photo by: Nick Krug

The Kansas starting five relax on a golf cart while waiting to be shuttled to breakout interviews on Sunday, April 1, 2012 at the Superdome.

With tip time now less than six hours away, it’s time to start highlighting tonight’s national championship game between Kansas and Kentucky and looking at how these teams match up on paper.

Here’s a quick look at each team’s five starters…

photo by: Nick Krug

The Kansas starting five relax on a golf cart while waiting to be shuttled to breakout interviews on Sunday, April 1, 2012 at the Superdome.

KANSAS JAYHAWKS (32-6)
No. 2 seed Midwest Region

• Tyshawn Taylor, 6-3, guard
Bio: The man who makes KU’s offense go one of the best guards to come through Kansas during the Bill Self era. Taylor’s lightning quick first step and ability to create good looks for teammates all over the floor makes KU a tough team to defend. Most nights, he’ll give you as much good as bad but he always gives everything he has. 

Season stats: 16.7 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 48% FG, 68% FT

NCAA tournament: 12.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 40% FG, 55% FT

• Elijah Johnson, 6-4, guard
Bio: Has developed “Mr. Big Shot” reputation during the past handful games and has played the most aggressive and confident basketball of his KU career when it has mattered most. Mixes great athleticism and ability to get to the rim with a good three-point stroke, making him a tough matchup for opposing defenses.

Season stats: 10.0 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 43% FG, 70% FT

NCAA tournament: 13.5 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 51% FG, 43% FT

• Travis Releford, 6-6, forward
Bio: Quiet, smooth an a tough defender, Releford has the kind of all-around game that makes him a candidate to impact the game in any area on any night. Typically draws the defensive assignment on the opponent’s best offensive wing player and has enough size and quickness to be effective down low or on the perimeter.

Season stats: 8.5 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 50% FG, 64% FT

NCAA tournament: 8.3 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 44% FG, 64% FT

• Thomas Robinson , 6-10, forward
Bio: KU’s emotional leader and most dangerous offensive player. A beast on the block and fueled by power, Robinson also has enough range and quickness to hurt opposing defenses away from the paint. As a likely lottery pick in the June’s NBA Draft, Robinson appears to be playing his final game as a Jayhawk.

Season stats: 17.7 ppg, 11.8 rpg, 51% FG, 68% FT

NCAA tournament: 15.8 ppg, 12.5 rpg, 38% FG, 67% FT

• Jeff Withey, 7-0, center
Bio: The protector of the paint, Withey makes life difficult for opponents by blocking shots and altering several others. Withey has played some of his best basketball of the season during the tournament and his presence inside has taken a lot of the pressure off of Robinson.

Season stats: 9.2 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 55% FG, 79% FT

NCAA tournament: 8.5 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 56% FG, 74% FT

photo by: Nick Krug

Kentucky head coach John Calipari responds to a question about his thougts on meeting Bill Self and the Jayhawks again in the national title game during a press conference on Sunday, April 1, 2012 at the Superdome.

KENTUCKY WILDCATS (37-2)
No. 1 seed East Region

• Marquis Teague, 6-2, guard
Bio: Ranked as Rivals.com’s No. 5 player in the class of 2011, Teague has been Kentucky’s least-efficient option offensively. He makes just 44 percent of his twos and 31 percent of his threes, though he does average a team-high 4.8 assists per contest. The freshman also is a bit turnover-prone, leading UK with 107 giveaways.

Season stats: 9.9 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 41% FG, 72% FT

NCAA tournament: 13.2 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 49% FG, 78% FT

• Doron Lamb, 6-4, guard
Bio: Great shooter who doesn’t make a lot of mistakes. Lamb especially excels from the outside, where he’s made 47 percent of his long-range shots. A good free-throw shooter who has just 43 turnovers in UK’s 39 games.

Season stats: 13.5 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 47% FG, 83% FT

NCAA tournament: 15.4 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 54% FG, 72% FT

• Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, 6-7, forward
Bio: The No. 3-ranked player in Rivals.com’s class of 2011, Kidd-Gilchrist is an athletic small forward who does a bit of everything for the Wildcats. He’s dangerous on the offensive glass and also draws a lot of opponent fouls, ranking second on Kentucky with 188 free-throw attempts. Was named South region most outstanding player.

Season stats: 11.9 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 49% FG, 75% FT

NCAA tournament: 12.6 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 54% FG, 76% FT

• Terrence Jones, 6-8, forward
Bio: The highly touted forward has quietly improved his game after being named SEC freshman of the year a season ago. Jones is a good defender, as he’s second on the team in both blocks and steals. Like Kidd-Gilchrist, he attacks the offensive glass and has a habit of drawing fouls and getting to the line.

Season stats: 12.4 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 50% FG, 63% FT

NCAA tournament: 12.0 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 50% FG, 50% FT

• Anthony Davis, 6-10, center
Bio: Named by numerous publications as national player of the year, Davis is most known as an intimidating defensive presence. He leads the nation with 180 blocks and rejects 14 percent of opponents’ two-pointers while he’s in. Offensively, the ultra-athletic Davis is best in transition where he can use his long wingspan and leaping ability. He’s made 67 percent of his twos this year, which illustrates the fact that most of his shots are high-percentage ones.

Season stats: 14.4 ppg, 10.2 rpg, 64% FG, 71% FT

NCAA tournament: 15.2 ppg, 11.6 rpg, 62% FG, 76% FT

photo by: Nick Krug

Confetti flies as members of the basketball band perform during a parade around the French Quarter on Sunday, April 1, 2012 in New Orleans.