Kalin Lucas

You could understand a Walton beating USC in 1972, but not on a Sunday this year in Minneapolis. Bill, yes. Travis, no. Michigan State knocked USC back to Los Angeles and out of the NCAA tournament, 74-69, using a secret weapon not even Coach Tom Izzo knew the Spartans had. "I was shocked that he made some of those shots," he said.

As familiar as this scene is for Michigan State, it just felt different for the Spartans this year. The Spartans hoisted injured point guard Kalin Lucas to the basket at the Edward Jones Dome so he could snip a piece of the net. It signified just how high Michigan State has risen this season, beating Tennessee, 70-69, in St. Louis on Sunday to advance to the Final Four for the sixth time in 12 seasons. "It means a lot about our character," sophomore Draymond Green said. "That is our goal [to win a national championship]

In their most wishful moments, NCAA suits had to crave this. A Michigan State upset of Connecticut in Saturday's Final Four semifinals would not only assure a championship-game madhouse at Ford Field, but also eliminate the chances of their most awkward trophy presentation since 1990. Wishes granted. Granted by a relentless, sneaky fast, superbly coached bunch of Spartans pushed by a tournament-record throng of 72,456.

Rk. Team Rec. Result Next 1. TEXAS 17-0 d. Tex. A&M, 72-67 (OT) at No. 13 Kansas St., Monday Longhorns survive as Damion James scores seven of his 26 points in overtime. 2. KENTUCKY 18-0 d. Auburn, 72-67 Arkansas, Saturday John Calipari gets 52nd win in a row in regular-season conference games. 3. KANSAS 16-1 d. Texas Tech, 89-63 No. 22 Baylor, Wednesday Jayhawks overcome a sloppy start by getting the ball inside.

It has been a long year for Connecticut's Jim Calhoun, and it wouldn't be a shock to those close to him if the 66-year old coach resigned after this year's Final Four run. Connecticut plays Michigan State on Saturday. Last summer, Calhoun fought through daily radiation treatments as he battled another bout with cancer. Recently, because of dehydration, he was hospitalized and forced to miss the Huskies' first-round game in this year's tournament. Not long after, yahoo.

The outlook on the college basketball season promises some quality time with familiar former champions. While in past seasons relatively unheralded teams such as Oklahoma, Memphis, Florida and Ohio State were popular preseason picks, this season's contenders are basketball blue bloods. Kentucky could return to glory and raise its eighth national championship banner. Or North Carolina could go for back-to-back titles and a sixth championship. Or Kansas, the Associated Press preseason No. 1, could win its second title in three seasons.

Until the games start next week there is still one topic that dominates all hoops talk -- Kentucky. Yes, Kansas was the runaway No. 1 choice in the preseason Top 25. And sure, the Jayhawks had two players on the preseason All-America team. But it's Kentucky that's generating all the buzz. With one of college basketball's storied programs now being run by John Calipari, what else are people going to talk about? It's the marriage of a program starving for big-time success to a coach looking for that elusive national championship.

Teams The favorite: Louisville (28-5) -- The Cardinals earned the overall top seeding in the tournament by winning both the regular-season and tournament championships in the Big East, which is widely considered the nation's most competitive basketball conference. Cinderella search: USC (21-12) -- The Trojans showed in winning the Pacific 10 Conference tournament title that they are plenty good when it comes to single-elimination situations.