ÿþ<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD><TITLE>Florida Gators Football Team 2006 National Championships</TITLE> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><LINK href="images/style9.css" type=text/css rel=stylesheet> <META content="florida gators, University of Florida, gators, gators football, uf athlethics, gator national championships, florida gators football history, florida gators football information, 2007 bcs championship game, 2007 national champions, 2007 national champs" name=keywords> <META content="Florida Gators Football Team 2006 National Championships" name=title> <META content="florida gators football team 2006 national championship&#13;&#10;information and facts. Go Gators!" name=description> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.6000.16441" name=GENERATOR></HEAD> <BODY bottomMargin=0 leftMargin=0 background=images/background.jpg topMargin=0 rightMargin=0 marginwidth="0" marginheight="0"> <TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0 > <TBODY> <TR vAlign=top border="0" > <TD width=148 height=111 border="0" ><IMG height=111 alt="" src="images/topleft.jpg" width=148 border=0></TD> <TD width="100%" background=images/topbg.jpg height=111 border="0" ><!----- Insert your logo below ------------------------------------------><IMG height=92 alt="" src="images/alligatorhead_rofe.gif" width=241 border=0> <!-----------------------------------------------------------------------></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE> <TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0 > <TBODY> <TR vAlign=top border="0" > <TD width=96 border="0" ><IMG height=1 alt="" src="images/spcr.jpg" width=96 border=0></TD> <TD width="100%" border="0" > <TABLE height=883 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=15 width=710 border=0 > <TBODY> <TR vAlign=top border="0" > <TD width=676 height=881 border="0" ><!------------------------ Content zone, add your content below ----------------------------> <CENTER> <H1 class=firstHeading><IMG alt="ESPN Shop" src="http://a712.g.akamai.net/7/712/225/1d/www.espnshop.com/images/linkshare/ESPNshop/espn_EveryGameMatters_468x60.gif" border=0></H1></CENTER> <CENTER> <H1 style="FONT-SIZE: 80%; TEXT-ALIGN: right"><FONT size=3>&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></H1></CENTER> <CENTER> <H1 class=firstHeading><FONT color=#4000ff></FONT><FONT size=3><IMG height=166 alt="2006 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament logo" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/49/2006FinalFour.png" width=250 longDesc=/wiki/Image:2006FinalFour.png></FONT> <H1><FONT size=3>The 2006 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 schools playing in a single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 14, 2006, and concluded with the University of Florida winning their first-ever national title over UCLA 73-57 on April 3 at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis, Indiana. Florida's Joakim Noah was named the Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA Tournament.</FONT></H1> <SCRIPT type=text/javascript> //<![CDATA[ if (window.showTocToggle) { var tocShowText = "show"; var tocHideText = "hide"; showTocToggle(); } //]]> </SCRIPT> <H1><FONT size=3></FONT>&nbsp;</H1> <H2 class=firstHeading align=center><FONT size=3>&nbsp;<SPAN class=mw-headline>Tournament procedure</SPAN></FONT></H2> <H1 class="boilerplate seealso"> <DL> <DD><FONT size=3><I>For more details on this topic, see NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship#Tournament format.</I> </FONT></DD></DL></H1> <H1><FONT size=3>A total of 65 teams were selected to participate in the tournament. 31 of the teams earned automatic bids by winning their conference tournaments. Pennsylvania earned an automatic bid by winning the regular-season title of the Ivy League, which does not conduct a conference tournament. The remaining 34 teams were granted "at-large" bids, which are extended by the NCAA Selection Committee.</FONT></H1> <H1><FONT size=3>The initial game on March 14, popularly called the "play-in game," had Monmouth, winner of the Northeast Conference tournament, facing Hampton, who won the automatic big from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championship, for a chance to play top seed Villanova in the first round of the tournament. Monmouth defeated Hampton, 71-49, to earn that right.