By Jim Vertuno
The Associated Press

SAN ANTONIO - Any discussion about Texas must start with T.J. Ford. The stellar point guard has grabbed the headlines and the highlights of his team's play in the NCAA tournament.

But the Longhorns insist they're not a one-man show. Coach Rick Barnes has put together a deep and physical lineup that can wear down opponents over 40 minutes and provide the perfect complement to one of this season's most exciting players.

Brandon Mouton is a scorer. James Thomas a rebounder. Royal Ivey is the defensive stopper on the perimeter.

Eight players have led Texas in scoring this season, and all have played key roles in getting Texas to the brink of the Final Four.

"It's like a big puzzle," Ivey said. "What you want to do is fit the pieces. We've got specialists for rebounding, 3-point shooting and defense. Once you do that all together, it's great."

The pieces fit just well enough in an 82-78 win over Connecticut that sent Texas (25-6) into Sunday's South Regional final against Michigan State (22-12). A win will send the Longhorns to their first Final Four since 1947, when the tournament had an eight-team field. Texas advanced to the South Regional final in 1990.

Against Connecticut, Ford had to sit out five minutes of the second half with foul trouble, but Mouton scored a career-high 27 points. Thomas, who averages a double-double, held his own against UConn center Emeka Okafor with 13 points and 15 rebounds.

"We have a lot of different weapons," Ford said. "With the attention that I get all the time, people don't realize the other guys on this team who are putting up big numbers."

All those role players make Ford even more dangerous, said Michigan State coach Tom Izzo.

"He is capable of making all four other players better," Izzo said. "That, to me, is the sign of a great player."

Everything Texas does begins with Ford, who can start a play with a penetrating drive to the basket. He can take the shot himself or look for the last-second pass to Thomas underneath or go outside for Mouton, Brian Boddicker or Sydmill Harris.

Those three have combined for 141 3-pointers this season.

"We've got a lot of guys who can step out and knock it down," Boddicker said.

If they miss, Thomas is counted on to grab the rebounds. He had seven offensive boards Friday night against the Huskies and epitomizes the Longhorns' tough reputation. Texas outrebounded UConn 52-41.

"A guy like that you have to respect, or you'll get your head knocked off," said Michigan State's Aloysius Anagonye.

Ivey said the Longhorns don't resent Ford's national exposure, even though it means they're often overlooked.

"The guy's earned the spotlight," Ivey said. "You can't really hate him."