The Cavaliers might've been the least likely of No. 1 seeds to get to the NCAA tournament's final weekend, and the Tigers might not even be here if New Mexico State made its free throws.
CLOSE SportsPulse: USA TODAY Sports' Scott Gleeson breaks down Auburn's impressive run to the Final Four. USA TODAYFor those who picked this Final Four matchup on their bracket, kudos.
And even though the fifth-seeded Tigers had won the SEC tournament heading into the NCAAs, they had a gauntlet path to get to the Final Four in a Midwest Regional in which many envisioned Kentucky or North Carolina winning. Virginia's path to the Final Four: The anxiety-ridden Cavaliers got a scare in their first round matchup against Gardner-Webb and trailed at halftime one year after stunningly losing to Maryland-Baltimore County.
► How Virginia has the edge: The Cavaliers are all about pace, using a pack-line defense that leads the nation in opponents points allowed and slowing the game down in an ever-patient offense that often looks like a game of hot potato. While most teams get sped up when the shot clock is winding down, that's when Virginia is at its finest, feeding the post with just enough time or using high pick-and-rolls for penetration to get the guards a high percentage shot.
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