</FONT></H1> <H1><FONT size=3>All 64 teams were seeded from 1 to 16 within their regionals; the winner of the play-in game automatically received a 16 seed. The Selection Committee seeded the entire field from 1 to 65. In a practice since 2004, the ranking of the four top seeds against each other would determine the pairings in the Final Four. The top overall seed would be seeded to play the fourth overall seed in the national semifinals, should both teams advance that far. In 2006, these rankings were as follows: #1 Duke, #2 Connecticut, #3 Villanova, and #4 Memphis. [1]</FONT></H1> <H1><FONT size=3>The four regionals are officially named after their four host cities, a practice which also began in 2004. However, in 2007, the NCAA has returned to naming regionals by their geographic location. The 2006 regionals were:</FONT></H1> <H1> <UL> <LI><FONT size=3>March 23 / 25: </FONT></LI></UL></H1> <H1 class=firstHeading align=center> <DL> <DD><FONT size=3>Atlanta Regional, Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia (Host: Georgia Institute of Technology) </FONT> <DD><FONT size=3>Oakland Regional, Oakland Arena, Oakland, California (Host: University of San Francisco) </FONT></DD></DL></H1> <UL> <LI><FONT size=3>March 24 / 26: </FONT></LI></UL> <DL> <DD><FONT size=3>Minneapolis Regional, Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota (Host: University of Minnesota) </FONT> <DD><FONT size=3>Washington, D.C. Regional, Verizon Center, Washington, D.C. (Host: Georgetown University) </FONT></DD></DL> <P><FONT size=3>The first and second round games were played at the following sites:</FONT></P> <UL> <LI><FONT size=3>March 16 / 18: </FONT></LI></UL> <DL> <DD><FONT size=3>Cox Arena, San Diego, California (Host: San Diego State University) </FONT> <DD><FONT size=3>Greensboro Coliseum, Greensboro, North Carolina (Host: Atlantic Coast Conference) </FONT> <DD><FONT size=3>Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena, Jacksonville, Florida (Host: Jacksonville University) </FONT> <DD><FONT size=3>Jon M. Huntsman Center, Salt Lake City, Utah (Host: University of Utah) </FONT></DD></DL> <UL> <LI><FONT size=3>March 17 / 19: </FONT></LI></UL> <DL> <DD><FONT size=3>American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas (Host: Big 12 Conference) </FONT> <DD><FONT size=3>Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills, Michigan (Host: Oakland University) </FONT> <DD><FONT size=3>University of Dayton Arena, Dayton, Ohio (Host: University of Dayton) </FONT> <DD><FONT size=3>Wachovia Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Host: Atlantic 10 Conference) </FONT></DD></DL> <P><FONT size=3>Each regional winner advanced to the Final Four, held on April 1 and 3 in Indianapolis, hosted by Butler University and the Horizon League.</FONT></P> <CENTER> <SCRIPT type=text/javascript><!-- google_ad_client = "pub-5077935226700357"; google_ad_width = 336; google_ad_height = 280; google_ad_format = "336x280_as"; google_ad_type = "text"; //2007-04-23: gatormaniacs google_ad_channel = "0857849699"; google_color_border = "4000FF"; google_color_bg = "FFFFFF"; google_color_link = "EE9A00"; google_color_text = "4000FF"; google_color_url = "EE9A00"; //--> </SCRIPT> <SCRIPT src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js" type=text/javascript> </SCRIPT> <P><FONT size=3></FONT>&nbsp;</P> <H2><FONT size=3>&nbsp;<SPAN class=mw-headline>Qualifying teams</SPAN></FONT></H2> <TABLE class=wikitable border=0 > <TBODY> <TR border="0" > <TH style="BACKGROUND: #ffdead" colSpan=5>Atlanta</TH></TR> <TR border="0" > <TH style="BACKGROUND: #e3e3e3">Seed</TH> <TH style="BACKGROUND: #e3e3e3">School</TH> <TH style="BACKGROUND: #e3e3e3">Conference</TH> <TH style="BACKGROUND: #e3e3e3">Record</TH> <TH style="BACKGROUND: #e3e3e3">Berth Type</TH></TR> <TR border="0" > <TD border="0" >#1</TD> <TD border="0" >Duke</TD> <TD border="0" >ACC</TD> <TD border="0" >30-3</TD> <TD border="0" >Tournament Champion</TD></TR> <TR border="0" > <TD border="0" >#2</TD> <TD border="0" >Texas</TD> <TD border="0" >Big 12</TD> <TD border="0" >27-6</TD> <TD border="0" >At-Large Bid</TD></TR> <TR border="0" > <TD border="0" >#3</TD> <TD border="0" >Iowa</TD> <TD border="0" >Big Ten</TD> <TD border="0" >25-8</TD> <TD border="0" >Tournament Champion</TD></TR> <TR border="0" > <TD border="0" >#4</TD> <TD border="0" >LSU</TD> <TD border="0" >SEC</TD> <TD border="0" >23-8</TD> <TD border="0" >At-Large Bid</TD></TR> <TR border="0" > <TD