By GEORGE MAHL – Sports Editor

The NCAA Men’s Final Four begins today in San Antonio. Duke, Conneticut, Oklahoma State and Georgia Tech will battle it out for the Natonal Championship. The first game will pit Oklahoma State going against Georgia Tech, while the nightcap features the Blue Devils battling the Huskies.

West St. John Head Coach Antoine Edwards and Lutcher Head Coach Mike McNamara are predicting an exciting Final Four this year.

“I think there are going to be some good games this weekend,” said West St. John Head Coach Antoine Edwards. “I believe that U-Conn will win it, but I would also say that Oklahoma State would probably be considered the darkhorse of the four.”

The Duke-Conneticut game will feature a couple of good coaches that have quality programs. Mike Krysweski will lead the Blue Devils, while Jim Callhoun will lead the Huskies on to the court.

Duke will be attempting to win its third National Championship under Kry-sweski. “The athletes that they (Duke) have makes them good. When you have a program like Duke it sort of sets the tone for the future. For these kids, winning is in their heart,” Edwards said.

One of the people that has led Duke to this year’s Final Four is Slidell native Chris Duhon. “He is a big plus for them,” said Edwards. “He was able to stand tall during a difficult season Duke had a few year’s back.”

Lutcher Head Basketball coach Mike McNamara has known Duhon for several years.

“I remember coaching Chris Duhon at a UNO dribbling camp a few years back. I guess you could say this was before he made a name for himself.”

McNamara, who coached against Duhon when the Duke star prepped at Salem, said he does not talk to Duhon as often as he would like, but does communicate with his mother frequently. “I talk to Chris’ mom about every 10 days,” McNamara said. McNamara recalled a time when Duhon was making his decision about college.

“Kansas, Notre Dame, Texas and Duke wanted him. We sat down and he started to ask ‘why go here over there.’ He took about two or three weeks to think about it,” he said.

Duhon is not the only person McNamara knows about that is playing in the Final Four. He coached Georgia Tech starter Clarence Moore while Moore played at Archbishop Hannan.

“I am kind of torn between who I want to see win,” he admitted.

Some experts believe that the winner of the Duke-Conneticut game will win the National Championship.

“I agree with that,” said Edwards.

Both McNamara and Edwards think the Duke-U-Conn game will feature an intriguing coaching matchup. “You have got two great coaches going against one another in this game,” McNamara said.”Two guys that have built quality programs,” is how Edwards desribes the coaches.

The Lutcher head coach said one of the things to look for in the Duke game is the Blue Devils style of play.

“Coach K’s style has changed a lot since the 80’s and 90’s. These days, Duke has much more guard play than in the past when they had inside guys like Cherokee Parks, Corey Magette and Christian Laetner,” McNamara said.

“I think it may come down to how healthy Emaku Okafor (Conneticut center) is,” explained Edwards. ” He is certainly is big factor on defense.”

Oklahoma State is considered to be the least likely to win the championship of the four.

“I have a lot of respect for Eddie Sutton and his program. They have come togther in the past when times were tough,” said McNamara.

The tough times McNamara was referring to was a plane crash a few years ago involving the Oklahoma State basketball team.

Sutton also had similar success at Arkansas and Kentucky.

He also said Oklahoma State should not be considered the sentimental favorite.

“I honestly think some people just don’t want to see Duke win because of their successful history.”

First game is set for 5:07pm