MICHIGAN STATE VS. BUTLER

Two No. 5 seeds clash for berth in the national championship game

Michigan State and Butler were not supposed to advance to the Final Four, but both teams defied the odds to make it to Indianapolis.

The Bulldogs would have been in town anyway (their campus is just minutes away from Lucas Oil Stadium), but they are a lot happier to be playing for a shot at the National Championship. Coach Tom Izzo has now been to the Final Four six times since 1998 and he will have his team ready toplay under the pressure. The Spartans have had some key players step up since Kalin

Lucas went out with an injury, and Butler has relied on great defense to win its first four games. The team that controls the glass should have the edge.

The Wave’s Pick: MICHIGAN STATE

WEST VIRGINIA VS. DUKE

Coach K, Huggins lead Blue Devils, Mountaineers into Final Four

Both West Virginia and Duke proved some people wrong by making it to this year’s Final

Four. The Mountaineers defeated No. 1 seed Kentucky to win the East Regional, while the Blue Devils advanced when some people expected them to be the fi rst No. 1 seed to fall. Coach K and Bob Huggins have coached in the Final Four before, and they will each have their teams well-prepared. Da’Sean Butler has been terrifi c for the Mountaineers in the tournament, while senior guard Jon Scheyer leads an outstanding trio of scorers for Duke. West Virginia cannot let the Blue Devils have open looks at three-pointers, while Duke cannot afford to give up easy lay-ups to the Mountaineers’ slashers.

The Wave’s Pick: DUKE