NCAA Final Four set for Saturday

DETROIT, April 3 (UPI) -- The NCAA Tournament's semifinals are set for Saturday, bringing together four of basketball's marquee teams for one of the top attractions in American sports.

Michigan State will take on Connecticut in the opening contest and surprising Villanova will try to upset North Carolina in the second game. The winners will battle Monday night for the national title.

Saturday's first game will feature a classic matchup of traditionally strong defense (Michigan State) against a team that can score points in large numbers (Connecticut).

Connecticut features 7-3 Hasheem Thabeet, who can dominate the space under the basket more efficiently than any college player in the nation. The Huskies also rely on point guard A.J. Price to run the high-powered offense.

With the Final Four being played in Detroit, however, Michigan State will have a huge following on hand for what should feel very much like a home game for them. Michigan State's ability to shut down the powerful Louisville Cardinals in the regional finals last weekend makes the Spartans a popular pick to pull off an upset.

North Carolina began the season as the No. 1 team in the country and is favored to finish it that way as long as superstar Tyler Hansbrough and guard Ty Lawson make their typical contributions.