CONNECTICUT (31-4) VS. MICHIGAN STATE (30-6)

Tip-off: 12:07 p.m. Hawaii time, CBS.

Coaches: Jim Calhoun (Connecticut), Tom Izzo (Michigan State).

Final Four appearances: Connecticut 3rd, Michigan State 7th.

National titles: Connecticut 2, Michigan State 2.

Danny Sheridan's line: Connecticut by 4.

Starters:

Connecticut -- G A.J. Price, 6-2, Sr. (14.7 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 4.8 apg, 40.3 3FG%); F Jeff Adrien, 6-7, Sr. (13.7 ppg, 10.0 rpg, 50.5 FG%); C Hasheem Thabeet, 7-3, Jr. (13.5 ppg, 10.9 rpg, 4.3 bpg, 64.9 FG%); F Stanley Robinson, 6-9, Jr. (8.2 ppg, 5.7 rpg); G Craig Austrie, 6-3, Sr. (7.3 ppg).

Michigan State -- G Kalin Lucas, 6-0, So. (14.6 ppg, 4.6 apg, 81.4 FT%); C Goran Suton, 6-10, Sr. (10.4 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 51.6 FG%); F Raymar Morgan, 6-8, Jr. (10.2 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 52.5 FG%); F Delvon Roe, 6-8, Fr. (5.8 ppg, 5.0 rpg); G Travis Walton, 6-2, Sr. (5.3 ppg, 3.2 apg).

Reserves:

Connecticut -- G Kemba Walker, 6-1, Fr. (9.0 ppg, 3.5 rpg); F Gavin Edwards, 6-9, Jr. (3.9 ppg).

Michigan State -- G Chris Allen, 6-3, So. (8.7 ppg, 2.3 rpg); G Durrell Summers, 6-4, So. (8.4 ppg, 3.3 rpg); F Marquise Gray, 6-8, Sr. (3.3 ppg).

Update: UConn's Thabeet had a finger bandaged after the Huskies' regional final victory against Missouri; Adrien missed some practice time this week (recurring knee tendinitis). Both should be ready. MSU's Morgan appeared hampered by his broken nose early in the Louisville win and should benefit from the time off.

Breakdown: Don't expect this to be a track meet. Defense is a high priority for both, though they go about it by different means. UConn likes to pack the lane and let its shot blockers guard the rim, while the Spartans prefer to play man-for-man in halfcourt sets. For answers, look for Lucas to try to loosen the Huskies up with some early treys. Price must create driving lanes and make crisp passes to his big men to beat MSU's help. So far, the Huskies have managed without the 13.2 points a game they lost when Jerome Dyson went down with a midseason knee injury.

NORTH CAROLINA (32-4) VS. VILLANOVA (30-7)

Tip-off: 2:47 p.m. Hawaii time, CBS.

Coaches: Roy Williams (North Carolina), Jay Wright (Villanova).

Final Four appearances: North Carolina 18th, Villanova 4th.

National titles: North Carolina 4, Villanova 1.

Danny Sheridan's line: North Carolina by 7 1/2.

Starters:

North Carolina -- F Tyler Hansbrough, 6-9, Sr. (20.9 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 52.1 FG%, 85.8 FT%); G Ty Lawson, 5-11, Jr. (16.3 ppg, 6.5 apg, 54.2 FG%, 48.5 3FG%); G Wayne Ellington, 6-4, Jr. (15.6 ppg, 4.8 rpg); F Danny Green, 6-6, Sr. (13.3 ppg, 4.8 rpg); F Deon Thompson, 6-8, Jr. (10.7 ppg, 5.8 rpg).

Villanova -- F Dante Cunningham, 6-8, Sr. (16.2 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 52.9 FG%); G Scottie Reynolds, 6-2, Jr. (15.2 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 3.3 apg, 81.7 FT%); F Dwayne Anderson, 6-6, Sr. (9.1 ppg, 6.0 rpg); G Reggie Redding, 6-5, Jr. (6.9 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 3.1 apg); F Shane Clark, 6-7, Sr. (5.6 ppg, 3.8 rpg).

Reserves:

North Carolina -- F Ed Davis, 6-10, Fr. (6.6 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 51.4 FG%); C Tyler Zeller, 7-0, Fr. (3.5 ppg); G Bobby Frasor, 6-3, Sr. (2.7 ppg).

Villanova -- G Corey Fisher, 6-1, So. (10.7 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 2.8 apg); G Corey Stokes, 6-5, So. (9.5 ppg, 3.4 rpg); F Antonio Pena, 6-8, So. (5.3 ppg, 4.2 rpg).

Update: Lawson's troublesome right toe has been no trouble at all as he has shot 20-for-35 in the tournament with 20 assists and two turnovers. The Wildcats got through their region in relatively good health.

Breakdown: The Tar Heels' high-octane offense is at full throttle. The Wildcats don't mind running themselves, but they'll have to pick their spots. Villanova can't afford misses early in the shot-clock cycle that result in break chances for UNC. Both teams are in the top 20 in the nation in free-throw accuracy, so neither wants to be playing catch-up in the final five minutes.