border="0" >#5</TD> <TD border="0" >Syracuse</TD> <TD border="0" >Big East</TD> <TD border="0" >23-11</TD> <TD border="0" >Tournament Champion</TD></TR> <TR border="0" > <TD border="0" >#6</TD> <TD border="0" >West Virginia</TD> <TD border="0" >Big East</TD> <TD border="0" >20-10</TD> <TD border="0" >At-Large Bid</TD></TR> <TR border="0" > <TD border="0" >#7</TD> <TD border="0" >California</TD> <TD border="0" >Pac-10</TD> <TD border="0" >20-10</TD> <TD border="0" >At-Large Bid</TD></TR> <TR border="0" > <TD border="0" >#8</TD> <TD border="0" >George Washington</TD> <TD border="0" >Atlantic 10</TD> <TD border="0" >26-2</TD> <TD border="0" >At-Large Bid</TD></TR> <TR border="0" > <TD border="0" >#9</TD> <TD border="0" >UNC-Wilmington</TD> <TD border="0" >CAA</TD> <TD border="0" >25-7</TD> <TD border="0" >Tournament Champion</TD></TR> <TR border="0" > <TD border="0" >#10</TD> <TD border="0" >North Carolina State</TD> <TD border="0" >ACC</TD> <TD border="0" >21-9</TD> <TD border="0" >At-Large Bid</TD></TR> <TR border="0" > <TD border="0" >#11</TD> <TD border="0" >Southern Illinois</TD> <TD border="0" >Missouri Valley</TD> <TD border="0" >22-10</TD> <TD border="0" >Tournament Champion</TD></TR> <TR border="0" > <TD border="0" >#12</TD> <TD border="0" >Texas A&amp;M</TD> <TD border="0" >Big 12</TD> <TD border="0" >21-8</TD> <TD border="0" >At-Large Bid</TD></TR> <TR border="0" > <TD border="0" >#13</TD> <TD border="0" >Iona</TD> <TD border="0" >MAAC</TD> <TD border="0" >23-7</TD> <TD border="0" >Tournament Champion</TD></TR> <TR border="0" > <TD border="0" >#14</TD> <TD border="0" >Northwestern State</TD> <TD border="0" >Southland</TD> <TD border="0" >25-7</TD> <TD border="0" >Tournament Champion</TD></TR> <TR border="0" > <TD border="0" >#15</TD> <TD border="0" >Pennsylvania</TD> <TD border="0" >Ivy</TD> <TD border="0" >20-8</TD> <TD border="0" >Regular Season Champion</TD></TR> <TR border="0" > <TD border="0" >#16</TD> <TD border="0" >Southern</TD> <TD border="0" >SWAC</TD> <TD border="0" >19-12</TD> <TD border="0" >Tournament Champion</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE> <TABLE class=wikitable border=0 > <TBODY> <TR border="0" > <TH style="BACKGROUND: #ffdead" colSpan=5>Oakland</TH></TR> <TR border="0" > <TH style="BACKGROUND: #e3e3e3">Seed</TH> <TH style="BACKGROUND: #e3e3e3">School</TH> <TH style="BACKGROUND: #e3e3e3">Conference</TH> <TH style="BACKGROUND: #e3e3e3">Record</TH> <TH style="BACKGROUND: #e3e3e3">Berth Type</TH></TR> <TR border="0" > <TD border="0" >#1</TD> <TD border="0" >Memphis</TD> <TD border="0" >C-USA</TD> <TD border="0" >30-3</TD> <TD border="0" >Tournament Champion</TD></TR> <TR border="0" > <TD border="0" >#2</TD> <TD border="0" >UCLA</TD> <TD border="0" >Pac-10</TD> <TD border="0" >27-6</TD> <TD border="0" >Tournament Champion</TD></TR> <TR border="0" > <TD border="0" >#3</TD> <TD border="0" >Gonzaga</TD> <TD border="0" >WCC</TD> <TD border="0" >27-3</TD> <TD border="0" >Tournament Champion</TD></TR> <TR border="0" > <TD border="0" >#4</TD> <TD border="0" >Kansas</TD> <TD border="0" >Big 12</TD> <TD border="0" >25-7</TD> <TD border="0" >Tournament Champion</TD></TR> <TR border="0" > <TD border="0" >#5</TD> <TD border="0" >Pittsburgh</TD> <TD border="0" >Big East</TD> <TD border="0" >24-7</TD> <TD border="0" >At-Large Bid</TD></TR> <TR border="0" > <TD border="0" >#6</TD> <TD border="0" >Indiana</TD> <TD border="0" >Big Ten</TD> <TD border="0" >18-11</TD> <TD border="0" >At-Large Bid</TD></TR> <TR border="0" > <TD border="0" >#7</TD> <TD border="0" >Marquette</TD> <TD border="0" >Big East</TD> <TD border="0" >20-10</TD> <TD border="0" >At-Large Bid</TD></TR> <TR border="0" > <TD border="0" >#8</TD> <TD border="0" >Arkansas</TD> <TD border="0" >SEC</TD> <TD border="0" >22-9</TD> <TD border="0" >At-Large Bid</TD></TR> <TR border="0" > <TD border="0" >#9</TD> <TD border="0" >Bucknell</TD> <TD border="0" >Patriot</TD> <TD border="0" >26-4</TD> <TD border="0" >Tournament Champion</TD></TR> <TR border="0" > <TD border="0" >#10</TD> <TD border="0" >Alabama</TD> <TD border="0" >SEC</TD> <TD border="0" >17-12</TD> <TD border="0" >At-Large Bid</TD></TR> <TR border="0" > <TD border="0" >#11</TD> <TD border="0" >San Diego State</TD> <TD border="0" >Mountain West</TD> <TD border="0" >24-8</TD> <TD border="0" >Tournament Champion</TD></TR> <TR border="0" > <TD border="0" >#12</TD> <TD border="0" >Kent State</TD> <TD border="0" >Mid-American</TD> <TD