ST. LOUIS -- Mateen Cleaves has the reputation.

Wayne Turner has the crown.

Those are the perspectives of the two point guards in the pivotal matchup of the Midwest Regional final at the Trans World Dome today.

Cleaves and the Michigan State Spartans against Turner and the defending champion Kentucky Wildcats.

Forget about winning ugly. Disregard those awkward-looking jump shots. And don't even bring up the rare occasion when their offense takes the night off.

These guys have a common bond, and it is about winning.

"I admire his game," Cleaves said yesterday about Turner as the road to the Final Four grew shorter. "He kind of reminds me of myself when they say he doesn't have a jump shot. But he always finds a way to win. And he's always in the championship game."

Consider this a matchup a victory of substance over style. Neither player fits the prototypical mold of a championship point guard, yet Turner has been there -- three times, in fact -- and Cleaves qualifies on several counts.

In what will be the first meeting between the two at any level, the winner gets a reservation in St. Petersburg, Fla., later this week in the Final Four.

"The way Mateen directs his team is outstanding," said Kentucky coach Tubby Smith. "Wayne is the one player we can't do without. He has been the heart and soul of this team. He has never had a bad game and he has never had a bad practice for us. He always gives us everything he has."

Turner, who turns 23 tomorrow, has played in an NCAA-record 150 career games for Kentucky. If the Wildcats win today, he'll become the first non-Duke player to compete in four Final Fours. His legacy is three consecutive NCAA championship games, although he did not play in Kentucky's 1996 victory over Syracuse (the only game of his career he did not play).

Yet, Turner has had his critics. Back in bluegrass country, there is a sentiment that he doesn't score enough and doesn't shoot the three-pointer well enough.

Now, in what could be his college finale, he'll have to face the All-American from No. 1 seed Michigan State. Cleaves is a two-time Player of the Year in the Big Ten, a disciple of Magic Johnson and a celebrated member of the Flintstones, the crew of four Spartans who hail from Flint, Mich.

If Cleaves appears to have the advantage going in, remember that Turner knows the terrain of March basketball like the back of his hand.

"I wouldn't say it's personal," Turner said of the matchup with Cleaves, "but I think it's a challenge.

"Every year, especially in the tournament at the end of the year, I go against the best guards in the country, and usually come out on top."

Turner is finishing with a flurry. Averaging 10.7 points this season, he has scored 14.5 in six postseason games. He is Kentucky's all-time steals leader, and his defense against Cleaves is the area where his influence will be most felt today.

"I think he's probably best penetrating," Turner said of Cleaves, a junior. "He makes a lot of big shots. He's really quick. I'll have to be smart and aggressive on defense.

"I can't give him any open looks, or let him penetrate wherever he wants. I've got to be in his face at all times."

Cleaves and Michigan State probably can't afford another game like he had against Oklahoma in Friday's semifinal. He hit just three of 14 shots, and matched two assists with six turnovers. He has self-destructed on offense before. In two December losses to Duke and UConn -- both potential Final Four opponents -- he shot a combined 5-for-32.

"I was more disappointed in my turnover ratio than my shooting [on Friday]," he said. "My shooting percentage is never going to be good. The ball's in my hands 90 percent of the time, and a lot of that is with the clock running down and me forcing up a shot."

For the season, Cleaves is shooting 41.1 percent from the field and 29.2 percent from the three-point line. Still, he averages 11.8 points and 7 assists a game, and his leadership is what drives the Spartans.

"There have been nights when everybody tries to make Mateen out to be something he isn't," Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said. "He can shoot the ball. But what he's best at is letting the game come to him and making other players better.

"We need him to shoot the ball well, but we're playing a very good team. If he's 8-for-12, fine. If he's 3-for-12, then we'll have to find another way to get it done. And that's what we've done this season."