5, 190), Sr, No. 21

* G-Louis Bullock (6-3, 180), Jr, No. 11

* G-Robbie Reid (6-1, 185), Jr, No. 3

MICHIGAN KEY RESERVES

* F-Maceo Baston (6-9, 210), Sr, No. 30

* G/F-Brandon Smith (6-7, 185), Fr, No. 34

UCLA PROBABLE STARTERS

* F-Kris Johnson (6-4, 239), Sr, No. 54

* C-J.R. Henderson (6-8, 233), Sr, No. 52

* G-Toby Bailey (6-5, 208), Sr, No. 12

* G-Baron Davis (6-1, 205), Fr, No. 5

* G-Earl Watson (6-0, 183), Fr, No. 25

UCLA KEY RESERVES

* G/F-Rico Harris (6-3, 207), Fr, No. 22

* F/C-Travis Reed (6-6, 243), Fr, No. 13

THE MATCHUPS

* GUARDS: Reid, a transfer from Brigham Young, provides the Wolverines with the steadiness they lacked in late-season tailspin that knocked them into the NIT last year. He will provide a contrast to the Bruins’ sometimes spectacular but often erratic Davis. Bullock is one of college basketball’s best three-point shooters and he made 90% of his free throws, an area that the Bruins’ Bailey has improved but not to that level. Can Watson finally step up his game for UCLA?

* FORWARDS: Ward has never lived up to his build-up coming out of high school but his perimeter shooting takes the pressure off Bullock. Baston is a defensive specialist who will present problems for the Bruins’ Johnson, their top scoring threat.

* CENTER: Traylor is called “Tractor” but he’s more like a tank moving to the basket. Henderson will need all of his veteran savvy to keep the Big Ten Player of the Year in check, and not foul out.

* BENCH: Harris and Reed played 26 minutes against Miami and made no impact. The Bruins catch a break in this department as the Wolverines have little in reserve as well.

* COACHING: Finally, a game that Bruin Coach Steve Lavin won’t be considered an underdog. The Wolverines’ Brian Ellerbe is an interim coach--just like Lavin was last season. Ellerbe took over just before the start of fall practice when Steve Fisher was fired.

* FINAL ANALYSIS: Keeping star players out of foul trouble appears to be key for both teams. Traylor is standing by his statement after the Big Ten tournament that the Wolverines will make the Final Four. Let’s say he won’t be wrong for at least one more round.