Here is just a quick glance at the four teams headed to Detroit for the Final Four next weekend. Over the week I’ll be doing more in depth analysis of each team. But here are the basic stats, facts and my quick pick.

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#2 Michigan State (26–6)

• Big 12
  
• Location: East Lansing, MI
• Mascot: Spartans
• School Colors: Green and White
• Coach: Tom Izzo (for shizzo)
• Players: Kalin Lucas, Raymar Morgan, Goran Sutton, Durrell Summers, Delvon Roe, Chris Allen (not to be confused with cutie Kris Allen from American Idol….)
• Claim to Fame: They have won 2 Championships. The most notable was the 1979 game that pitted Spartan Ervin “Magic” Johnson against Indiana’s Larry Bird. Perhaps you have heard of them? That win fueled the rivalry that extended into the NBA with Magic on the Lakers and Bird on the Celtics.

#1 UConn (27-4)

• Big East
  
• Location: Storrs, Conn
• Mascot: Huskies
• School Colors: National Flag Blue and White
• Song:” UConn Husky”
• Coach: Jim Calhoun
• Players: Jeff Adrien,
• Big Name Alumni: Ray Allen, of the Boston “Three-Party” Celtics

Originally I had picked UConn but I’m going to jump ship and go with Mich State! I’m enjoying the run they are on and would love for them to go all the way.

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#3 Villanova (26-7)

• Big East
  
• Location: Villanova, PA
• Nickname: Wildcats
• Mascot: Will D. Cat
• School Colors: Blue and White
• Coach: Jay Wright
• Rivals: Part of the Philadelphia Big 5, which is the rivalry between the schools of the city. “The Holy War” is the battle between Nova and St Joseph’s.
• Claim to Fame: When the famous Liberty Bell cracked, a new one was made called “the Sister Bell.”  Nova proudly houses the bell on their campus
• Players: Dante Cunningham, Scottie Reynolds, Corey Fisher, Corey Stokes—I like to think of them like as the Two Coreys (for those of you who are not children of the 80s, that means the bromance team of Corey Haim and Corey Feldman)

#1 UNC (28-4)

• ACC
• Location: Chapel Hill, North Carolina (University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill)
• Nickname: Tar Heels
• What is a Tar Heel: Been wondering that for years. In short, North Carolina was big on producing tar way back in the days of wars. Also, someone with “tar on their heels” is said to be someone who stands their ground and doesn’t back down.
• Mascot: Ram named Ramses
• School Colors: Carolina Blue and White
• Arch Nemesis: Duke Blue Devils
• Coach: Roy Williams (!)
• Players: Tyler Hansborough, Ty Lawson, Wayne Ellington. And a whole lot of other players that no one can remember the names of becaue those big 3 dominate the headlines.
• Fame and Fortune: home of the great Michael Jordan, amongst many, many others.

Going to have to say UNC, but only because I love Roy Williams.

About the author: Jennifer Taglione is the owner of this fabulous website Stiletto Sports. Despite writing well over 500 posts, she still maintains that she is not a sports writer! She is however a huge fan of Kurt Warner, Larry Fitzgerald, Mark Sanchez, the Celtics, and totally kicks butt on March Madness brackets! Connect with her by following her on Twitter @StilettoSportsJ and subscribing to her weekly newsletter. For more info check out the About the Editor page!

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