NCAA final: Virginia, Texas Tech go for their first national titles

Texas Tech and Virginia are each going for their first national titles backed by hard-nosed defenses that were among the best in the nation.

The Cavaliers have scored an average of nearly 1.14 points per possession while scoring on a little better than 50 percent of their possessions in the tournament. That was slightly better than the Red Raiders, who averaged 1.08 points per possession while scoring on about 48 percent of their tournament possessions.

Virginia continues to play slower-paced games overall by averaging 57.8 possessions per game in the tournament. Texas Tech averages 64.4 possessions.

Yet while Virginia's offense has been more efficient in the tournament, the Red Raiders' defense has been tougher statistically. Texas Tech has held all five of its tournament opponents to less than a point per possession.

The Red Raiders were the No. 1 seed in the Big 12 Tournament and were bounced by last-place West Virginia on March 13 in what was probably the most surprising result from the major conference tournaments.

Texas Tech could become the first team since Connecticut in 1999 to win a title the same year of its first Final Four. This breakthrough by the Red Raiders would be even more sudden.

Road closures around U.S. Bank Stadium continue

After the final game wraps up on Monday night, some roads in downtown Minneapolis around Nicollet Mall will remain closed until later this week.

City officials say Chicago Avenue between Fourth and Sixth streets and Norm McGrew Place between Third and Fourth streets will be closed through Friday. The Nicollet Mall area from Eighth to 12th streets will also remain closed through Wednesday.

Temporary barriers will be removed by Tuesday morning. Bike facilities and sidewalks are reopening beginning Tuesday.