Final Four - Rematches of sport's blue bloods

Two games. Two rematches. All four teams amongst the elite of college basketball. One Final Four repeat is between Kentucky and Louisville, teams that know each other all too well. The other has Kansas facing Ohio State, teams that had more or less been strangers until this season.

Earlier in the season, Kentucky beat Louisville 69-62, handing a loss to Rick Pitino, the coach who once led the Wildcats, but left for the NBA, only to return down the road to lead their in-state rivals. Kansas defeated Ohio State 78-67 in a game the Buckeyes played without their star, forward Jared Sullinger.

The stakes are higher this time. The winners of Saturday's semifinals will play for the national title next Monday. Absent from this year's final hoops weekend, taking place at the Superdome in New Orleans, are the longshots and little guys who have made March Madness so special over the years. Although there are no Butlers, VCUs or George Masons, there are plenty of good stories to tell. That list starts with Pitino vs. his old school. In the other semifinal, Sullinger got what he wanted when he decided to return to Ohio State for his sophomore year — a trip to the Final Four. The Buckeyes are early 2.5-point picks over Kansas in the matchup of No. 2 seeds.

UConn continues amazing roll into Final 4

UConn won the NCAA West Regionals for the 4th time and head to their fourth Final 4 as they beat Arizona 65-63 in Anaheim on Saturday. I was in attendance and it was an intense, hotly contested game from beginning to end. The Honda Center was overwhelmingly full of Arizona fans, but the few thousand UConn fans there made sure to make their presence felt. Kemba Walker once again outshone all others, with a good deal of help from quickly rising freshman Jeremy Lamb. UConn will continue it's amazing run, which began with 5 victories in 5 days to win the Big East tournament, as they head to Houston to meet the winner of Kentucky/North Carolina. Jim Calhoun and his Huskies are on the verge of their 3rd NCAA Championship, all the more impressive when you consider the four Final 4's and 2 Championships have all been in the last 12 years.