border="0" >25-8</TD> <TD border="0" >Tournament Champion</TD></TR> <TR border="0" > <TD border="0" >#13</TD> <TD border="0" >Bradley</TD> <TD border="0" >Missouri Valley</TD> <TD border="0" >20-10</TD> <TD border="0" >At-Large Bid</TD></TR> <TR border="0" > <TD border="0" >#14</TD> <TD border="0" >Xavier</TD> <TD border="0" >Atlantic 10</TD> <TD border="0" >21-10</TD> <TD border="0" >Tournament Champion</TD></TR> <TR border="0" > <TD border="0" >#15</TD> <TD border="0" >Belmont</TD> <TD border="0" >Atlantic Sun</TD> <TD border="0" >20-10</TD> <TD border="0" >Tournament Champion</TD></TR> <TR border="0" > <TD border="0" >#16</TD> <TD border="0" >Oral Roberts</TD> <TD border="0" >Mid-Continent</TD> <TD border="0" >21-11</TD> <TD border="0" >Tournament Champion</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE> <TABLE class=wikitable border=0 > <TBODY> <TR border="0" > <TH style="BACKGROUND: #ffdead" colSpan=5>Washington, D.C.</TH></TR> <TR border="0" > <TH style="BACKGROUND: #e3e3e3">Seed</TH> <TH style="BACKGROUND: #e3e3e3">School</TH> <TH style="BACKGROUND: #e3e3e3">Conference</TH> <TH style="BACKGROUND: #e3e3e3">Record</TH> <TH style="BACKGROUND: #e3e3e3">Berth Type</TH></TR> <TR border="0" > <TD border="0" >#1</TD> <TD border="0" >Connecticut</TD> <TD border="0" >Big East</TD> <TD border="0" >27-3</TD> <TD border="0" >At-Large Bid</TD></TR> <TR border="0" > <TD border="0" >#2</TD> <TD border="0" >Tennessee</TD> <TD border="0" >SEC</TD> <TD border="0" >21-7</TD> <TD border="0" >At-Large Bid</TD></TR> <TR border="0" > <TD border="0" >#3</TD> <TD border="0" >North Carolina</TD> <TD border="0" >ACC</TD> <TD border="0" >23-8</TD> <TD border="0" >At-Large Bid</TD></TR> <TR border="0" > <TD border="0" >#4</TD> <TD border="0" >Illinois</TD> <TD border="0" >Big Ten</TD> <TD border="0" >25-6</TD> <TD border="0" >At-Large Bid</TD></TR> <TR border="0" > <TD border="0" >#5</TD> <TD border="0" >Washington</TD> <TD border="0" >Pac-10</TD> <TD border="0" >24-6</TD> <TD border="0" >At-Large Bid</TD></TR> <TR border="0" > <TD border="0" >#6</TD> <TD border="0" >Michigan State</TD> <TD border="0" >Big Ten</TD> <TD border="0" >22-11</TD> <TD border="0" >At-Large Bid</TD></TR> <TR border="0" > <TD border="0" >#7</TD> <TD border="0" >Wichita State</TD> <TD border="0" >Missouri Valley</TD> <TD border="0" >24-8</TD> <TD border="0" >At-Large Bid</TD></TR> <TR border="0" > <TD border="0" >#8</TD> <TD border="0" >Kentucky</TD> <TD border="0" >SEC</TD> <TD border="0" >21-12</TD> <TD border="0" >At-Large Bid</TD></TR> <TR border="0" > <TD border="0" >#9</TD> <TD border="0" >UAB</TD> <TD border="0" >USA</TD> <TD border="0" >24-6</TD> <TD border="0" >At-Large Bid</TD></TR> <TR border="0" > <TD border="0" >#10</TD> <TD border="0" >Seton Hall</TD> <TD border="0" >Big East</TD> <TD border="0" >18-11</TD> <TD border="0" >At-Large Bid</TD></TR> <TR border="0" > <TD border="0" >#11</TD> <TD border="0" >George Mason</TD> <TD border="0" >CAA</TD> <TD border="0" >25-7</TD> <TD border="0" >At-Large Bid</TD></TR> <TR border="0" > <TD border="0" >#12</TD> <TD border="0" >Utah State</TD> <TD border="0" >WAC</TD> <TD border="0" >23-8</TD> <TD border="0" >At-Large Bid</TD></TR> <TR border="0" > <TD border="0" >#13</TD> <TD border="0" >Air Force</TD> <TD border="0" >Mountain West</TD> <TD border="0" >24-6</TD> <TD border="0" >At-Large Bid</TD></TR> <TR border="0" > <TD border="0" >#14</TD> <TD border="0" >Murray State</TD> <TD border="0" >Ohio Valley</TD> <TD border="0" >24-6</TD> <TD border="0" >Tournament Champion</TD></TR> <TR border="0" > <TD border="0" >#15</TD> <TD border="0" >Winthrop</TD> <TD border="0" >Big South</TD> <TD border="0" >23-7</TD> <TD border="0" >Tournament Champion</TD></TR> <TR border="0" > <TD border="0" >#16</TD> <TD border="0" >Albany</TD> <TD border="0" >America East</TD> <TD border="0" >21-10</TD> <TD border="0" >Tournament Champion</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE> <TABLE class=wikitable border=0 > <TBODY> <TR border="0" > <TH style="BACKGROUND: #ffdead" colSpan=5>Minneapolis</TH></TR> <TR border="0" > <TH style="BACKGROUND: #e3e3e3">Seed</TH> <TH style="BACKGROUND: #e3e3e3">School</TH> <TH style="BACKGROUND: #e3e3e3">Conference</TH> <TH style="BACKGROUND: #e3e3e3">Record</TH> <TH style="BACKGROUND: #e3e3e3">Berth Type</TH></TR> <TR border="0" > <TD border="0" >#1</TD> <TD border="0" >Villanova</TD> <TD border="0" >Big East</TD> <TD border="0" >25-4</TD> <TD