UCLA and USC take different roads in NCAA tournament

After winning the PAC 10 regular season title for a third  consecutive season and winning the PAC 10 tournament for the second time  over the past three seasons, UCLA was awarded the top seed in the West  Region and they have been given an easy road into the Elite Eight.
USCs  road is a lot tougher.  They are being shipped out to the Mid West  region where they are the sixth seed and will have to open against  Kansas State, who features freshman phenom Michael Beasley, who is in  the running for the Player of the Year award.
The game will also  feature USCs own freshman phenom, OJ Mayo, making that one of the best  first-round matchups to watch.
If USC gets past Kansas State  theyll most likely have to play third-seeded Wisconsin.  If USC can get  into the Sweet 16, No. 2 Georgetown, or No. 7 Gonzaga will be waiting  for them.  Good luck with that one.
UCLA is sitting on easy street.   They are a short ride away from their first two games, which are being  played in Anaheim.  Theyll open against No. 16 Mississippi Valley  State, and then either No. 8 BYU or No. 9 Texas A&M will be waiting  for them.
The second weekend will not get much tougher, as they  will travel to Phoenix.  The only team in the West that is in the ball  park with UCLA is No. 2 Duke, who they will not have to worry about  until the Elite Eight.  If Duke trips up, UCLA could have an easy ride  into the Final Four.
UCLAs own freshman phenom, Kevin Love, who was  named PAC 10 Player of the Year, will not have any problems until the  final game of the second weekend.
Defensively UCLA is as good as  their last two teams, who both made it to the Final Four.  The question  is whether they have enough offense to finally win another title.  The  last two seasons they did not have the firepower to run with Florida,  who defeated UCLA in the title game in 2006 and in the Final Four in  2007.
Sophomore Russell Westbrook, who was named PAC 10 Player of the  Year, is getting more playing time, which should also give them an  offensive boost because of his aggressive play.
UCLA has more  experience than the past two seasons.  Juniors Darren Collison, Josh  Shipp, Luc Richard Mabah a Moute, and Alfred Aboya have all been to two  Final Fours.
This has to be the year for UCLA because Love,  Collison, and Shipp are more than likely going to leave for the NBA.
USC  also has to make some noise this season because OJ Mayo is not expected  to come back next year.
The PAC has six teams in the tournament.   Oregon, Arizona, Stanford, and Washington State are also in.