Intriguing story lines for Saturday’s Final Four

The Madness has reached its final phase. Here are five story lines that will shape the Final Four.

The Madness has reached its final phase.  Four teams, three games.

One national champion.

On Saturday, the Final Four tips off at University of Phoenix Stadium. Seventh-seeded South Carolina faces No.1 Gonzaga in the first contest, followed by No. 1 North Carolina and No. 3 Oregon.

“As all players, they’ve dreamed about this for a long time,” Oregon coach Dana Altman said.

That moment is now.  Here are five story lines that will shape the national semifinals:

North Carolina’s experience

The Tar Heels danced on this stage just last season, losing a national title in the final seconds to Villanova. In a field of Final Four infants (South Carolina and Gonzaga are here for the first time; Oregon was last here in 1939), they are the grown-ups. Been there, done that.

But does it matter?

“It’s a factor, but I also think there are different levels of experience,” said Sean May, North Carolina’s director of player personnel and the Most Outstanding Player of the 2005 Final Four. “I don’t know if just getting to the Final Four automatically gives you a trump over Final Four teams that haven’t been there. Just playing in big games helps.”

South Carolina guard Sindarius Thornwell on Friday was asked which team would be more nervous: the Gamecocks or Gonzaga. “Gonzaga,’’ he said. Then adding: “Everybody’s nervous. Nobody wants to lose.”

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Oregon’s big shot

Every team here has a go-to guy. To date, Thornwell might be the tournament’s MVP. North Carolina’s Justin Jackson is the Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year. Gonzaga’s Nigel Williams-Goss is a second-team All-American.

But the one to watch: Oregon’s Dillon Brooks. The junior forward, who was the Pac-12 Player of the Year, has a knack for producing in the clutch. He hit winning shots this season against Tennessee, UCLA and California. In a 71-70 win over Arizona State, Brooks scored Oregon’s final 12 points.

“I want to be in that moment,” said Brooks, who is averaging 16.3 points. “I’m ready to take the criticism, missing or missing the shot. I’m confident in my game.”

For North Carolina, that’s concerning.

“It’s not just one thing he does well,’’ Tar Heels assistant coach Hubert Davis said. “He can shoot from 3. He can shoot off the catch or the dribble. He’s a good driver. He can post up smaller guards. And when you put him at the (power forward) position, he’s tough to handle.”

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Gonzaga’s big man

Przemek Karnowski is impossible to miss. The Gonzaga senior stands 7-foot-1, 300 pounds. He has the best beard in the Final Four. And he’s probably the toughest matchup here.

In the lane, the left-handed big man excels shooting over his right shoulder. Send an extra defender his way, and he’s as good as any big man in college basketball at finding the open shooter.

Surprised? You shouldn’t be. Gonzaga coaches insist the Polish-born Karnowski would have been a McDonald’s All-American had he been raised in the U.S.

“It’s going to be tough,” South Carolina forward Maik Kotsar said of defending Karnowski. “We have to push as hard as possible. We’re going to have to deny him (the ball) as much as possible.”

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South Carolina’s D

Gonzaga has the nation’s top-rated defense. South Carolina is No. 2. After their tournament-opening win over Marquette, the Gamecocks held Duke, Baylor and Florida all to under 42-percent shooting from the field. They have forced 17 turnovers per game since the tournament began.

“It starts with their conviction,’’ Gonzaga assistant coach Tommy Lloyd said. “Not many teams are playing any form of denying defense anymore, and they’re 100 percent committed to it. That makes it a little bit different to prepare for.”

The effort starts with senior guard Duane Notice.

“The hardest thing in basketball is guarding the basketball,” South Carolina coach Frank Martin said, “and he’s just relentless at it. We’re here and the big reason we’re here is because of who he is and the way he does that.”

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The X factor

In the 2012 national championship, Kentucky freshman Anthony Davis shot 1 of 10 from the field, and yet he still dominated. Reason: The future NBA All-Star produced 16 rebounds, five assists, six blocked shots and three steals.

Oregon’s Jordan Bell isn’t on Davis’ level, but he could impact the Final Four in a similar way. In last week’s regional final win over Kansas, the 6-9 junior produced one of the tournament’s top performances, posting 11 points, 13 rebounds, four assists and eight blocked shots.

“Even the shots that he doesn’t block,’’ guard Casey Benson said, “he alters.”

“That’s Jordan Bell’s game,” Oregon assistant coach Tony Stubblefield said. “He was the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year. He can affect the game in a lot of ways. He rebounds. He blocks shots. Obviously, his offense has gotten better, but he brings a lot of energy to the table.”