Well, they made it. How far can they go?

Three years removed from a painful one-and-out in the Big East tournament (a game which John Feinstein somehow continues to ignore), John Thompson III's ability to craft a winning style of play has captivated the college basketball world. As its 100th anniversary season draws to a close this extended weekend, Georgetown has pursued a path of steady progress nearly unbroken since a Jan. 12 loss to Pitt. Even with a off night against Syracuse in late February, it's been a wonderful ride.

Their opponent knows the feeling. Ohio State hasn't lost since Jan. 9th, and enters the semifinal winners of 21 straight. Despite the lofty streak, Ohio State enters the Final Four as as slight underdog in some minds against a methodical Hoya attack. To take this position, however, ignores the fact that Ohio State has won 34 of 37 (with losses against three teams who were ranked #1 this season) with a great balance of inside and outside strength. For Georgetown to end this streak will take another game where every possession will be vital, and an ability to adjust to Ohio State's inside and outside game.

Don't confuse this Ohio State team with the group which surrendered 39 points and 22 rebounds inside to the Hoyas in last season's NCAA's. Roy Hibbert and Jeff Green went to town on the Buckeyes last season, but only one starter returns from that team. So where did Ohio State start the rebuilding? In the middle.

Freshman Greg Oden leads the Buckeye charge. An all-everything this season, only Texas' Kevin Durant came close to challenging Oden's dominance on the national scene this season. Oden is averaging 14 points and 8.5 rebounds in the tournament, with his only setbacks to date being foul trouble in a pair of games. Roy Hibbert may be among the taller opponents Oden has faced, but his work down low and continuing strength as a defender poses the toughest challenge Roy Hibbert will see in his college career. Oden will get his points, the only question is how much damage he will do to get them.

What has really propelled the Buckeyes into the Final Four, however, has been the play of his teammates. Freshman Mike Conley would be a huge star on any other team, but aside Oden he doesn't get the credit for being the key playmaker on this team. He is an exceptional assist man and is shooting 58% from two point range, though only 30 percent from three. Joined by forward Ron Lewis (21.8 ppg in NCAA play, 100% (21-21) from the line), Ohio State possesses a characteristic shared by Georgetown and each of the remaining teams--they are multi-dimensional and can compensate if a player is sidelined or not performing at the highest level.

Ohio State can play slow or up-tempo. The Buckeyes average less than 12 turnovers a game and are shooting 49% from the field, giving opponents little room for error. OSU is averaging 14 fouls per game but returns the favor by averaging 21 points per game from the line. Georgetown cannot afford a foul shooting contest in this one: while OSU to just nine free throws in the game last year, they made all nine.

Georgetown has seen three styles emerge late in the season: 1) the "got the big lead, then hold on" game (Villanova, BC), 2) the "get behind, then pick it up" game (Notre Dame, Vanderbilt) and 3) the "defensive lockdown" game (Pitt, UNC). The latter gives opponents the most concern. Georgetown's key in the Big East and Eastern Regional finals was keeping Roy Hibbert and Jeff Green in the game--it's essential to do so Saturday. The same holds true for OSU as well, because if Oden sits, the Buckeyes must rely on Conley and Lewis against a taller GU front line to carry the team.

Since it's been so long since OSU actually lost, how does one defeat them? In games where OSU has been behind, good outside shooting has been a driver. In the end, though, teams that are shooting 50 percent from the field are tough to beat on either side of the ball. If the media contrasts Georgetown from the teams of a generation ago, this year's Hoyas would do well to pick up an old trick from their forefathers' playbook and apply the kind of midcourt defense to rattle Ohio State as it did last year, allowing Green and Hibbert to assert themselves inside.

Here's a look at some potential matchups:

Jonathan Wallace vs. Mike Conley. Conley is quick off the ball and is adept at getting open for the shot. Both teams figure to set screens for these guards to go to work--one of whom will work on the drive, one mostly from outside. A key for Wallace? Avoid the foul. Nearly 40 percent of Conley's points come from the line. A key for Conley? Avoid the turnover, where he has averaged three per game in NCAA play.
Jessie Sapp vs. Jamar Butler. Sapp may see defensive assignments on Conley, but figures to open with Butler, the remaining starter from last season's game. Butler is a strong three point shooter and while OSU doesn't live by the three, he could be a big contributor. Sapp must also think about playing 30+ minutes and choose his battles carefully.
Dajuan Summers vs.Ron Lewis . Lewis has been a star in the tournament to date, and rarely has been contained. Summers' defensive prowess remains largely underrated but as a freshman, it will be interesting to see how he seeks to contain Lewis in the open court. Expect Patrick Ewing Jr. to see time to test Lewis as well.
Jeff Green vs. Ivan Harris. Harris has been somewhat quiet in post-season play and the Buckeyes may throw a number of bodies to hamper Green on the offensive end. Green has been unusually effective in peaking late in games and needs to be able to put Georgetown in a position to win.

Roy Hibbert vs. Greg Oden. Oden is the media favorite in this matchup, but it remains to be seen how Georgetown will guard him off the ball. Hibbert's recent efforts with Aaron Gray and Tyler Hansbrough proved effective (at least from then field, if not the line), but Oden is clearly better than both of them. Both centers must avoid early fouls in the first eight minutes of the game, and Hibbert simply cannot pick up the cheap foul on the perimeter.
GU bench vs. Carolina bench. Georgetown is portrayed as the school with the thin bench, but gets valuable time from Ewing and Rivers. Vernon Macklin remains due for a breakout performance and a few minutes against Oden might be the ticket. Ohio State will go eight deep with the streaky shot of Daequan Cook (45% FG, 42% from three) being a wild card off the bench

Keys to the game:
1. Fouls. Ohio State wins games at the line. Georgetown must know when to hack and when to back off.
2. Streaky shooting Both teams are capable of scoring droughts but usually compensate defensively. Should the Hoyas be able to control OSU's outside shot, it must prevent the dribble drive from players like Conley.
3. Zone Defense. The zone shuts down the back door but opens up the outside shot. Will it be a factor for both teams? Thad Matta may need the zone to check Green but the Hoyas have height. A zone on Oden may be needed if fouls enter the picture.

For Ohio State to win, it plays to its strengths--Oden inside, Lewis from mid range, and Conley on the drive. The Buckeyes aren't afraid of the late game stretch and gutted out wins against Xavier and Tennessee by being a big second half team. Having seen how UNC withered late, the Buckeyes won't make it a repeat performance, and OSU still goes as far as Oden can taken them.

Georgetown's strengths have served them well, but one piece of the puzzle has bee absent this season--the three point shooting clinic. Early success from three could be a big plus for georgetown, but rebounding off the three even more so. Georgetown enjoyed a +13 rebounding edge on Ohio State last year and that won't happen this time, but second chance points should determine this one late.

Last year, we wrote "By most accounts...Georgetown plays a sufficiently unorthodox style that the Buckeyes have to be ready for. If the Hoyas can keep it close and enter the final stretch with its five best men on the floor, the Hoyas are more than capable... and a strong first half would really set the pace." Sounds like a good recipe a year later.

It's been too good of a season to end Saturday and the Hoyas have to play at their best to make it happen. Here's to a 68-61 finish and one final stop on an incredible ride.