DATE=MARCH 29, 2002

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-288149

TITLE=FINAL FOUR PREVIEW (S)

BYLINE=PARKE BREWER

DATELINE=ATLANTA

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: The U-S men's national collegiate basketball tournament is set for the semifinals Saturday in Atlanta, Georgia (first game tip-off at 6:07pm EST Saturday). VOA Sports Editor Parke Brewer reports on the widely followed Final Four.

TEXT: Sixty-five teams began play in this single elimination tournament earlier this month in four regions of the United States. The survivors are the University of Maryland, Kansas, Oklahoma and Indiana.

Indiana is the lowest seeded team to reach this Final Four. As the fifth-seed from the South Regional, Indiana knocked off top seed and defending champion Duke en route to its first Final Four in a decade.

Indiana will take on Oklahoma, which last made it to the national semifinals in 1988. While Oklahoma was a second seed in its region, during the regular season it beat both top-seeded teams that will play in the second game here at the Georgia Dome, Maryland and Kansas. Oklahoma is the heavy favorite to reach Monday night's title game.

The Kansas-Maryland game is likely to be much closer, but Kansas coach Roy Williams knows no one will be looking past the semifinals.

// Roy Williams Act //

Everybody is going to play very hard at the Final Four. I mean if you catch a guy who's going to dog it (not give 100 percent) in the Final Four, then you have a sorry individual. So the effort is going to be there from everybody.

// End Act //

Kansas last won the national title in 1988. Opponent Maryland reached the Final Four last year, but lost to eventual champion Duke. Many believe the Kansas-Maryland winner will be the favorite to win the championship here Monday night. (signed)

NEB/SPORTS/PARKE/PT