After two weeks of game-winning buzzer-beaters, monumental upsets, sensational action, all-time captivating individual performances and an improbable near Final Four run by Davidson we’ve finally got to the best part. The pretenders have been whittled out and the contenders have separated themselves from the rest. The road to the Final has finally stopped and we’re ready to see who’s really the cream of the crop. Who’s ultimate destination is championship gold and who’s gonna fold? Let’s breakdown what could be the greatest Final Four in history. Don’t slip up or you’ll get got, cause one of these teams has got the inside track on taking the number one spot.

 Kansas vs. North Carolina
 
 Kansas Jayhawks Keys to the game
 
 Kansas has the most talented starting five in the country. They don’t have a legit go-to-guy who you know will have the rock in his hands at crunchtime or who the offense is centered around, but that’s alright. Leading scorer at 13.1 points per game and All-Big 12 member Brandon Rush is the closest thing Kansas has to a marquee player, but despite his immense talent, he’s very tentative, sporadic and prefers to defer to his teammates rather than take over games individually.

 Fortunately for Rush’s sake Kansas is so balanced it doesn’t matter who drops the most points. Kansas has five players scoring 9 or more points, plus they’re one of the nation’s most prolific offenses, averaging 80.6 points a night, so anyone can hurt you on any given night. Kansas has a good enough offense and the athleticism with players like Mario Chalmers, Darrell Arthur, Darnell Jackson and Sherron Collins to keep up with UNC in a track meet. Two things will determine whether Kansas plays for their third title on Monday.

 1. Get Big Dawg!

 Darrell Arthur, Darnell Jackson and Sasha Kaun will have to play big. Neither will necessarily have to have an enormous scoring game, but collectively they’ll have to control the boards and not let Tyler Hansbrough go bananas and dominate the paint the way he’s been doing the entire year. The Jayhawks bigs will have to neutralize Hansbrough and play physically cause Psycho T loves to swang and bang. Arthur, Jackson and Kaun faced Michael Beasley twice in the Big 12, so they shouldn’t be shook about checking Hansbrough.

Arthur will also need to be show up. He’s struggled so far, but he’s got the ability to have a monster game. He’s athletic, got good post moves, spins and turnarounds and he can block shots. Arthur’s got to be aggressive and force Hansbrough to work on defense, and use his quickness to his advantage to do work in the interior.

 2. Get Back

 For Kansas to get revenge against Roy Williams for dipping from Jawhawk land and reuniting with his alma-mater it’s imperative they get back in transition. UNC leads the nation in scoring at 89.2 points per. They can score inside, outside, in the full-court or half-court. However, the key to their high-octane offense is Ty Lawson. UNC’s quarterback is literally a one-man fast-break. Lawson’s blazing speed and ball distribution (5.3 assists) triggers the Tar Heels running game, which enables UNC to get easy buckets. Russell Robinson, Chalmers and Collins will have to prevent Lawson from getting deep penetration, otherwise he’ll slice them up like swiss cheese.
North Carolina Tarheels

 1. Run N’ Shoot

 Roy Williams has always emphasized a fast break game, dating back to his days at Kansas and it will be no different Saturday night. UNC has the most potent offense of any team left tin the Final Four. The Heels love playing at a breakneck speed, so they’ll definitely be running and shooting against the Jayhawks. Ty Lawson will be mashing the gas, and pushing the ball at every opportunity. Kansas can play up-tempo, but trying to get into an all-out shootout would definitely be to the Jayhawks detriment because the Heels are accustomed to playing that style all the time. Lawson was instrumental in handling the pressure of Louisville in the East Regional Final, dishing out 9 dimes and controlling the tempo. If the Heels put relentless pressure on Kansas with their running game, it could fatigue the Jayhawks and give UNC the edge if it comes down to the wire.

 2. Make it Rain

 Wayne Ellington has been one of the Heels best players all year. With the exception of Hansbrough no one else has been more impressive or consistent for UNC than the satin-shooting sophomore guard. Ellington has become an all-around player and improved his game immensely since last year. Ellington is UNC’s second leading scorer at 16.6 points a night and his jumper is wetter than a bottle of Amaretto. For the season, Ellington knocks down 41 percent of his treys, which is a vital part of the UNC’s explosive offensive attack.

 Ellington busted 20 points against Arkansas in the second round, but the last two games he’s averaged just 13 points and shot a combined 8-26 from the floor. That will definitely need to improve for the Heels to top Kansas. If UNC, and in particular Ellington don’t drain outside shots, that will enable Kansas perimeter players to collapse  more on Hansbrough, which will limit the amount of space he has to operate in the post. That means Ellington having a good game that much more imperative. Marcus Ginyard and Danny Greene are both good shooters, but if Ellington’s jumper is in the groove, it will open up the rest of his game and he’ll be able to drive to the rack and take advantage of his sick mid-range game. This in turn will give Psycho T the space he needs to punish Kansas because the floor will be spread.

 Memphis vs. UCLA

 Memphis Tigers

 1. Let the Dawgs Run Wild

 Memphis has literally been running everyone ragged. Despite not forcing many turnovers, (10.5 a game) the Tigers have been playing like remorseless carnivores. Memphis is holding opponents to 43 percent shooting and 69 points a game, while torching the nets themselves, connecting on 50 percent of their attempts and averaging 85 points an outing. The Tigers have been on a warpath and stomping practically everyone they’ve faced.

