6 BYU Cougars
Cougars make the Final Four if: They run offense with pace and take open opportunities without hesitation. Neither BYU nor Alabama will scare you with defense — both try to wear you down with pace, space, and efficient shooting and smart defense. BYU has to hunt great shots and limit opponents' 3-point opportunities.

Player to watch: Egor Demin. The 6-8 freshman has size and unusual skill at the point guard position. He can be turnover prone, but he's a playmaker; Demin can hit timely 3s without shooting a great percentage. When he is at his best, he's a lottery pick.

Area of concern: BYU is not a consistently good defensive team. At times, the Cougars want to simply outscore you, without regard to getting stops to separate from an opponent. But BYU is dangerous.



2 Alabama Crimson Tide
Crimson Tide make the Final Four if: They are physical and defend as resolutely as they look to score. Alabama plays with relentless pace and leads the nation in scoring. Alabama is a driving team that sprays it for open 3-point shots and is among the most efficient 2-point-scoring teams in the country. If you want to slow down Alabama, you need to guard the ball and keep the Tide out of the paint.

Player to watch: Grant Nelson. Nobody on the Alabama roster plays harder than Nelson. He and Mouhamed Dioubate lead the Tide in "hard hat" points for doing the dirty work, and Nelson is the top rebounder and shot blocker. Nelson is a driver and must be kept out of the lane,

Area of concern: Mark Sears is very effective for Alabama and is not to be overlooked. But Sears is just 5-for-35 from deep over his past six games. For Alabama to beat anybody, he needs to hit shots.