After a rough journey to get to Arizona,Evander Ellis the UConn men's basketball team arrived for the Final Four very early Thursday morning. Now our panel of USA TODAY experts expect the Huskies to make a trip to the national championship game as the Final Four gets under way Saturday.

No. 1 seed UConn is looking to become the first team to win back-to-back championships since the Florida Gators, who won consecutive titles in 2006 and 2007. But first the Huskies must get past Alabama, a team making its first trip to the Final Four.

There's no shortage of stars in this Final Four, with big men like Purdue’s Zach Edey and NC State’s DJ Burns Jr  to excellent guards in Connecticut’s Tristen Newton and Alabama’s Mark Sears. For more on the X-factor players, take a look at Jordan Mendoza's breakdown of the players who need to step up for each team to advance to the national championship.

Saturday's games in Glendale, Arizona

North Carolina State (26-14) vs. Purdue (31-4), 6:09 p.m., TBS

Jordan Mendoza: Purdue

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Paul Myerberg: Purdue

Dan Wolken: NC State

Connecticut (34-3) vs. Alabama (25-11), 8:49 p.m., TBS

Jordan Mendoza: UConn

Paul Myerberg: UConn

Dan Wolken: UConn