We're inching closer to crowning a new men's college basketball champion. On Saturday, No. 1 Gonzaga vs. No. 7 South Carolina will jump-start Final Four action, followed by No. 1 North Carolina vs. No. 3 Oregon. Who's going to the NCAA title game'From a spectator perspective, it's hard to describe Gonzaga. ESPN's Jay Bilas highlighted the conflicting narratives on the Bulldogs:On one hand, head coach Mark Few guided the school to its first Final Four appearance. Nonetheless, they're still a No. 1 seed with a 36-1 record.Oregon will play in its second Final Four matchup, and they're a No. 3 seed that came out of the Midwest Region after a convincing victory over No. 1 Kansas.South Carolina goes to Glendale, Arizona, as the Cinderella team with no business playing this late in the Big Dance. The Gamecocks lost consecutive games to Mississippi and Alabama before the NCAA tournament.North Carolina goes into Saturday's matchup as the leading program in Final Four appearances:Which twoteams advance to the National final' Game times and viewing info are listed below:No. 1 Gonzaga vs. No. 7 South CarolinaBased on program history, this isn't a David vs. Goliath matchup. Either way, one school will compete for an NCAA men's championship for the first time. In the past, Few has coached talented teams but fell short of this round in the tournament.Bleacher Report's Kerry Miller highlighted Gonzaga's reliance on transfer students to propel them through the West Region. Guards Nigel Williams-Goss and Jordan Mathews paired with forward Jonathan Williams have spent just one season together, but they're collectively playing at a high level.Unlike the Gamecocks, it's an ineffective approach to focus on one or two Bulldogs on the offensive end. In the previous two outings, the three players finished with double-digit scoring totals. Though Williams-Goss leads the pack as the most prominent scorer, Mathews and Williams have contributed in big spots during tournament play.South Carolina's defense frustrated Florida in the Elite Eight round, which led to poor shot selection and points off turnovers. The Gamecocks' tenacity on the defensive end could mirror West Virginia's performance against the Bulldogs during the Sweet 16 round. South Carolina brings more firepower to the court compared to the Mountaineers, which puts Gonzaga in a tough matchup.Sindarius Thornwell, the Southeastern Conference Player of the Year, hasn't showed signs of slowing down. He scored at least 24 points in all four victories. He and sophomore guard PJ Dozier play both ends of the court. Together, they'll have the ability to quell Gonzaga's timely perimeter shooting.The Gamecocks have the prominent scorers coupled with defensive effort to take down another favorite. Thornwell will continue his highlight run through the tournament.Prediction: South Carolina 76, Gonzaga 72No. 1 North Carolina vs. No. 3 OregonNorth Carolina limited Kentucky's standout freshmen De'Aaron Fox and Malik Monk for the majority of the game in the previous outing. The Tar Heels will have to bear down defensively against another prolific scoring duo in guard Tyler Dorsey and Dillon Brooks. Both players shoot above 40 percent from beyond the arc and possess the ability to take the ball to the basket.Due to North Carolina's interior toughness, the Ducks have a better chance atwinning this game on a good shooting night. Forward Jordan Bell must remain active on the boards to provide second-chance opportunities.Up to this point, the Ducks haven't missed forward Chris Boucher's presence in the paint because they've been able to rack up points in bunches. However, the Tar Heels' roster, filled with NBA bodies, will dominate the glass and offer too much for Bell to handle alone.Guard Joel Berry II has tried to play through a funk during the tournament. A fast-paced game will allow him to shoot his way out of aslump. If Berry continues to struggle with his shot, forward Kennedy Meeks will be down low to collect offensive rebounds while forward Justin Jackson looks to finish at the rim. Additionally, forward Luke Maye has provided a much-needed boost off the bench.North Carolina may need Maye to produce another double-digit scoring performance, but the Tar Heels defense has been a staple throughout the tournament. Roy Williams' team should return to the championship gamewhere it will get a shot at the NCAA title in a battle between the Carolinas.Prediction: North Carolina 81, Oregon 77Stats provided bySports Referenceunless otherwise noted.
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