Clash of the titans: Powerhouses populate the Final Four

Michigan is the team nobody wants to play

There is no denying it. Michigan is incredibly intimidating right now.

The Wolverines can score at will and play with discipline on defense, without needing a superstar to carry the load. They did not just win games on the way to the Final Four. They demolished teams. In addition to beating Tennessee by 33, Michigan beat Howard by 21, Saint Louis by 23 and Alabama by 13 while scoring 90 or more points in every game of the tournament. The Wolverines have been a wrecking ball.

UConn always finds a way

It appears UConn's approach this tournament is to play with fire.

The Huskies dug themselves out of a huge hole of 19 points against Duke and hit a last-second shot to survive and advance. That reveals their strength and their tendency to gamble with the game. It is hard to keep pulling rabbits out of a hat forever, but there is something about a team that can come back and win from a large deficit. In March, that belief is invaluable.

Arizona is the wild card

Arizona falls somewhere in between all of that, and it may ultimately benefit the Wildcats. They do not have the complete dominance of Michigan or the ability to make every tough shot late like UConn, but they are well-rounded, fundamentally sound and able to knock off anybody on any given day. Arizona can score enough to keep up with an opponent who wants to try to run the floor and keep things fast, and it can set things up when necessary without losing control at the very end. This makes them dangerous in another fashion. They aren't necessarily the most flamboyant team remaining, but maybe the team that most steadily puts things together when it matters the most.

Illinois has been a quiet threat

People will talk more about Michigan's power or UConn's magic, but Illinois is the silent threat lurking in the background. The Illini are experienced, have defeated strong opponents and will not be intimidated by UConn's tournament resume. Illinois has already played UConn this season, a 74-61 loss. This experience, even negative, is now a huge advantage.

No Cinderella story this year

If you were hoping for an underdog to make a surprise run to the Final Four, it didn't happen this year. This is a Final Four of titans. It is something that, while not ideal for the "March magic" fanatics, gives us a much better tournament. It is high-level basketball where mistakes are limited.

Indianapolis will provide the stage

Indianapolis and the famous Lucas Oil Stadium will play host to the Final Four on April 4 and 6. A large venue and bright lights mean that there will be no place for a team to hide. Shooting will be tougher. A team's bench strength will be critical. Which leads us back to Michigan, and why they may be the most obvious favorite.

• Michigan: the most complete team.
• UConn: the most battle tested.
• Illinois: the most underrated.
• Arizona: the middle ground.

Four teams, four completely distinctive styles. We will now see which style can withstand the pressure of the spotlight.