Point guard

Ricky Moore shut down Scoonie Penn the last time they played, when Penn was a sophomore at Boston College. Penn's supporting cast is much improved, and so is his game. Khalid El-Amin is coming off an 0-for-12 shooting performance against Gonzaga. Edge: Ohio State.

Shooting guard

Both teams use three-guard sets, and neither Moore nor Ohio State's Brian Brown is a big offensive threat. Moore's biggest job will be guarding Penn, while Brown could either guard Moore or El-Amin, who's considered something of a defensive liability. Edge: Connecticut.

Small forward

This is a matchup of the two big scorers. Redd is averaging 21 points a game in the tournament, shooting 34 of 71 from the field. Richard Hamilton, who like Redd plays a great deal out on the perimeter, is considered on the top college players in the country. Edge: Even.

Power forward

Kevin Freeman has been Connecticut's unsung hero throughout the season and in the tournament. Jason Singleton plays a similar role for the Buckeyes. Known as a defensive stopper, he could spend some time on Hamilton as well. Edge: Connecticut.

Center

Everyone was in agreement after Ohio State beat St. John's that Ken Johnson was the difference. He might be a little too big and quick for Connecticut's Jake Voskuhl, who is foul prone. But if Voskuhl comes up big today, the Huskies will be playing Monday night. Edge: Ohio State.

Bench

Ohio State's subs contributed only 14 points, 13 rebounds and four assists in its last two victories, but forward George Reese is capable of a big game, as evidenced by his 27-point performance against Murray State. Forward Edmund Saunders averaged nine points and more than eight rebounds last weekend for Connecticut. Edge: Connecticut.

Coach

O'Brien is 3-23 against Calhoun and hasn't beaten him since 1988, a stretch of 18 straight games. That's not a positive sign, but whatever more he accomplishes this season is a bonus. Though Calhoun finally got the Huskies to the Final Four, the pressure on him to get a shot at Duke is still enormous. Edge: Even.

Pub Date: 3/27/99