MINNEAPOLIS — Each Final Four team dazzled the fans for precisely 50 minutes at Friday afternoon's showcase practices for the fans at the Metrodome. Every coach answered the media's questions for exactly 15 minutes. Every school had the same number of signs on the walls (a whopping one).

If there's one pervasive theme entering Saturday's semifinals, it's a stunning sense of balance, both on and off the court. Unlike the past two years when Duke and Michigan State stormed into the Final Four as prohibitive favorites, this year's title seems totally up for grabs.

"It's definitely wide open," said Arizona coach Lute Olson.

Added All-America Duke guard Jason Williams: "I don't think anyone stands out."

Actually, Duke may be the nominal favorite, but not by much. They have the best record (33-4), the most successful coach in Mike Krzyzewski (54-14 tournament record including nine Final Fours), and two consensus All-Americans in Williams and forward Shane Battier.

"Duke certainly has been one of those who has been up there all year long," said Olson. "If you're talking about a favorite, you'd have to say them."

Added Michigan State coach Tom Izzo: "I think, on paper, I guess everybody would be looking at Duke because of what they've done throughout the whole year. But if you really look at Arizona and look at five guys that were Wooden Award nominees on that team and where they started, I think they're playing as well as people thought they would early.

"And Maryland is playing awfully well as of late and overcame a big hurdle."

Indeed, an equally compelling case can be made for each of the other teams. Michigan State (28-4) is the defending national champion. Arizona (27-7) was the preseason No. 1 team in the country. Only Maryland (25-10 and in their first Final Four) lacks the lofty pedigree and glittering record of its rivals, but the Terps might be the hottest team here, hammering No. 1-seed Stanford by 14 points in the regional finals.

"The record doesn't mean anything now," said Maryland forward Lonny Baxter, who's averaging 17.8 points and 10 rebounds in the tournament. "It's just who plays hardest now."

Maryland will play Duke in one semifinal, their fourth meeting of the season. The Blue Devils won two of the previous games, but few think that really matters.

"We have to forget about the first three games," said Duke guard Chris Duhon. "We are expecting a war. . . . No tricks no special effects. Just two teams going at it head-to-head. The strongest will survive."

Added Maryland guard Juan Dixon: "We know their offense, they know our offense. I think the team that executes better on both ends of the floor will be the team to win the game."

The other semifinal pits Arizona against defending champion Michigan State. The Wildcats struggled early in the season thanks to player suspensions and distractions resulting from the death of coach Olson's wife, Bobbi, from ovarian cancer in January. But since Olson returned after missing five games, the Wildcats have won 17 of 19 games, and have emerged as the sentimental favorite here. "Four Bobbi" billboards are scattered throughout town and Olson admits the adversity has brought his team together.

"I think what it says about the players is that they have a mental toughness that, despite all the distractions, they've done a great job over the last two-and-a-half months of really being focused on what's been needed," said Olson. "And the old statement about what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, I think that it has further developed the team chemistry. It's a very, very closely knit group of guys."

It's also a very loose group of guys. At the end of their practice they propped up guard Jason Gardner so he could finish the session with a dunk.

"I think that's the type of team we are," Gardner said. "Last year being in the tournament gave us experience. . . . We're being more relaxed."

But they know they can't relax Saturday against the rugged Spartans, especially on the boards. Michigan State has outrebounded its opponents in every game but one this season.

"The keys to the game will be winning the possession battle, which means rebounding and turnovers," Olson said.

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Michigan State guard Jason Richardson says it will come down to desire.

"Basically it comes down to who wants it the baddest," he said. "You have to come out there with an aggressive attitude, a positive attitude, and take it out on the court."

Last year was the first time since 1981 that both semifinals and the championship game were decided by double-digit margins. But that was an anomaly. Of the 30 games played at the past 10 Final Fours, 23 have been decided by fewer than 10 points.

"I don't think you're going to see a blowout," Jason Williams said. "Michigan State is a really strong basketball team. Arizona's been through adversity and now is really rolling. And Maryland's really rolling. Both games are going to be great."

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