border="0" >At-Large Bid</TD></TR> <TR border="0" > <TD border="0" >#2</TD> <TD border="0" >Ohio State</TD> <TD border="0" >Big Ten</TD> <TD border="0" >25-5</TD> <TD border="0" >At-Large Bid</TD></TR> <TR border="0" > <TD border="0" >#3</TD> <TD border="0" >Florida</TD> <TD border="0" >SEC</TD> <TD border="0" >27-6</TD> <TD border="0" >Tournament Champion</TD></TR> <TR border="0" > <TD border="0" >#4</TD> <TD border="0" >Boston College</TD> <TD border="0" >ACC</TD> <TD border="0" >26-7</TD> <TD border="0" >At-Large Bid</TD></TR> <TR border="0" > <TD border="0" >#5</TD> <TD border="0" >Nevada</TD> <TD border="0" >WAC</TD> <TD border="0" >27-5</TD> <TD border="0" >Tournament Champion</TD></TR> <TR border="0" > <TD border="0" >#6</TD> <TD border="0" >Oklahoma</TD> <TD border="0" >Big 12</TD> <TD border="0" >20-8</TD> <TD border="0" >At-Large Bid</TD></TR> <TR border="0" > <TD border="0" >#7</TD> <TD border="0" >Georgetown</TD> <TD border="0" >Big East</TD> <TD border="0" >21-9</TD> <TD border="0" >At-Large Bid</TD></TR> <TR border="0" > <TD border="0" >#8</TD> <TD border="0" >Arizona</TD> <TD border="0" >Pac-10</TD> <TD border="0" >19-12</TD> <TD border="0" >At-Large Bid</TD></TR> <TR border="0" > <TD border="0" >#9</TD> <TD border="0" >Wisconsin</TD> <TD border="0" >Big Ten</TD> <TD border="0" >19-11</TD> <TD border="0" >At-Large Bid</TD></TR> <TR border="0" > <TD border="0" >#10</TD> <TD border="0" >Northern Iowa</TD> <TD border="0" >Missouri Valley</TD> <TD border="0" >23-9</TD> <TD border="0" >At-Large Bid</TD></TR> <TR border="0" > <TD border="0" >#11</TD> <TD border="0" >UW-Milwaukee</TD> <TD border="0" >Horizon</TD> <TD border="0" >21-8</TD> <TD border="0" >Tournament Champion</TD></TR> <TR border="0" > <TD border="0" >#12</TD> <TD border="0" >Montana</TD> <TD border="0" >Big Sky</TD> <TD border="0" >23-6</TD> <TD border="0" >Tournament Champion</TD></TR> <TR border="0" > <TD border="0" >#13</TD> <TD border="0" >Pacific</TD> <TD border="0" >Big West</TD> <TD border="0" >24-7</TD> <TD border="0" >Tournament Champion</TD></TR> <TR border="0" > <TD border="0" >#14</TD> <TD border="0" >South Alabama</TD> <TD border="0" >Sun Belt</TD> <TD border="0" >24-6</TD> <TD border="0" >Tournament Champion</TD></TR> <TR border="0" > <TD border="0" >#15</TD> <TD border="0" >Davidson</TD> <TD border="0" >Southern</TD> <TD border="0" >18-10</TD> <TD border="0" >Tournament Champion</TD></TR> <TR border="0" > <TD border="0" >Play-in Winner</TD> <TD border="0" >Monmouth</TD> <TD border="0" >Northeast</TD> <TD border="0" >18-14</TD> <TD border="0" >Tournament Champion</TD></TR> <TR border="0" > <TD border="0" >Play-in Loser</TD> <TD border="0" >Hampton</TD> <TD border="0" >MEAC</TD> <TD border="0" >16-15</TD> <TD border="0" >Tournament Champion</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE> <P><FONT size=3></FONT>&nbsp;</P> <H2><FONT size=3>&nbsp;<SPAN class=mw-headline>Bids by conference</SPAN></FONT></H2> <TABLE class=wikitable border=0 > <TBODY> <TR border="0" > <TH style="BACKGROUND: #ffdead" colSpan=5>Bids by Conference</TH></TR> <TR border="0" > <TH style="BACKGROUND: #e3e3e3">Bids</TH> <TH style="BACKGROUND: #e3e3e3">Conference(s)</TH></TR> <TR border="0" > <TD border="0" >8</TD> <TD border="0" >Big East</TD></TR> <TR border="0" > <TD border="0" >6</TD> <TD border="0" >SEC, Big Ten</TD></TR> <TR border="0" > <TD border="0" >4</TD> <TD border="0" >ACC, Big 12, Pac-10, Missouri Valley</TD></TR> <TR border="0" > <TD border="0" >2</TD> <TD border="0" >Atlantic 10, CAA, C-USA, Mountain West, WAC</TD></TR> <TR border="0" > <TD border="0" >1</TD> <TD border="0" >19 others</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE> <P><FONT size=3></FONT>&nbsp;</P> <H3><FONT size=3>&nbsp;<SPAN class=mw-headline>Non-qualifying teams</SPAN></FONT></H3> <P><FONT size=3>Several teams missed the cut despite having resumes that were arguably better than the weakest at-large selections. According to ESPN.com, the "biggest snubs", in order of perceived severity, were Missouri State, Hofstra, Creighton, Cincinnati, Florida State, Michigan, and Maryland. However, all were invited to the 2006 National Invitation Tournament, which was won by South Carolina.