By MIKE LOPRESTI
Gannett News Service

Thank you. Thank you, very much. Oh. You've not come to congratulate the lucky fool who picked every team right for the Final Four in his NCAA bracket? I closed my eyes and hit the bull's eye. For once.

But now that the sun has risen in the West, it is time to start thinking about the gang headed for San Antonio. Or as I've called them for two weeks ... my guys.

First thing you notice about my guys is how many luminaries are coaching them. We are talking the red carpet at the Oscars.

Oklahoma State's Eddie Sutton is third among active coaches with 755 wins.

Duke's Mike Krzyzewski is sixth with 694. Plus, need we mention, 10 Final Fours.

Connecticut's Jim Calhoun is seventh with 678.

That's a successful threesome with some mileage. It is like inviting Peter, Paul and Mary to the Final Four.

Plus Georgia Tech's Paul Hewitt, who is rising fast at 40.

If sentiment chooses, it'll be title-less Sutton next Monday. Krzyzewski has three national championships, Calhoun one. And Hewitt has time. But as Sutton said, "I won't be coaching forever."

Next thing about my guys is their defense: basketball by strangulation.

Take Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets have held the leading scorers from their four Tournament opponents to a combined 13-for-52 shooting.

Oklahoma State has allowed only 55.5 points a game in the Tournament. Opponents have shot only 35.5 percent against Connecticut.

And Duke keeps sending out Chris Duhon, whose injured ribs apparently feel like a golf cart is rolling on them, to torment the other team's star guard.

Another thing about my guys is how they've gotten this far.

Georgia Tech has played brinkmanship for two weeks, winning its tournament games by 5, 3, 5 and 8 points in overtime. It is just the sort of gall you would expect from a team that marched into Durham earlier this month and ended Duke's 41-game home winning streak, right there in front of all Krzyzewskiville.

Connecticut has been like a train rolling through the first two weeks. The Huskies' average winning margin in the Tournament is 17.5, and they have out-rebounded the opposition by a startling 170-118.

"What all that means," Calhoun said, "is we have played great basketball at the right time of year."

Oklahoma State has lost once in 22 games ... a steady, relentless march to San Antonio.

And Duke? Destiny might as well wear a blue sweater in the regional. How else to explain Krzyzewski's 10-1 record in regional title games?

If Christian Laettner is not burying a turn-around prayer at the buzzer one year, then Xavier's indispensable big man is fouling out with 12 1/2 minutes to go in another year. Anthony Myles picked up his fifth foul Sunday only 6 seconds after his fourth, just as his substitute was headed for the scorer's table.

Duke is forever. Or so it seems.

One last thing about my guys is the good story lines.

Oklahoma State? Sutton can talk about his career. John Lucas can talk about transferring from the mess at Baylor. Everybody can talk about the program recovering from the plane crash three years ago where two players and eight other members of the traveling party died.

Connecticut? Calhoun can talk about how he's beaten Krzyzewski three straight times, including one that really hurt - the 1999 national championship game.

Georgia Tech can talk about how to win a regional with your leading scorer on the shelf.

And Duke can talk about the courage of Duhon, going 76 of 80 minutes in the regional. He scored only 10 points in two games, but could not have been more valuable on the floor.

Famous coaches. Ferocious defense. Intriguing plots. My guys.