Connecticut (36-0) vs. Oregon State (32-4)
Sunday, 6 p.m. ET, ESPN
Why Connecticut can win: Most people will probably roll their eyes at this, because how can the Huskies not win? This team, which has grown accustomed to regularly beating opponents by 20 points or more, is one of Geno Auriemma’s finest. His senior class has a chance to win its fourth consecutive national championship and NCAA-record 11th. Star forward Breanna Stewart — who could arguably go down as the greatest women’s basketball player in college history — has tallied more than 400 blocks and assists in her career. And if all goes according to Connecticut’s plan, she’ll earn her fourth Final Four most outstanding performer award Tuesday. The Huskies not only have the best coach and best player in the game but also are the most disciplined team, commit- ting the fewest fouls of anyone. Why Oregon State can win: If anyone can beat UConn, perhaps it’s the Beavers. This is a team that had to have open tryouts to fill coach Scott Rueck’s first roster in 2010, and now they’re Pac-12 champions, coming off a victory against No. 1 seed Baylor. If that’s not enough momentum to knock off the Huskies, what is? Oregon State will need its top three players — guards Sydney Wiese and Jamie Weisner, who was selected as the Pac-12 player of the year, and center Ruth Hamblin — to be fearless and grind this game out like they did against the Bears last week. The Beavers have won 22 of their last 23 games and set a school record for victories this season. For what it’s worth, Oregon State played Notre Dame this season and lost by a point, 62-61, on the road. UConn beat the Fighting Irish this season by 10, but the Beavers are a much better team now.