Final Four keys

DEALING WITH PRESSURE: Neither program has been to this point before. This is all new. The hype, the media obligations, playing under the microscope that is the biggest stage of college basketball in a monstrous dome such as NRG Stadium. The team that handles that the best, and doesn’t need time to adjust once the ball goes up, may be the one that moves on.

BATTLE IN THE MIDDLE: The unsung hero of Florida Atlantic’s Elite Eight upset of Kansas State was Vladislav Goldin, the 7-foot Russian who produced 14 points, 13 rebounds, two blocks and two assists in controlling the paint. It won’t be nearly as easy against San Diego State’s Nathan Mensah, the two-time Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year. The 6-10 Mensah anchors the Aztecs’ fourth-ranked defense in terms of efficiency.

MATT HAS TO BE THE MAN: San Diego State has survived despite leading scorer Matt Bradley’s (right) shooting woes. The team’s lone double-figure pergame scorer, he is averaging just six points on 22.2 percent shooting over the last three NCAA Tournament games. It’s hard to see the Aztecs advancing to the national championship game unless the senior guard finds his stroke.

A MISMATCH INSIDE: Connecticut feasts in the paint, ranked second nationally in rebounding margin at plus-9.4. It starts big with Adama Sanogo and gets bigger with 7-foot-2 freshman Donovan Clingan. Miami is thin up front, and leading rebounder Norchad Omier is undersized at 6-7. If the sophomore gets into foul trouble, the Hurricanes will have no answer for the Huskies’ size.

THE HEALTH OF HAWKINS: Jordan Hawkins, the Huskies’ star guard and projected NBA first-round pick, has a nonCOVID-19 illness and didn’t practice on Friday. His status is uncertain. If the 6-5 sophomore, Connecticut’s second-leading scorer, either can’t play or isn’t himself, it certainly changes the dynamic on the offensive end for the Final Four favorite.

TEMPO HAS TO FAVOR MIAMI: Miami has the backcourt edge with its dynamic threeguard lineup of Jordan Miller, Nijel Pack and ACC Player of the Year Isaiah Wong (left). While Connecticut likes to run when it can, it has an advantage in the half-court due to its major edge inside. If it is an up-and-down game, the Hurricanes will benefit.