Final Four 2015: Known Info, Schedule Details Before Field Is Set

On Saturday, Wisconsin and Kentucky got us halfway to Indianapolis. Louisville, Michigan State, Gonzaga and Duke will all try to join them Sunday, with each doing battle within their respective regions for a trip to the Final Four.

Historically, those two contests pit some of college basketball's finest programs against one another. Michigan State and Louisville have gone to a combined six Final Fours since 2005. Tom Izzo and Rick Pitino are arguably the two best March coaches in basketball, though John Calipari would have something to say about that. 

Duke has gone to 11 Final Fours during Mike Krzyzewski's tenure. And while Gonzaga has yet to reach college basketball's marquee event, the program has helped spark an ascent of the mid-major schools into our national consciousness.

To put it mildly, we should be in store for a historic day of basketball. But as we look forward to the next few hours, let's take a leap ahead to next weekend. Here is a look at the schedule for next week's festivities at the Final Four along with a quick preview of Sunday's doubleheader.

Bracket/Final Four Information

Date	Game	Start Time (ET)	Network	Location
Saturday, April 4	Game No. 1 (Matchup TBD)	6:09 p.m.	CBS	Lucas Oil Stadium (Indianapolis, Indiana)
Saturday, April 4	Game No. 2 (Matchup TBD)	8:49 p.m.	CBS	Lucas Oil Stadium (Indianapolis, Indiana)

Elite Eight Preview

East Region: (7) Michigan State vs. (4) Louisville

It's hard not to begin the discussion about this game with the two coaches. Pitino is the only coach in NCAA history to take three teams (Providence, Kentucky and Louisville) to the Final Four. Izzo does more with less talent every season than any other coach in the country.

The coaching jobs done by both men to get to this point are also among the best of their respective careers. Louisville, to some, got its No. 4 seed more by reputation than performance. Its offense had sputtered all season long and got even worse following the dismissal of Chris Jones. The Cardinals' offensive rating is more than 50 spots worse than any other Elite Eight team.

“I love what he does. I love his energy. I love his enthusiasm. I love his passion. It’s easy to see. I have great respect for Rick,” Izzo said of Pitino, per Michael Whitmer of The Boston Globe. “He’s found a way to get his team back, and I think it’s because of some of the players he has. And we found a way to get our team back, and I think it’s because of the assistant coaches and some of the players I have.”

Michigan State, in typical Izzo fashion, has found itself peaking at the right time. The same team that dropped home games to Illinois, Minnesota and Texas Southern pre-March (along with a loss to Nebraska) has taken down seven tournament teams since the beginning of the month. Travis Trice in particular has stepped up his game, scoring 47 total points in Michigan State's wins over Virginia and Oklahoma.

Jamie Squire/Getty Images

"As a coach, you kind of fall in love with the guys that remind you more of yourself," Izzo said, per Nicole Auerbach of USA Today. "I think Travis has as a good a chance of leading us to an Elite Eight, maybe a Final Four, as I did in getting this job. We're kind of long shots."

The question of who wins this game will come down to which team can keep its uncharacteristic hot streak going. Michigan State's defense is just leaky enough to make you think Louisville can score 65-70 points—about the benchmark for this contest. The Spartans offense is just good enough and filled with just enough veterans to make you think they can handle the Louisville press.

In the end, a prediction comes down to choosing which team you believe in more. Michigan State has already slain two tournament dragons in Virginia and Oklahoma. Louisville has skated through without playing any team better than a No. 5 seed. The Spartans win because we've seen them do more.

Score Prediction: Michigan State 67, Louisville 62

South Region: (2) Gonzaga vs. (1) Duke

Looking at their two resumes, it's fair to say that Duke is basically a better version of Gonzaga. The Blue Devils rank third in offensive efficiency while the Bulldogs rank fourth. Duke is 26th in defensive efficiency; Gonzaga is 30th. The biggest difference between their two resumes is strength of schedule, which Duke is always going to win thanks to being a member of the ACC.

Both teams move the ball up the floor at a similar pace, have a deep-rooted love for the three-ball and play at a pace that's watchable. And if you think the latter point is a backhanded compliment, you haven't watched nearly enough of this tournament. Watchable college basketball pace is akin to Warriors warp speed in the pros.

That said, Sunday's game may be better defined by which teams can get near the basket. Houston's NRG Stadium, which is hosting the regional final, has become synonymous with cold shooting from distance. USA Today's Eric Prisbell points out that KenPom.com's Ken Pomeroy measured teams as shooting 32.3 percent from three-point range in games played at the stadium—well below the national average.

"It's not your ordinary basketball arena," Duke forward Amile Jefferson told Prisbell. "That's because it's not a basketball arena. It's a football stadium. It is something you definitely have to get used to. It is hard to get a sense of distance."

Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

If the three-ball isn't falling, the advantage decidedly tips in Duke's favor. Jahlil Okafor is perhaps the nation's most talented back-to-the-basket player, equipped with an array of moves that may make him the No. 1 pick in June's NBA draft. 

Kyle Wiltjer and Kevin Pangos, Gonzaga's top two scorers, are nowhere near as effective when they are forced to play inside the arc. The Bulldogs, who are still a great two-point shooting team, are at their best when they can play from the outside in. Their shooters are so good that defenders have to crowd the arc, allowing a ton of space for the likes of Domantas Sabonis and Przemek Karnowski down low.

Turn a few makes into misses, and suddenly that paint is going to get a lot more crowded. We'll get a sense early of how this game will play out, but I feel more comfortable with Duke being able to adjust.

Score Prediction: Duke 75, Gonzaga 68

Follow Tyler Conway (@tylerconway22) on Twitter.

All advanced stats via KenPom.com.