</FONT></P> <P><FONT size=3></FONT>&nbsp;</P> <H2><FONT size=3>&nbsp;<SPAN class=mw-headline>Scores and schedule</SPAN></FONT></H2> <P><FONT size=3></FONT>&nbsp;</P> <H3><FONT size=3>&nbsp;<SPAN class=mw-headline>Opening round "Play-In" Game</SPAN></FONT></H3> <UL> <LI><FONT size=3>March 14, University of Dayton Arena, Dayton, Ohio </FONT> <UL> <LI><FONT size=3>Monmouth 71, Hampton 49 </FONT> <DL> <DD><FONT size=3>The Hawks' Chris Kenny had 20 points as Monmouth advanced easily. </FONT></DD></DL></LI></UL></LI></UL> <P><FONT size=3></FONT>&nbsp;</P> <H3><FONT size=3>&nbsp;<SPAN class=mw-headline>First round</SPAN></FONT></H3> <P><FONT size=3>The games on March 16, 2006 at the Cox Arena in San Diego, California were delayed for more than 70 minutes due to a bomb scare. [2]</FONT></P> <P><FONT size=3></FONT>&nbsp;</P> <H4>&nbsp;<SPAN class=mw-headline>Atlanta Regional</SPAN></H4> <UL> <LI><FONT size=3>March 16, Greensboro Coliseum, Greensboro, North Carolina </FONT> <UL> <LI><FONT size=3>(8) George Washington 88, (9) UNC-Wilmington 85 (OT) </FONT> <DL> <DD><FONT size=3>George Washington came back from an 18-point second half deficit to win the game in overtime. </FONT></DD></DL> <LI><FONT size=3>(1) Duke 70, (16) Southern 54 </FONT> <DL> <DD><FONT size=3>Southern kept it a close game going into the second half, but Duke pulled away late behind 29 points each from Shelden Williams and J.J. Redick. </FONT></DD></DL></LI></UL> <LI><FONT size=3>March 16, Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena, Jacksonville, Florida </FONT> <UL> <LI><FONT size=3>(4) LSU 80, (13) Iona 64 </FONT> <DL> <DD><FONT size=3>Iona led by five at halftime, but LSU took command late thanks to Glen Davis's 17 second-half points. </FONT></DD></DL> <LI><FONT size=3>(12) Texas A&amp;M 66, (5) Syracuse 58 </FONT> <DL> <DD><FONT size=3>Gerry McNamara, struggling with a groin injury, had two points and no field goals in his final game for Syracuse. </FONT></DD></DL></LI></UL> <LI><FONT size=3>March 17, Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills, Michigan </FONT> <UL> <LI><FONT size=3>(14) Northwestern State 64, (3) Iowa 63 </FONT> <DL> <DD><FONT size=3>Down 17 with less than nine minutes left, the Demons stormed back to cut the lead to two, and Jermaine Wallace connected on a fadeaway three-pointer with 0.5 seconds remaining for the win. </FONT></DD></DL> <LI><FONT size=3>(6) West Virginia 64, (11) Southern Illinois 46 </FONT> <DL> <DD><FONT size=3>With Kevin Pittsnogle scoring 18 and West Virginia making eleven three-pointers, the Mountaineers easily advanced to the second round. </FONT></DD></DL></LI></UL> <LI><FONT size=3>March 17, American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas </FONT> <UL> <LI><FONT size=3>(10) N.C. State 58, (7) California 52 </FONT> <DL> <DD><FONT size=3>Cameron Bennerman made a three-pointer with the score tied and 32 seconds to play to help send the Wolfpack to a matchup with a #2 seed for the second straight year. </FONT></DD></DL> <LI><FONT size=3>(2) Texas 60, (15) Penn 52 </FONT> <DL> <DD><FONT size=3>LaMarcus Aldridge had 19 points and pulled down 10 rebounds for the double-double as Texas pulled out the win. </FONT></DD></DL></LI></UL></LI></UL> <P><FONT size=3></FONT>&nbsp;</P> <H4>&nbsp;<SPAN class=mw-headline>Oakland Regional</SPAN></H4> <UL> <LI><FONT size=3>March 16, Cox Arena, San Diego, California </FONT> <UL> <LI><FONT size=3>(10) Alabama 90, (7) Marquette 85 </FONT> <DL> <DD><FONT size=3>Jean Felix scored 31 points off of the bench and Ronald Steele added 23 to lead the Crimson Tide to a comeback win. Steve Novak had an open look for a three to tie the game late at 88, but missed badly. Dominic James led all Golden Eagles scorers with 20. </FONT></DD></DL> <LI><FONT size=3>(2) UCLA 78, (15) Belmont 44 </FONT> <DL> <DD><FONT size=3>Luc Richard Mbah a Moute scored 19 points and contributed eight rebounds to guide the Bruins from Westwood to an easy victory over the Bruins from Nashville. </FONT></DD></DL></LI></UL> <LI><FONT size=3>March 16, Jon M. Huntsman Center, Salt Lake City, Utah </FONT> <UL> <LI><FONT size=3>(3) Gonzaga 79, (14) Xavier 75 </FONT> <DL> <DD><FONT size=3>The Bulldogs fell behind by nine early in the second half, but kept the game close until Adam Morrison took over late, giving them the lead for good with a three-pointer with 1:58 left. He finished with 35 points, and J.P. Batista added 18 points and eight rebounds. </FONT></DD></DL> <LI><FONT size=3>(6) Indiana 87, (11) San Diego St. 83 </FONT> <DL> <DD><FONT size=3>Despite 24 points from Aztec star Mohamed Abukar, Robert Vaden's go-ahead three-pointer with 3.3 seconds left extended Mike