Despite a troubling toe, UNC

The Final Four is set, tip-off is approaching fast and it’s going to be quite a throw down in… The Final Four is set, tip-off is approaching fast and it’s going to be quite a throw down in Motown. So Pitt lost. Yeah, that was a bummer. But pick yourself up, this is it, it’s March Madness, it will be over before you know it, and you don’t want to miss it this year.

Here’s everything you need to know about this year’s Final Four:

Matchup: North Carolina vs. Villanova, Saturday, 8:47 p.m.

North Carolina (No. 1 seed, South Region)

Storylines: The 2007-08 Player of the Year Tyler Hansbrough looks to cap his career at North Carolina with a national title. The Tar Heels are also gunning for their fifth national title in school history.

Tourney Theme: The Tar Heels began as Team Toe, as questions lingering over star guard Ty Lawson’s jammed right toe left some to doubt them as a national championship contender. Lawson sat out the first-round win over Radford but has looked fine since starting against LSU.

How to Beat Them: Tell anyone bringing the ball up the court to be aggressive. The Tar Heels are improved on defense but could have trouble keeping aggressive ball-handlers from getting to the rim.

The Skinny: If you’re a betting person, this team is the safe money. North Carolina has been and still is the favorite to win the Tournament. This year, it’s the Tar Heels title to lose.

Villanova (No. 3 seed, East Region)

Storylines: The Wildcats advanced to the Final Four for the first time since their magical run from eighth seed to national champion in 1985. Jay Wright is the only coach of the bunch making his first Final Four appearance, as well as the only one who hasn’t won a national title.

Tourney Theme: Clutch. This team edged out a nail-biter against Pitt, but don’t forget its first-round game against American. Villanova ignited a second-half rally to dispose of American and avoid a first-round upset.

How To Beat Them: Sounds easier than it really is, but if a team can rattle Scottie Reynolds into an off shooting night, then Villanova’s offense won’t scare anyone. That means pressing, running Reynolds into screens when he’s playing defense and forcing him to turn the ball over.

The Skinny: Nobody can make the argument that Villanova has no shot of beating North Carolina. It starts and ends with Reynolds. Force him to reluctantly pass to teammates, and its offense becomes stagnant. But when Reynolds is feeling it, this team flies.

Matchup: Connecticut vs. Michigan State, Saturday, 6:07 p.m.

Connecticut (No. 1 seed, West Region)

Storylines: Coach Jim Calhoun and Connecticut are looking for their third national championship. Amid alleged recruiting violations uncovered by a six-month, Yahoo! Sports investigation, the Huskies are the only team undergoing a current controversy.

Tourney Theme: Team domination. Out of all the Final Four squads, the Huskies have looked the most impressive during their run. Their closest margin of victory is seven points.

How To Beat Them: Watch tape of DeJuan Blair vs. Hasheem Thabeet and do exactly what Blair did: Dip your shoulder into Thabeet’s body and out-muscle him. Either that or run some high screens to pry him away from the paint. Then, pray A.J. Price doesn’t stroke it from distance.

The Skinny: Nobody else has a presence like Thabeet. If he plays as well as he can, whether it’s blocking, altering or scaring away shots, this team can win the championship.

Michigan State (No. 2 seed Midwest Region)

Storylines: The March (back) to the Motor City for the Spartans means they will be playing in their home state. It doesn’t happen much, and Detroit is stocked with plenty of Spartan alumni and fans to make this Final Four a hometown hit.

Tourney Theme: Team G. It doesn’t stand for Gatorade. It’s the nickname of Spartans star center Goran Suton. He has put this team on his back so far, and he’ll have to do the same to beat the Huskies.

How To Beat Them: The Spartans play tough defense, so it’s important to work for good shots and be efficient in the half-court set.

The Spartans also shot uncharacteristically well from 3-point range against Louisville. Shutting that down wouldn’t hurt.

The Skinny: Michigan State will draw more fans to Ford Field than the Lions, which makes things difficult for Connecticut. But if Suton isn’t hitting his jump shots, Thabeet doesn’t have to worry about stepping away from the paint. If that happens, it could get ugly for the Spartans.

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