We're closing in on a highly-anticipated showdown between third-ranked Notre Dame and No. 4 UConn in the Big East final.

Both teams looked impressive in dismissing teams it had lost to during the regular season in Monday's semifinals but with all due respect to West Virginia and St. John's, this will be a much sterner tests for both teams.

"We'll know more after (tonight)," UConn coach Geno Auriemma said after the semifinal win over St. John's. "We are playing one of the top two teams in the country. The challenge ahead of us is a lot greater than it was (against Rutgers or St. John's)."

Notre Dame swept the regular-season series and has beaten UConn in the last three meetings so it will be a good test to see if the Huskies truly do have all of their swagger and mojo back.

"We know any time any time you play a team like Notre Dame you are going to have to give them your best game," UConn sophomore guard Bria Hartley said. "We know by playing them before that you have to come out and have to handle pressure and take care of the ball.

"I think we enjoy it. I think we like playing a team like that and we know that no matter how many times we play them it is going to be a great game."