Saturday

Final Four to Play Today in Minneapolis

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

DONNA KELLEY, CNN ANCHOR: Let's see if we can get down to the final four, and the terrific two, and the terrific one.

Larry Smith. Hi, Larry.

LARRY SMITH, CNN SPORTS ILLUSTRATED CORRESPONDENT: Well, we will tip off here in Minneapolis in about five hours away. The last time the final four was held here in Minneapolis, Duke won it all. That was 1992, and the Blue Devils are hoping that happens again.

Couple of great games tonight. Game one, pitting two of the last four national champions, and it should be a dandy. Michigan State and Arizona in this one. Arizona, the first final four since wining it all back in 1997, and the first since the death of Bobby Olsen, the wife of head coach Lute Olsen, and that's made the Wild Cats a sentimental favorite as they take on defending champion Michigan State. In fact, Spartans' coach Tom Izzo, a very impressive 16 and 2 in NCAA tournament play in only his sixth year, coach at Michigan State.

The night game should be a thriller as well. Duke sent Maryland into a mid-season tailspin with that wild 10-point comeback in the final minute in College Park a couple of months ago, but the Terrapins have rebounded, winning at Duke and then coming within the last-second basket of beating Duke again in the ACC semifinals. That was back in Atlanta.

It is the first final four for Maryland in school history, so the Terrapins are all fired up, but again, the fourth time they will meet Duke, and they do hope that the fourth time is the charm. The winner of tonight's games -- both winners -- will move onto Monday night championship game, and we will have you -- coverage for you as we continue on throughout this weekend. Let's go back to you in Atlanta.

KELLEY: Thank you, Larry, we'll see you soon.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com