Davis' career for one more game. </FONT></DD></DL></LI></UL> <LI><FONT size=3>March 17, American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas </FONT> <UL> <LI><FONT size=3>(9) Bucknell 59, (8) Arkansas 55 </FONT> <DL> <DD><FONT size=3>Charles Lee had 24 points and the Bison combined for eleven threes as they won their first round NCAA Tournament game for the second straight year. </FONT></DD></DL> <LI><FONT size=3>(1) Memphis 94, (16) Oral Roberts 78 </FONT> <DL> <DD><FONT size=3>After the Golden Eagles went up 33-29 with 5:39 left before halftime, the ORU faithful were expecting a miracle as no #16 seed had ever beaten a #1 seed, but Memphis and Andre Allen pulled away. </FONT></DD></DL></LI></UL> <LI><FONT size=3>March 17, Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills, Michigan </FONT> <UL> <LI><FONT size=3>(5) Pittsburgh 79, (12) Kent State 64 </FONT> <DL> <DD><FONT size=3>Aaron Gray had 17 and Ronald Ramon added 16 of his own as both were perfect (6-for-6) with their field goals in the easy win. </FONT></DD></DL> <LI><FONT size=3>(13) Bradley 77, (4) Kansas 73 </FONT> <DL> <DD><FONT size=3>The Braves pulled off the upset, becoming the only #13 seed of the year to stay alive, as Kansas went home in the first round for the second straight year as a top 4 seed (they lost to 14th-seeded Bucknell in 2005). Marcellus Sommerville had 21 points for Bradley. </FONT></DD></DL></LI></UL></LI></UL> <P><FONT size=3></FONT>&nbsp;</P> <H4><SPAN class=mw-headline>Minneapolis Regional</SPAN></H4> <UL> <LI><FONT size=3>March 16, Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena, Jacksonville, Florida </FONT> <UL> <LI><FONT size=3>(11) UW-Milwaukee 82, (6) Oklahoma 74 </FONT> <DL> <DD><FONT size=3>Boo Davis had 26 points and six rebounds for Milwaukee as the Panthers led by as many as fourteen in the second half. </FONT></DD></DL> <LI><FONT size=3>(3) Florida 76, (14) South Alabama 50 </FONT> <DL> <DD><FONT size=3>Playing close to home, Florida had no trouble disposing of the Sun Belt Conference's automatic qualifier; the Gators were led by Lee Humphrey's 20 points and the all-around scoreline of Joakim Noah with 16 points, eight rebounds, seven assists, five blocks, and three steals. </FONT></DD></DL></LI></UL> <LI><FONT size=3>March 16, Jon M. Huntsman Center, Salt Lake City, Utah </FONT> <UL> <LI><FONT size=3>(4) Boston College 88, (13) Pacific 76 (2 OT) </FONT> <DL> <DD><FONT size=3>In a double-overtime thriller, Pacific nearly pulled off the day's biggest upset against a team that many had projected to reach the Final Four. Pacific tied the game in regulation with nine seconds remaining on a three-pointer by Christian Maråker. In this first overtime, Pacific had a six-point lead, but poor execution on both ends allowed BC back in the game and Craig Smith made the game-tying free throws after a controversial foul. In the second overtime, Boston College simply outlasted an exhausted Tigers squad. </FONT></DD></DL> <LI><FONT size=3>(12) Montana 87, (5) Nevada 79 </FONT> <DL> <DD><FONT size=3>Nevada's star Nick Fazekas scored 24 but missed 13 of his 23 shots from the field, while a much smaller Montana squad was led to its first tournament win since 1975 by great shooting and former Montana star and current coach Larry Krystkowiak. </FONT></DD></DL></LI></UL> <LI><FONT size=3>March 17, University of Dayton Arena, Dayton, Ohio </FONT> <UL> <LI><FONT size=3>(2) Ohio State 70, (15) Davidson 62 </FONT> <DL> <DD><FONT size=3>Although the Wildcats led by four at the half, the Buckeyes, behind 19 points from big man Terence Dials, put them away after Davidson got it to within three points with a little over seven minutes to play. </FONT></DD></DL> <LI><FONT size=3>(7) Georgetown 54, (10) Northern Iowa 49 </FONT> <DL> <DD><FONT size=3>The Panthers opened the second half in a 2-of-18 shooting slump against the Big East's stingiest defense and never picked it up enough to retake the lead against the Hoyas, against whom they had led throughout the first half. </FONT></DD></DL></LI></UL> <LI><FONT size=3>March 17, Wachovia Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania </FONT> <UL> <LI><FONT size=3>(8) Arizona 94, (9) Wisconsin 75 </FONT> <DL> <DD><FONT size=3>Bo Ryan and the Badgers were never really in the game as Hassan Adams, returning from a two-game suspension, scored 21, going 10-for-14 from the field. "We played offensively as well as we played all