by Micah Hart

For the complete Bragging Rights rules and to vote for other matchups, click here. We continue the Sweet 16 in the West region, where two towers of college basketball power square off for a chance to move on to the Elite Eight.

VS

UCLA Bruins

Starters (all stats per 48 minutes):

Russell Westbrook, Thunder: 30.2 points, 6.3 rebounds, 11.5 assists, 0.5 blocks, 2.4 steals
Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, Bucks: 11.6 points, 10.0 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 0.7 blocks, 1.8 steals
Kevin Love, Timberwolves: 27.2 points, 20.6 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 0.5 blocks, 0.8 steals
Baron Davis, Cavaliers: 21.4 points, 4.7 rebounds, 11.1 assists, 0.8 blocks, 2.4 steals
Jrue Holiday, Sixers: 18.7 points, 5.5 rebounds, 8.6 assists, 0.5 blocks, 2.1 steals

Missed the cut: Matt Barnes, Lakers; Darren Collison, Pacers; Jordan Farmar, Nets; Dan Gadzuric, Nets; Ryan Hollins, Cavaliers; Jason Kapono, Sixers; Trevor Ariza, Hornets; Earl Watson, Jazz; Arron Afflalo, Nuggets

Team synopsis: As the school with the most current players in the NBA, the UCLA Bruins will be a tough out. Several different players could make the starting lineup, but I went with Mbah a Moute’s all-around contributions over those of rising studs like Collison and Afflalo. When Davis is nearly left out of the starting five, you know you’ve got some firepower to work with. Love’s per-48 rebounding stats are absurd, and Westbrook’s scoring is only a few ppg behind his scoring-champion teammate, Kevin Durant. (more…)