INDIANAPOLIS - West Virginia plays for a spot in the national championship game tonight and it is quite possible that the play of Joe Mazzulla holds the key to the Mountaineers' chances of success.

Go ahead, pick which one of those might have seemed more absurd a year ago, a month ago or even a week ago.

Yet here the Mountaineers are, in a place they've not been in 51 years and throughout most of the last half century seemed unlikely ever to reach again. Shortly before 9 p.m. today - officially the tip time is 8:47, but that could vary - No. 6 West Virginia (31-6) faces blue blood No. 3 Duke (33-5) in the national semifinals at Lucas Oil Stadium. Butler (32-4) and Michigan State (28-8) play in the first semifinal at 6:07 p.m. and the winners meet Monday night for the NCAA championship.

Just as surprising as the presence of long-suffering West Virginia in the Final F7our is the place Mazzulla holds in the matchup. The combative little point guard, who may never fully recover from a serious shoulder injury he suffered 16 months ago, may not be the linchpin for the Mountaineers, but consider his importance:

"He was terrific the last time we played,'' Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said. "I hope he's not quite as terrific this time.''

In truth, Mazzulla could blend into the background tonight and not be noticed. It would not be unusual. Consider that his 17 points a week ago against Kentucky were a career high and his 11 rebounds and eight assists in that 2008 game with Duke were also career bests. Mazzulla is averaging less than 16 minutes per game and only four points and 1.8 rebounds. He has nearly as many fouls this season (217) as assists (228).

Shoot, when he hit a 3-pointer against Kentucky it was the first jump shot he'd made since 2008.

But consider, too, that Duke is one of the best teams in the country at defending the 3-pointer and there is a chance the Blue Devils can neutralize that part of West Virginia's game. Da'Sean Butler, Devin Ebanks and Kevin Jones - as always - will draw much of Duke's defensive attention.

So Mazzulla will not only be counted upon to handle the ball and score on drives to the basket and in transition, but to man the back end of a 1-3-1 zone that the Mountaineers figure to test against a Duke team that doesn't see much zone. And even if WVU plays man, it will be Mazzulla and Ebanks who will draw the assignment of guarding Duke's backcourt of South Regional MVP Nolan Smith and top scorer Jon Scheyer.

In other words, he's going to be heavily in the mix at both ends, and everyone knows it.

"He's been a big factor, especially of late,'' Scheyer said of Mazzulla. "For us it's just another guy, another weapon they have. But you respect him. He's a really good player. Really, watching that Kentucky game he had a huge impact. He's definitely a big part of their team and we need to be ready to guard him.''

When was the last time any opponent found it necessary to be concerned with Mazzulla, at least since his shoulder injury?

"You know, just getting him back has been a pleasure, just to have him back. He does so much for the team while he's on the floor,'' Butler said. "Just having another person that's out there that's passionate about defending the other team's best players or best guard or best big guy on the team. Joe is the first one to stick his hand in and tell [coach Bob Huggins], 'I want to guard that person, I want to do that.' He's just another leader on the floor.

"He does so much for the team that when he was out for a while, it was very difficult for the team to actually just gel. But when he got back, he's just done nothing but amaze everybody. But it's something we see every day, so [when he has a game like the one against Kentucky], nobody on the team is like, 'Wow.' "

If the Mountaineers are to play in their first national championship game since 1959, though, it may take another "wow" performance from West Virginia's most unlikely hero.

Reach Dave Hickman at 304-348-1734 or dphickm...@aol.com.