year," said Lute Olson, coach of the Wildcats. </FONT></DD></DL> <LI><FONT size=3>(1) Villanova 58, (16) Monmouth 45 </FONT> <DL> <DD><FONT size=3>The Hawks cut Villanova's lead to within seven points with 6:22 remaining in the second half after a Tyler Azzarelli three-pointer, but Villanova star senior guards Randy Foye and Allan Ray combined for 36 points to lead the Wildcats to the second round, despite a poor shooting performance. </FONT></DD></DL></LI></UL></LI></UL> <P><FONT size=3></FONT>&nbsp;</P> <H4>&nbsp;<SPAN class=mw-headline>Washington, D.C. Regional</SPAN></H4> <UL> <LI><FONT size=3>March 16, Greensboro Coliseum, Greensboro, North Carolina </FONT> <UL> <LI><FONT size=3>(7) Wichita State 86, (10) Seton Hall 66 </FONT> <DL> <DD><FONT size=3>Wichita State won easily, opening up a 16-point lead at halftime and never letting Louis Orr's Pirates get within single digits during the second half. Orr was fired shortly thereafter. </FONT></DD></DL> <LI><FONT size=3>(2) Tennessee 63, (15) Winthrop 61 </FONT> <DL> <DD><FONT size=3>In a game featuring several lead changes in the final minutes, Tennessee barely escaped, winning with Chris Lofton's fallaway 19-foot jumper from the corner with 0.4 seconds remaining. </FONT></DD></DL></LI></UL> <LI><FONT size=3>March 16, Cox Arena, San Diego, California </FONT> <UL> <LI><FONT size=3>(4) Illinois 78, (13) Air Force 69 </FONT> <DL> <DD><FONT size=3>The most questioned at-large bid in the field fell short of pulling the upset against last year's national runner-up, as freshman Jamar Smith leads the Illini with 20 points. </FONT></DD></DL> <LI><FONT size=3>(5) Washington 75, (12) Utah State 61 </FONT> <DL> <DD><FONT size=3>Pac-10 POY Brandon Roy had 28 points and Jamaal Williams added 15 for the Huskies in the win. </FONT></DD></DL></LI></UL> <LI><FONT size=3>March 17, University of Dayton Arena, Dayton, Ohio </FONT> <UL> <LI><FONT size=3>(11) George Mason 75, (6) Michigan State 65 </FONT> <DL> <DD><FONT size=3>The Colonial Athletic Association's first at-large team in over 20 years wins its first-round game without one of its leading scorers (Tony Skinn, missing due to a one-game suspension). The Patriots upset the Spartans, a Final Four team just a year ago. </FONT></DD></DL> <LI><FONT size=3>(3) North Carolina 69, (14) Murray State 65 </FONT> <DL> <DD><FONT size=3>The defending champion Tar Heels, behind 24 points from freshman star Tyler Hansbrough, snuck by the Racers, who were hoping to pull off the upset behind 18 points from Trey Pearson, who missed a critical three-pointer with 20 seconds left. </FONT></DD></DL></LI></UL> <LI><FONT size=3>March 17, Wachovia Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania </FONT> <UL> <LI><FONT size=3>(1) Connecticut 72, (16) Albany 59 </FONT> <DL> <DD><FONT size=3>UConn went on a 34-9 run, including several three-pointers by Marcus Williams, to erase a twelve-point lead by the Great Danes with just over eleven minutes to play in the second half. </FONT></DD></DL> <LI><FONT size=3>(8) Kentucky 69, (9) UAB 64 </FONT> <DL> <DD><FONT size=3>The Wildcats avenged their 2004 second-round exit at the hands of the Blazers, with Bobby Perry putting up a career-high 25 points while the Blazers' starting lineup mustered only 27 points. </FONT></DD></DL></LI></UL></LI></UL> <P><FONT size=3></FONT>&nbsp;</P> <H3><FONT size=3>&nbsp;<SPAN class=mw-headline>Second round</SPAN></FONT></H3> <P><FONT size=3></FONT>&nbsp;</P> <H4>&nbsp;<SPAN class=mw-headline>Atlanta Regional</SPAN></H4> <UL> <LI><FONT size=3>March 18, Greensboro Coliseum, Greensboro, North Carolina </FONT> <UL> <LI><FONT size=3>(1) Duke 74, (8) George Washington 61 </FONT> <DL> <DD><FONT size=3>Duke's Shelden Williams and J.J. Redick were strong on both sides of the court as the Blue Devils proved too powerful for George Washington, whose injured and not 100% star Pops Mensah-Bonsu had just four points. </FONT></DD></DL></LI></UL> <LI><FONT size=3>March 18, Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena, Jacksonville, Florida </FONT> <UL> <LI><FONT size=3>(4) LSU 58, (12) Texas A&amp;M 57 </FONT> <DL> <DD><FONT size=3>Darrel Mitchell hit a three-pointer with three seconds left to save the Tigers and give them a bid into the Sweet Sixteen. </FONT></DD></DL></LI></UL> <LI><FONT size=3>March 19, American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas </FONT> <UL> <LI><FONT size=3>(2) Texas 75, (10) N.C. State 54 </FONT>