!4 Miami of Ohio 3 Oregon

Region: Midwest

Coach: Charlie Coles

Record: 18-14

Top scorer: Forward Tim Pollitz, 15.9 ppg

Top rebounder: Forward Nathan Peavy, 6.3 rpg

Keys to victory:

1. The RedHawks will need to keep doing what they have been doing all along on defense. Miami is the only Division I school to hold every opponent to fewer than 70 points this season. But the Ducks will be the strongest opponent Miami has faced. They were third in Pac-10 scoring, averaging 76.4 ppg.

2. Shut down Aaron Brooks. The Pacific-10 Conference leading scorer also averages 4.34 assists per game and is dangerous from the perimeter. Look for Brooks to knock down big outside shots.

3. Minimize Bryce Taylor and Tajuan Porter. If Brooks has an off night for some reason, the Ducks can rely on Taylor (14.8 ppg) and Porter (14.4 ppg) to produce. Oregon’s other starters, Maarty Leunen and Malik Hairston, also average more than 10 points a game.

Region: Midwest

Coach: Ernie Kent

Record: 26-7

Top scorer: Guard Aaron Brooks, 17.6 ppg

Top rebounder: Center Maarty Leunen, 8.5 rpg

Keys to victory:

1. Stop the RedHawks’ inside game. The Mid-American Conference tournament champions rely heavily on 6-foot-8 power forward Tim Pollitz. If the Ducks can put the RedHawks’ inside came to rest, they should no trouble advancing to the second round.

2. Take advantage of momentum coming into the tournament. The Ducks have been hot, winning their last six games, and the guard tandem of Brooks and Porter is a tough one to cover for any team.

3. Knock down outside shots. If the Ducks lose their ability to score from the outside at the wrong time, it could make for a short stay at the tournament. Brooks and Porter will have to play as solidly as they have been in the past couple of weeks, or it could lead to trouble for the Ducks.