FIRST LOOK

AT A GLANCE

* UCLA: The Pacific 10 Conference’s last remaining representative is in the Sweet 16 for the third time in the last four years, a feat matched only by North Carolina and Kentucky. It has come with eight consecutive victories, matching the longest streak since Dec. 2-29, 1998. Not only that, the Bruins are back at the Palace of Auburn Hills, site of two victories to open the ’97 tournament. Sean Farnham and the coaching staff remain from that team--one that defeated Iowa State in the Sweet 16 in San Antonio.

* IOWA STATE: The Big 12 regular-season and tournament champion has won nine in a row and 26 of 28, both losses coming in overtime. The NCAA tournament wins were by 10 over Central Connecticut State and 19 over Auburn, the latter a close game until about the midpoint of the second half. Auburn did an admirable job of containing All-American forward Marcus Fizer before he broke free for 22 points (after starting one for eight from the field) and 12 rebounds.

POSITIONS

* FORWARDS: Fizer is a player-of-the-year candidate, but the Bruins, unlike most of Iowa State’s previous opponents, can turnstile power forwards at him. Jerome Moiso will draw the short straw most of the time and could get overpowered, but he is two inches taller and athletic. The same with Matt Barnes. JaRon Rush would give away about 60 pounds, but has survived such matchups for short stretches before. Farnham could get more than his usual cameo because he is the most physical of the group and could put a body on Fizer.

* CENTERS: Iowa State doesn’t have anyone taller than 6-foot-9 Paul Shirley, and he didn’t get off the bench the first two games, so the potential is there for another big game by the Dan Gadzuric/Moiso tandem.

* GUARDS: The mistake is to consider Iowa State a one-man team. Point guard Jamaal Tinsley is a dangerous complement, an All-Big 12 choice who breaks down defenses and often finds Fizer inside for easy baskets. But he is not playing as well as Earl Watson. Few are. The Bruin junior has been impressive the last month, then reached levels of downright brilliance in the second-round win over Maryland.

* INTANGIBLES: What isn’t going right for the Bruins? They’d love the chance to go small and play Jason Kapono and Rush together for long stretches at forward, along with the mobile Moiso or Gadzuric at center and two guards.

* THE PICK: UCLA. Anyone who made this pick a month ago, even two weeks ago, would have been ordered to give a urine sample. Anyone who saw the Bruins in Minneapolis--on the heels of Stanford--knows it’s anything but a reach.