NO. 1 NORTH CAROLINA (31-7) vs. NO. 3 OREGON (33-5)
Where: University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Ariz. When: Approximately 5:45 p.m. TV/Radio: KLAS-8; KWWN (1100 AM, 100.9 FM). Series: North Carolina leads 4-0. Final Four history: North Carolina is making its 20th appearance, far more times than the other three teams combined; Oregon is making its first trip since winning the 1939 national championship.
How they got here: A top seed, North Carolina emerged as South Region champions by defeating Texas Southern, Arkansas, Butler and Kentucky. Oregon carried the Pac-12 banner out of the Midwest Region with wins against Iona, Rhode Island, Michigan and topseeded Kansas.
Backcourt: Oregon needs Tyler Dorsey to continue tearing up March. The team’s top scorer in the Madness — the sophomore guard has gone for 20-plus in seven straight games dating to the conference tournament at T-Mobile Arena — is aided by the presence of Findlay Prep product Dillon Brooks, a junior who averages 16.3 points and 3.1 rebounds. North Carolina bothered the Sweet 16 last season and the Huskies won by 60 points — the most-lopsided win in regional semifinals history. All season long the Bulldogs had that humiliating loss on their minds.
They’ve avenged that defeat, beating UConn (36-1) on the grandest stage.
“I don’t have to play them 100 times. Only have to beat them once,” Mississippi State coach Vic Schaefer said. “That is one heck of a basketball team, the greatest of all-time. But how proud am I of my kids?”
Mississippi State led 64-62 before a replay review gave Katie Lou Samuelson the two free throws that tied the game. After a UConn turnover, William held the ball at the top of the key before dribbling to her right and pull- Kentucky stars De’Aaron Fox and Malik Monk for most of an Elite Eight win, but it needs junior guard Joel Berry II to overcome what has been nagging injuries and inconsistent shooting to counter Oregon’s strength. North Carolina is all about playing fast, hoping its first look in transition leads to baskets seconds after gaining possession. Oregon is all about controlling a more measured tempo. Whichever side dictates pace should advance to Monday’s final. Edge: Oregon.
Frontcourt: This is when Oregon could use injured senior forward Chris Boucher. North Carolina can destroy teams on the glass, scoring on 42 percent of its offensive rebounds. On the other side, Oregon has been dead-flat average in defensive rebounding, which means the Ducks could be in a world of hurt if they don’t get bodies on a bunch of athletic Tar Heels. There are few tougher matchups in college than North Carolina junior forward Justin Jackson, the ACC Player of the Year who as a 6-8 forward averages 18.2 points and 4.7 rebounds while shooting 38 percent on 3s. Jordan Bell played terrific (11 points, 13 rebounds and eight blocks) in an Elite Eight win against Kansas, and the Oregon junior forward needs a similar effort against a bigger North Carolina starting lineup. Edge: North Carolina.
Possible unsung hero: Isaiah Hicks. It’s critical the 6-9 senior forward for North Carolina stays out of foul trouble, given he probably will be handed the responsibility of defending Brooks. If the Ducks go small and play Brooks at power forward, Hicks’ ability to limit the Oregon star could go a long way in advancing the Tar Heels.
Did you know?: Bell has five straight NCAA games of 12-plus rebounds. The last player to do so was Hakeem Olajuwon in 1985.
Key stat: North Carolina has the highest offensive efficiency rating (121.4) of all Final Four teams. It’s the fourth highest since such ratings began being charted for points-perpossession in 2001-02.
Quote to note: “Jordan Bell is a maniac down there. He never stops. He goes for every single loose ball. He tries to block every shot. Great team. It will be a hard task to slow them down.” — North Carolina star Justin Jackson.
Bottom line: Which side is going to force the other to play more its style? Figure that out, and you figure out the winner. North Carolina just wants to beast others on the boards, while Oregon would prefer to play small and force you to match bigger bodies on quicker ones. So why can’t we get past that part about all those second-chance points for the Tar Heels?
Prediction: North Carolina 79, Oregon 73. ing up for the shot, with the ball in the air when the buzzer sounded.
The Bulldogs ran onto the court, piling up at center court while UConn players stood stone-faced. Schaefer grabbed William in a bear hug, with former Mississippi State star Dak Prescott — the Dallas Cowboys quarterback — helping lead the cheers.
Prescott said he’d try to come back Sunday for the title game.
UConn rallied from a 16-point deficit, its biggest during its NCAA record streak, to take a 59-56 lead in the fourth quarter. The teams were tied at 60 when the Bulldogs had a chance to win it in regulation, but William’s shot was blocked by Gabby Williams, sending the game into overtime.