2009 Final Four Preview of the NCAA Semifinals

That doesn’t mean, however, that the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight didn’t have its share of surprises. A year after all four No. 1 seeds advanced to the Final Four for the first time in NCAA history, 2009’s version appeared doomed to repeat it. No. 3 Villanova put such thought to rest on Saturday. They’ll be joined in Detroit by Michigan State, North Carolina and UConn. With a number of things going for each squad, any one of them could be cutting down the nets in Detroit

North Carolina’s Lawson the junior point guard has averaged over 20 points and six assists in his three games in the 2009 NCAA Tournament, and there’s no better offensive guard in the nation. The Tar Heels also have the reigning player of the year with Tyler Hansrough. While his numbers didn’t quite match up with a bigger, quicker, stronger Blake Griffin in the Elite Eight, Hansbrough is the Tim Tebow of college basketball.

UConn: The UConn Huskies don’t go particularly deep. Only eight players saw action against Missouri in the Elite Eight on Saturday. Of those eight, only six played more than 13 minutes. Those six, however, provide Jim Calhoun’s squad with tremendous scoring balance and got it to the 2009 Final Four. A.J. Price is another one of those game-changing guards and Hasheem Thabeet remains the biggest defensive force in the 2009 NCAA Tournament.

Michigan State: Tom Izzo is a fantastic basketball coach. This was an alleged down year for the Big Ten a conference that the Spartans won, but by no means dominated - and yet here is Michigan State in the Final Four again. Louisville had looked as dominant as any team in the tournament heading into Sunday’s showdown with Michigan State, and the Spartans handled the Cardinals.

A.J Price will try to lead UConn to a Big title.

Despite the brilliant play of sophomore guard Kalin Lucas, the Spartans lineup is filled with underclassmen. It’s hard to like their chances against a veteran UConn team, but it’s equally difficult to pick against a team coached by Izzo. Plus, the 2009 Final Four is being held just 90 miles from the Spartan’s campus.

Villanova: The Wildcats reached the 2009 Final Four by eliminating the team that many believed to be the favorite to win it all in Big East rival Pitt. They accomplished that with almost its entire team in foul trouble including leading scorers Dante Cunningham and Scottie Reynolds and one of the most bone-head in-bound passes in the history of the tournament. The Wildcats possess balanced scoring and out rebounded one of the best rebounding teams in the nation. They enter their showdown with North Carolina battle tested and confident.