Who will win the NCAA basketball tournament?

By Kurt Wagner, Gabe Taylor, Matthew Cucuzza, Justin Phan

MICHIGAN STATE

The Final Four are playing in Detroit, a mere 90 miles from the Michigan State campus. This is the first of many reasons why the Spartans will win it all next week. The hometown atmosphere will give Michigan State an immediate edge over their competition.

The Spartans also boast the Big Ten Conference Player of the Year in guard Kalin Lucas, who is averaging 14.6 points per game and 4.6 assists per game on the season. Complementing Lucas on the defensive side of the ball is the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Travis Walton.

Michigan State center Goran Suton's ability to hit shots from the outside will draw out defenders and open up the lanes for the Spartan's guards. Suton is shooting 51.6 percent from the field this season, including a solid 41.9 percent from beyond the three-point line.

The Spartans are led by 14-year head coach Tom Izzo, who took the team to the National Championship in 2000. His experience coaching in big games has brought about a Spartan team that is both well disciplined and well prepared to take a championship back home to East Lansing.

MVP: Goran Suton

--Kurt Wagner

VILLANOVA

For many, the Tar Heels seem a sure pick, with talent exuding from Tyler Hansbrough and Ty Lawson, but Villanova will be crowned champions.

Villanova is the most prepared of the remaining four teams to snag the championship at this year's NCAA basketball tourney.

Scottie Reynolds may have injured his hand, but this minor barrier has not stopped him from leading his team to the Final Four.

But the Wildcats are not just a one-man team. While pulling away with a major upset against Pittsburgh, four Villanova players managed to finish in double figures.

If the Wildcats were able to upset Duke and Pittsburgh, then it is clear that they can handle any team thrown their way in the tournament.

North Carolina is an extremely well-endowed team, there is no doubt about it, but Villanova is playing the best ball in the tourney as of late, and they're not slowing down.

People have become so entwined with Lawson's ability to play after his injury that they have forgotten to notice the No. 3 Wildcats.

MVP: Scottie Reynolds

--Gabe Taylor

UCONN

If you can't handle Thabeet, then get off the dance floor.

That means you, Michigan State, Villanova and North Carolina. Unless they contain 7-foot-3 UConn center Hasheem Thabeet, the Huskies will rebound their way to their third NCAA Tournament championship in 11 years.

Thabeet is the tallest player remaining in the tournament, a significant advantage with regard to rebounding. He also leads all tournament participants in rebounds per game with 10.9.

The Huskies lead all remaining teams with 43.3 rebounds per game. Why is this significant? Because rebounding wins basketball games.

UConn has out-rebounded its opposition at this year's tourney. All Final Four teams ooze skill and speed, thus corralling rebounds will prove important to maintaining possession -- and leads.

When UConn beat Villanova in January 89-83, the score reflected the rebound totals: the Huskies edged Villanova in rebounds 32-31.

The games will be very close. If Tha rebounds fall in Tha right hands, UConn fans will be clapping their hands to Thabeet all summer.

MVP: Hasheem Thabeet

--Matthew Cucuzza

NORTH CAROLINA

As the only returning team from the 2008 Final Four, North Carolina has a significant advantage over the field in terms of big-game experience.

The Tar Heels fell short of a championship last season, but return to the Final Four even more loaded and with a lethal combination of weapons that can beat a team in any way imaginable.

Ty Lawson has put his toe injury behind him and is playing the best basketball of his career. He has been unstoppable the past two games, going for 19 points in each. He has rejuvenated the Tar Heels and ignited the team's transition offense, elevating them from being vulnerable to nearly unbeatable.

Teams can go ahead and limit Tyler Hansbrough to single digits, but it essentially doesn't matter with the astounding depth North Carolina boasts. Hansbrough could be the team's fourth or fifth scoring option and the Tar Heels could still win handily, as they showed us in Sunday's win against Oklahoma.

You could have made a case against Carolina if Lawson was still hampered by his injury, but with him at peak condition, there's no denying that the Tar Heels are the favorite to win it all.

MVP: Ty Lawson

--Justin Phan