 To keep this up, Memphis will have to continue to play smothering defense. Derrick Rose and Chris Douglas-Roberts will have to keep spearheading the defensive charge. The Tigers D triggers their runouts, which enables them to take advantage of their ridiculous, unrivaled athleticism. Rose and CDR are the top backcourt in the Final Four and have been terrorizing everyone they’ve faced. Together the dope duo is averaging 49 points (Rose 24 points and CDR 25) the last two games against Texas and Michigan State. UCLA loves a methodical, half-court slugfest, which is Memphis kryptonite. The Tigers will need to make it a heltah-skeltah, frenetic playground game to let their athleticism emerge.

 2. Keep Your Head in Game and Make Free Throws

 Protecting the paint will obviously be the primary focus of John Calipari’s gameplan. For Memphis to beat the Bruins, Joey Dorsey and Robert Dozier will have to play big and bring the fury. Both Dorsey and Dozier can be headcases, and have a tendency to lose their concentration periodically, which Memphis can ill-afford going up against low-post beast Kevin Love. D&D will have to play tough, aggressive smart defense and not get in foul trouble because the only other Memphis inside player to get significant burn is Shawn Taggert. Dorsey and Dozier have both been rebounding well, combining for 17 rips a night, and Dozier has two double-doubles in the tourney. If they come ready to ball Memphis can easily reach the championship game, but if the D&D’s minds ain’t right it could be a long night.

 And for goodness sake, Memphis has got to consistently knock down some throws. Memphis shoots a dismal 60.7 percent from the line, which is totally unacceptable. The Tigers have shot better the last two games drilling 78 percent of their throws, including a surprisingly lights out exhibition against Texas in which they shot over 83 percent. Poor free throws hasn’t cost Memphis yet, but in what’s almost guaranteed to be a close game the charity stripe will be that much more vital. If the Tigers clank it up it could cost them a chance at the championship.
UCLA Bruins

 1. Slow it Down and Rev it Up

 UCLA is like Bill Parcells old school Super Bowl champion New York Giants. They blitz you with tenacious, hand-cuffing half-court defense, and lull you to sleep with an efficient disciplined offense. Kevin Love is equivalent to Otis Anderson pounding ground game, Darren Collison is the cerebral quarterback like Phil Simms and Russell Westbrook is the athletic freak of nature who agitates everyone ala Lawrence Taylor. The Bruins, a.k.a. “West Coast Stranglers” vaunted defense has been choking opponents like a Boaco stricter, holding foes to a paltry 53.5 ppg.

 However, in this game UCLA better be prepared to get some buckets, cause if they expect to hold Memphis to a 50 points it won’t happen captain. Occasionally the Bruins anemic offense will go into extended droughts without scoring, which they can’t afford against the Memphis hoopin thoroughbreds. UCLA will have to dictate the tempo and make it as much of a half-court game as possible. That means they’ll have to limit the Tigers runouts and control the glass. Ben Howland’s squad can’t be duped into getting into a track meet because they’ll get blazed. Slowing the

pace down will also reduce Rose’s effectiveness because while he’s a good half-court player, Rose truly excels in the open floor. Consequently, the Tigers offense will be hurt because they’re much better in a fast-break game as well.

 2. Can Love Get a Lil LOve

 Kevin Love is an absolute beast on the block. In the Big Dance Love’s averaging 21.8 points and 11 boards. He’s got an incredibly high basketball IQ, a bevy of post moves, dispatches dimes like a guard and can knock down triples as well. Yet, for all his fabulous performances, it won’t mean a dang thang if Josh Shipp and Russell Westbrook don’t get their games up. Collison has made large shots and done his part. Westbrook has started to turn things around going 7-11 and putting up 17 points against Xavier in the Elite Eight after shooting a combined 8-32 in the first three rounds.

 Shipp, on the other hand has continued to struggle mightily. The junior swingman is shooting like his hands are stricken with frostbite, going a frigid 7-27 from the field. UCLA needs to do a better job of getting Shipp involved early to help build his confidence. Shipp also needs to be more aggressive and look for his shot. Shipp has got to increase his production for UCLA to win. If Shipp and Westbrook are on it will alleviate pressure on Love and he won’t see as many double teams. If Shipp and Westbrook hold down their boy and give Love some help the big fella can get them to the final.

 Predictions

 Kansas vs. North Carolina- I’d like to say Kansas, but I just believe UNC will be just a little bit too much, and has another gear they can shift to. The Heels have been on a mission since the last seconds ticked off the clock when they crumbled against Georgetown in the Elite Eight last year. They’re just a little bit better and hungrier then Kansas they believe it’s their year. Hansbrough is determined to add a title to his legacy. Plus he’s a heartless killer, which is the one thing Kansas lacks. - UNC 88-81

 Memphis vs. UCLA- Memphis is too good and athletic to be held to a half-court game, unless Howland’s elects to use a zone, which he’s adamantly against. Rose and CDR will refuse to be restricted to a half-court affair. Love and Collison will do all they can, but once again offense will be UCLA’s downfall. The Tigers will make it a feverish pace and the Bruins will struggle to keep up. - Memphis 80-74

 Championship Game

 Memphis and UNC will play an up-tempo basketball lover’s dream. The game will overflow with incredibly disgusting highlight reel, crowd-pleasing plays. Lawson and Rose will push the pill at every opportunity, and it will be an electrifying, high-octane run and gun game. Hansbrough will his buckets, and possibly foul out the entire Memphis front line, but the Tigers rangy, quick kangaroo hop players will make Psycho T work for every point he scores. In the end, Rose is too nice and will be the difference. He’s elevated his game every round of the Tourney and he’s been waiting for this day to come. The Chi-town conductor’s explosive athleticism, viper-like drives and play-making ability will compose a masterpiece and get the Memphis orchestra the first title in school history. Issac Hayes dedicates a song to the Tigers, and former Three 6 Mafia member Crunchy Black will do his Gangsta walk dance to every Memphis fans delight. Memphis 94-90.