V-PREVIEW | National Championship Game | Syracuse-Kansas | Monday, 9:21 p.m. ET

In October, 320 teams started practice with the ultimate goal of a national championship. Two are left, and on Monday night either Roy Williams or Jim Boeheim will end their pursuit of that elusive first title. These two coaches have had brilliant careers. Combined, they've appeared in seven Final Fours and won more than 1,000 games.

	Roy Williams took the Jayhawks to four Final Fours.

Williams' accomplishments are amazing. He's averaged 28 wins over the past 15 seasons, with 418 career wins. He's taken Kansas to four Final Fours and to one national title game (1991, a loss to Duke and another terrific coach, Mike Krzyzewski).

This is Boeheim's third trip to the Final Four, and each time he's reached the title game. In 1987, Syracuse lost to Indiana on Keith Smart's shot from the corner. And in 1996, the Orange fell to Kentucky and yet another great coach, Rick Pitino, Boeheim's former assistant.

Boeheim has 652 career wins -- no question, he has Hall of Fame numbers.

Boeheim bleeds Syracuse Orange. He's been at the school for more than four decades, starting as a backcourt mate of the great Dave Bing.

Over the years, he moved from the assistant coach's ranks to the head coach's role. I'm so glad Syracuse named the Carrier Dome court after him.

The No. 3 seed from the East Region, Syracuse beat Oklahoma in the Elite Eight, Texas in the Final Four, and now will try for the Big 12 trifecta vs. Kansas on Monday night. In the tourney's second round, the Orange defeated Oklahoma State. In the regular season, they beat Missouri, another Big 12 team.

Kansas' road to the title game was arguably the most difficult, since the Jayhawks came out of the West Region (as the No. 2 seed), which was by consensus the toughest bracket. Kansas had to beat Duke and then preseason No. 1 Arizona in the Elite Eight just to get to New Orleans.

One of the key questions heading into the championship game is this: Can Syracuse stop the Kansas running game? The Jayhawks have such a great transition game. They put on a fast-break clinic vs. Marquette. Syracuse can't get caught napping -- the Orange must get back defensively to keep it a five-on-five contest.

Kansas has the senior leadership of Kirk Hinrich on the perimeter and Nick Collison inside, plus super sophs Aaron Miles the explosive Keith Langford. Imagine how strong Kansas would be if super soph forward Wayne Simien hadn't gotten hurt!

Meanwhile, Syracuse tries to isolate diaper dandy Carmelo Anthony with favorable matchups. Another key question is: Does Kansas have anyone who can negate Anthony's phenomenal offensive ability?

The Jayhawks put on a fast-break clinic vs. Marquette.

Anthony's performance Saturday vs. Texas (career-high 33 points, 12-of-19 from floor, 14 boards) was the best I've seen by a freshman at the Final Four in my 24 years at ESPN -- even better than Pervis Ellison, who led Louisville to the national title as a freshman in 1986.

Ellison had 36 points and 24 rebounds in two Final Four games, and he was named the Most Outstanding Player.

Anthony has been superb, but it's not just about him. Fellow freshman Gerry McNamara is a tough customer. His tenacity reminds me of former NBA guard Scott Skiles, and he can shoot the lights out. The Syracuse bench has been outstanding, with freshman guard Billy Edelin, sophomore guard Josh Pace and junior forward Jeremy McNeil.

Syracuse does a great job with spacing on offense. The players stay about 15 feet apart, they move the ball and isolate guys like Anthony for one-on-one maneuvers. The offensive concepts and sets are excellent.

But remember this: Georgetown center Mike Sweetney averaged 30.7 points in three games against Syracuse this season, which tells me that a quality post player like Collison will be a tough matchup for the Orange.

I feel that this will give Kansas the edge in a close contest. Yes, I believe Roy Williams will win his first championship and cut down the nets Monday night in New Orleans.