The Edge

Coach: Jim Calhoun, 23 years at Connecticut, 16 years in NCAA tournament.

How they got here: At-large bid; West first round: def. No. 16 seed Chattanooga 103-47; West second round: def. No. 9 seed Texas A&M 92-66; West regional semifinals: def. No. 5 seed Purdue 72-60; West regional final: def. No. 3 seed Missouri 82-75.

They'll keep winning if ...: Hasheem Thabeet, Jeff Adrien and A.J. Price stay out of foul trouble. Thabeet is a huge presence in the paint and the top shot-blocker in the game, but the games when he's gotten in foul trouble, UConn has struggled. Final Four foe Michigan State is at its best when it can control the boards and the pace of the game, preferably keeping the score in the 60s or below. UConn is averaging 87 ppg during the tournament and it was the second-best rebounding team in the nation during the regular season with Thabeet and Adrien cleaning up the glass. Price runs the show and while the team doesn't need a huge scoring effort from him to win -- he averaged 14 ppg during the regular season -- he has stepped it up a notch in the tournament, scoring no less than 15 points in their four tournament games. The unsung hero during the team's tourney run has been Stanley Robinson, who has pitched in with strong play on both ends of the court.

Hasheem Thabeet

Go-to guys: Hasheem Thabeet has built his reputation as the top post defender in college basketball, a prime shot-blocker who can change games just by being in the lineup. This year he's developed his offense as well, averaging 13.7 points per game. A.J. Price is the team's quarterback on offense and the team's top scorer and 3-point shooter. Jeff Adrien is a double-double machine in the paint.

Strengths: Jim Calhoun has never left a Final Four involving UConn without the national title. Hasheem Thabeet might be the biggest game-changer in college basketball, but he'll have to defend away from the basket against Michigan State's perimeter-oriented forwards. Thabeet averages more than four blocks a game and he intimidates opponents into altering their shots or taking the ball back to the perimeter instead of challenging the paint. UConn is a great rebounding and defensive team that can win even when it isn't shooting well because it makes it hard to go on extended runs. Price gives the team a top shooter and a playmaker who can control the tempo.

Weaknesses: Without Jerome Dyson, who was knocked out for the season in February with a knee injury, the Huskies not only lost another scoring threat, but a strong perimeter defender as well. Kemba Walker has been streaky and Craig Austrie is not a guy who aggressively looks for his shot, leaving A.J. Price as the only 3-point shooter for opponents to worry about. Hasheem Thabeet is a force in the middle, but when he gets in foul trouble the paint is a less imposing place. Though Gavin Edwards isn't a bad sub and Jeff Adrien is a good defender, neither inspires the fear in opponents that Thabeet does.

Coach: Tom Izzo, 14 years at Michigan State, 12 years in NCAA tournament.

How they got here: At-large bid; Midwest first round: def. No. 15 seed Robert Morris 77-62; Midwest second round: def. No. 10 seed Southern California 74-69; Midwest regional semifinals: def. No. 3 seed Kansas 67-62; Midwest regional final: def. No. 1 seed Louisville 64-52; National semifinal: def. West No. 1 seed Connecticut 82-73.

They'll win the title if ...: They take advantage of cozy environs in Detroit, just 90 miles from East Lansing. They didn't do so back in December, when the Tar Heels knocked them around 98-63. Goran Suton did not play that day, and his presence this time around is a significant addition. Michigan State is nearly unbeatable when its wins the rebounding battle. The Spartans outrebounded 20 consecutive opponents to end the regular season -- and three of their five tournament opponents -- compiling a 26-4 record when winning the battle of the boards. Led by Big Ten defensive player of the year Travis Walton (6-2, 190), the Spartans have also been playing terrific perimeter defense. Kansas was 3-of-12 from 3-point distance, Louisville was 6-of-18 and UConn 2-of-6. The Spartans are 19-0 (3-0 in tournament) when scoring 70 or more points and 26-0 (4-0 in tournament) when allowing fewer than 70. Michigan State also went 18-1 when committing less than 15 turnovers.

Kalin Lucas

Go-to guys: Sophomore guard Kalin Lucas (6-0, 180) was named Big Ten player of the year after averaging 16.5 points in league play, boosting his production to 18.0 points per game on the road as the Spartans broke a school record with eight conference road wins. Senior center Goran Suton (6-10, 245) was the first Michigan State player since 1997 to win a league rebounding title, averaging 8.4 boards and 10.0 points in the Big Ten. Junior forward Raymar Morgan (6-8, 225) was slowed by illness, but averaged 12.1 points and 7.9 rebounds in the nine conference games in which he played at least 20 minutes.

Strengths: Big Ten coach of the year Tom Izzo has guided the Spartans to 12 consecutive appearances and a 26-10 record in the NCAA tournament, including a national championship in 2000 and Final Fours in 1999, 2001 and 2005. He did a masterful job this year, winning the Big Ten by four games -- the league's biggest margin since 1985 -- despite injuries and illnesses that forced him to use 14 different starting lineups.

Weaknesses: The Spartans were 2-5 in the regular season when allowing 70 or more points, including lopsided losses against ACC members Maryland (80-62) and North Carolina (98-63). They aren't much of a threat from downtown; through games of March 8, they ranked 260th in Division I with 5.2 3-pointers per game.

How much will playing the Final Four in its backyard benefit Michigan State? Expect a partisan Spartans crowd in Detroit, which, at the very least, should keep Michigan State's energy level up throughout the game in what will likely be a bruising battle. The Spartans are at their best when they can control the boards, but that's a difficult task with Hasheem Thabeet manning the middle for Connecticut. The Huskies' edge inside should be the difference unless the Spartans can shoot a high percentage from the field.