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Final Four 2018, Kansas vs. Villanova: TV channel, live stream, start time

By Chance Collins

BOSTON, MA - MARCH 25: Head coach Jay Wright of the Villanova Wildcats holds the East Regional Champion trophy after defeating the Texas Tech Red Raiders 71-59 in the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament East Regional to advance to the 2018 Final Four at TD Garden on March 25, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - MARCH 25: Head coach Jay Wright of the Villanova Wildcats holds the East Regional Champion trophy after defeating the Texas Tech Red Raiders 71-59 in the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament East Regional to advance to the 2018 Final Four at TD Garden on March 25, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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The Titans of the NCAA Tournament will faceoff in a battle on Saturday night with overall No. 1 seed playing No. 1 seed Kansas. Here’s what you need to watch on TV and online.

The NCAA Final Four is the pinnacle of postseason play in all of the major sporting events, teams go through a grueling season full of highs-and-lows for a shot at “one shining moment.,” a survive-and-advance mentality predicated on the final showdown in San Antonio, TX this season.

Hoping to rise to the challenge will be the Villanova Wildcats led by Head Coach Jay Wright. The Wildcats look to hold off the opposition on the back of star guard, Jalen Brunson. Brunson, the likely NBA lottery pick, has averaged 17.5 points per game through the tournament, shooting 50.6 percent from the field and alongside Mikal Bridges and Donte DiVincenzo comprise one of the best trios on the hardwood.

DiVicenzo, a long defender, and tenacious scorer has provided a spark for Villanova in stagnant moments throughout the past four games. DiVicenzo walked away with12 points in the win over Texas Tech and has averaged 11 points in the postseason, following the lead of teammates Bridges and Brunson.

Mikal Bridges, the Robin to Brunson’s Batman may be second fiddle on paper, but this tournament he has played out of his mind. The Junior guard has averaged 16 points per game in the postseason with a high of 23 coming against Colin Sexton and Alabama in the Round of 32. Jay Wright’s team has no shortage of talent on this team, something that continues to plague this opposition and has the Wildcats two wins away from their second title in three years.

With scoring not an issue for the Wildcats, Kansas and Head Coach Bill Self have a heavy burden to overcome. Villanova is the No. 1 ranked offense in college basketball, the Wildcats posted a 122.1 offensive rating and averaged the most points per game of any team at 88.6. To say that Kansas landed a favorable matchup would be comical, the Jayhawks are ranked No. 101 out of 351 teams in defensive rating, with a less than stellar, 101.1.

The Jayhawks do have a weapon on offense and he goes by the name of Malik Newman. Newman has shouldered the load for Bill Self the previous three games, scoring 77 points in wins over Duke, Clemson, and Seton Hall. Newman’s best game came during the Elite Eight though— an impressive 32 points against No. 2 seeded Duke that prevailed the Jayhawks to a win and elevated Newman’s stardom, where he has shared the spotlight with an upcoming foe, Jalen Brunson, and Loyola-Chicago’s, Sister Jean.

Newman may be the best player in the tournament outside of Jalen Brunson, but to defeat a championship-caliber opponent in Villanova, he’ll need Udoka Azubuike and Devonte Graham to provide an accompanying spark. Azubuike keeps opponents honest at the rim and with an electric offense like Villanova’s, stopping the Wildcats from easy dribble penetration and lanes to the basket will be his area of focus. Averaging a block and two steals in the postseason, Azubuike can create havoc and if he plays aggressively on offense, it will be a long night for Villanova.

The wildcard of the three and Senior leader on this team is Devonte Graham. Graham led Kansas in scoring for the season averaging 17.2 points, 40.3 percent from three-point and did a good job feeding his teammates, dishing out seven assists per contest. If Graham has much of the same success he had in the regular season, then Kansas won’t be the only team worrying about its defense. Although 64 points through four games may not be something to frown about, if Graham peaks to his full potential Saturday night, the Wildcats are in a world of trouble.

Here’s what you need to watch Kansas vs. Villanova on TV and online:

Date: Saturday, March 31
Start Time: 8:49 pm. ET
Location: San Antonio, TX
TV Channel: TBS
Live Stream: March Madness Live  

Next: All live stream info in one place

If you want to see some classic college basketball between good ‘ole-fashioned blue bloods of the sport, then the nightcap of the Final Four is for you. Jay Wright and Bill Self will both be striving to get the opportunity for the second National Championship of their respective careers and with so much more on the line for the players and fan bases, it would be shocking if it didn’t live up to the hype. Bookmark FanSided’s March Madness hub for more as the end is near.