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Proving that it's never too early to start filling out NCAA brackets, SB Nation's Chris Dobbertean has released his Preseason Bracketology, and has the UCLA Bruins penciled in as the No. 4 seed in the South region.
The Bruins, who finished the 2011-12 season with a disappointing 19-14 record, brought in one of the nation's top recruiting classes featuring Shabazz Muhammad and Kyle Anderson. They'll return junior center Joshua Smith, forwards David and Travis Wear, and will have the services of point guard Larry Drew II who is eligible after sitting out a year after transferring from North Carolina.
The Bruins' neighbor to the south, the San Diego State Aztecs, are slotted as the No. 5 seed in the East region and are poised to clash with the No. 12 seed BYU Cougars.
Dobbertean also has the Long Beach State 49ers making the tournament. He has the 49ers slated to get to the field of 68 via the Big West Conference Tournament Champion's automatic bid and projects them as the No. 13 seed in the East region.
UCLA will open regular-season play against the Indiana State Sycamores at Pauley Pavilion on Friday. Tipoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. PT and the game will be televised on Fox Sports Net National.