Kentucky and Arizona are quick. No, they're quicker than that.
The pressure won't be in trying to repeat as national champion, Kentucky's aim. And it won't be winning the crown for the first time, Arizona's goal. It will come tonight from defenses that live to force turnovers and create easy baskets.
"Our guys like fast-paced games," Arizona coach Lute Olson said Sunday. "It's going to be like watching a tennis match, so people better do some neck exercises before they come in tomorrow night."
Both teams capitalized on their quickness to reach the title game. Kentucky is well-known for the speed it uses in a variety of defenses, which forced 26 turnovers in Saturday's 78-69 victory over Minnesota in the semifinal.
Arizona (24-9), the only non-No. 1 seed in the Final Four, made its move in the NCAA tournament with wins over top-ranked Kansas, Providence and North Carolina.
"They've got incredible quickness and speed, and they didn't beat Kansas on a fluke game," Kentucky coach Rick Pitino said of Arizona. "They beat Kansas because they were an outstanding team against an outstanding ballclub, and they've been that way throughout the tournament, and they've been that way throughout the season."
Kentucky (35-4) is one win away from becoming the first repeat champion since Duke in 1992, and Pitino would be the seventh coach to win at least two straight titles.
His team bears little resemblance to the one that beat Syracuse for the title last season, except for Ron Mercer, who had 20 points in that championship game as a freshman.
Still, Kentucky uses the pressure defense to get things going even if the opposition has the same strategy.
"When teams press us we try to get layups off it," said Kentucky senior Anthony Epps. "And with me and Wayne Turner both being point guards, we have two guards to beat the press and we use all five guys to break it. We press each other every day in practice, so we know how to handle it."
Arizona freshman point guard Mike Bibby also didn't sound all that concerned about facing pressure.
"They like to run. We like to run," he said. "Teams that have tried to press us have only done it a couple of possessions because we have broken it every time. Their press is unbelievable, and they keep coming at you because they never seem to get tired."
Like Turner.
He played 39 minutes against Minnesota with one turnover, and was a key in forcing all those Golden Gopher turnovers.
"I hope that wasn't my best game, that there's a better one from me in my career," he said.
"I think it will be a great challenge. Bibby and (Miles) Simon are great guards. You really want to test yourself defensively and offensively."
AP PHOTO
Ron Mercer (left) will need a repeat of his 20-point showing from last year's title game if Kentucky hopes to knock off upstart Arizona in tonight NCAA championship game.