Louisville Cardinals (28-9)
Conference: Big East
NCAA Tournament ticket: Won Big East Tournament title and automatic bid
How they got to Phoenix: Beat Davidson, 69-62, and New Mexico, 59-56.
Stats leaders: Points: G/F Kyle Kuric, 13.0. Rebounds: C Gorgui Dieng, 9.1. Assists: PG Peyton Siva, 5.5. Blocks: Dieng, 3.1. Field goal percentage: Dieng, 54.4. 3-pt. percentage: G Chris Smith, 39.2
Top wins: Vanderbilt, Marquette, Notre Dame.
3 keys to victory
1. Keep a leash on Siva: Louisville’s point guard can break down any defense with his penetration. He averages 5.5 assists, but also averages 3.5 turnovers. He’s been on a nice run during the team’s six-game winning streak. Louisville is 20-3 when Siva has five or more assists.
2. Raise the game: Louisville shoots 42.5 percent from the field, 31.3 from 3-point range and 68.7 from the foul line. Sooner or later, those percentages will come back to bite them.
3. Force turnovers: Based on the stat above, Louisville needs plenty of chances to get easy baskets. Fortunately, their pressure defense has forced 578 this season.
Michigan State Spartans (29-7)
Conference: Big Ten
NCAA Tournament ticket: Won Big Ten Tournament title and automatic bid.
How they got to Phoenix: Beat Long Island ,89-67, and Saint Louis, 65-61.
Stats leaders: Points: F Draymond Green. 16.3. Rebounds: Green, 10.5. Assists: Green, G Keith Appling, 3.9. Blocks: Green, 0.9. Field goal percentage: G Branden Dawson, 57.7. 3-pt. percentage, G Austin Thornton, 46.9.
Top wins: Ohio State twice; Wisconsin three times.
3 keys to victory
1. Divert Dieng. C Gorgui Dieng set the Cardinals' single-season blocked shots record (116). The Spartans must draw him away from the basket with pick-and-rolls involving Cs Adreian Payne and Derrick Nix and make the extra interior pass to limit his impact.
2. Force Peyton Siva into bad decisions: The Louisville point guard can break down any defense with his penetration, but he averages 3.5 turnovers per game. The Spartans must force him into those types of decisions length, rotations and anticipation in the passing lanes.
3. Attack the press. Louisville lacks shooters but it creates offense through its pressure defense, forcing15.6 turnovers per game. The Spartans must limit turnovers and attack the basket to force the Cardinals to play a more conventional defense.
