The Post’s Zach Braziller breaks down the Friday’s East Region semifinal matchups :
(3) Iowa State Cyclones vs. (7) UConn Huskies
Backcourt: Shabazz Napier of UConn and Iowa State’s DeAndre Kane are arguably the two top point guards in the nation. But the production of the other guards, the Huskies’ Ryan Boatright and impressive freshman Monte Morris of the Cyclones, bears watching. The lightning quick Boatright is integral to Connecticut’s success, its secondary playmaker and one of its top scorers. Edge: UConn
Frontcourt: Iowa State had a major advantage in this category a week ago, before sophomore forward Georges Niang suffered a broken right foot. The Cyclones are now thin up front, with Big 12 Player of the Year Melvin Ejim and Yonkers product Dustin Hogue their only reliable options. UConn has a ton of bodies, led by enigmatic wing DeAndre Daniels and stretch forward Niels Giffey, but consistency is the question. Edge: Even
Bench: With Napier in foul trouble, UConn received a major lift from Brooklyn point guard Terrence Samuel in its third-round win over Villanova, but Iowa State’s Naz Long is the lone reserve who can make a major difference. The sharpshooting sophomore guard was crucial to the Cyclones victory over North Carolina in the third round. Edge: Iowa State
Coach: UConn’s Kevin Ollie and Iowa State’s Fred Hoiberg go way back to their senior year of high school, when the two took a recruiting visit together to Arizona. The former teammates with the Chicago Bulls have worked wonders with their respective teams, Hoiberg resurrecting a dormant program at Iowa State and Ollie inheriting a postseason ban last year and leading the Huskies back to the Sweet 16 under the mammoth shadow of legendary former coach Jim Calhoun. Edge: Even
Prediction: UConn 82, Iowa State 78
The “home-court” advantage at the Garden gives UConn the edge as Niang’s injury catches up to the Cyclones.
(1) Virginia Cavaliers vs. (4) Michigan State Spartans
Backcourt: Michigan State sophomore Gary Harris is a potential NBA lottery pick, and despite his recent struggles, senior point guard Gary Appling will play professionally somewhere. Joe Harris leads Virginia in scoring and is a lights-out 3-point shooter, while freshman point guard London Perrantes has performed well in the tournament, averaging 10 points per game. Edge: Michigan State
Frontcourt: Michigan State has the best player, senior lottery-pick hopeful Adreian Payne, but Virginia has scores of bodies to throw at him, depth and size in its frontcourt few teams possess. Keep an eye on Spartans junior Branden Dawson, an X-Factor who lit up Harvard for 26 points and nine rebounds in the third round. Edge: Even
Bench: The Cavaliers go 11-deep — unheard of this time of year — and sophomore reserves Anthony Gill and Justin Anderson are two of their top scorers. Travis Trice, a junior zone-buster, is the only significant weapon Michigan State can rely on from its bench. Edge: Virginia
Coach: Tony Bennett is one of the young star coaches in the sport, turning foundering Virginia into a Final Four contender in five short years. Tom Izzo, however, is a legend in his prime, a coach who overachieves this time of year with ordinary talent, and he’s got elite talent with the Spartans. Edge: Michigan State
Prediction: Michigan State 65, Virginia 57
Virginia will slow down the Spartans, but Cavaliers’ offensive shortcomings are evident in the final minutes.