NCAA Tournament Schedule 2012: UNC vs. Kansas Is a Must-See Matchup

The 2012 NCAA Tournament's Midwest Regional Final between No. 2-seeded Kansas and No. 1-seeded North Carolina on Sunday (5:05 PM ET, CBS) will be the must-see matchup of the Big Dance.

UNC head coach Roy Williams has undeniable ties to the Kansas Jayhawks basketball program, and surely there are still some fans among the Rock Chalk faithful who still hold a soft spot for Williams.

Outside of the coaching storyline, lies the incredibly intriguing matchups on the court between the two teams.

With Tar Heels' point guard Kendall Marshall a game-time decision according to ESPN.com, it would seem that the key to success for North Carolina lies in the paint on the strength of Tyler Zeller and John Henson around the rim.

The 7-foot senior, Zeller is leading the Tar Heels in scoring and rebounding this tournament, averaging a tremendous 16 points and 14.3 boards per contest in three wins for UNC.

Meanwhile junior John Henson has posted nine blocks during the Big Dance, and bounced back nicely from a wrist injury suffered in the ACC Tournament, recording back-to-back double-doubles for the Tar Heels in his last two starts.

Fortunately for Kansas fans, the Jayhawks have their own dominant force in the paint capable of leading them to the Final Four. Junior forward Thomas Robinson lacks the height of Zeller and the length of Henson, but has more than held his own averaging 15 points and 13.7 rebounds per game in the NCAA Tournament.

Robinson will also have help from fellow junior, defensive anchor Jeff Withey, who has a ridiculous 17 blocked shots this tourney, including 10 in the Sweet 16 against North Carolina State.

The can't-miss matchup on the interior is balanced with an equally as watchable perimeter battle between the speed of Kansas guards Tyshawn Taylor and Elijah Johnson, and the strength of UNC's Reggie Bullock and Harrison Barnes.

Johnson is shooting 62.5 percent from the field in the tournament, while Bullock has gotten stronger in each game for Carolina, shooting 10-of-21 from beyond the arc thus far.

Sunday's matchup between two of college basketball's most storied programs has everything a fan or sports junkie could ask for. There are underlying storylines, exciting matchups, high stakes and stars galore. 

The NCAA Tournament is renowned for its upsets and Cinderellas, but it's always more enjoyable when the game's brightest colors and biggest names are on display for all to see in the Elite 8.