ALBANY, N.Y. - The big question involving Iowa State's Cael Sanderson seems to be not whether he will lose a match, but will anyone score an offensive point against him.    And will anyone be able to go the full seven minutes with the Iowa State senior who is expected to put an exclamation point on the greatest wrestling career in NCAA history this weekend.    Sanderson, 154-0 in his career, is pursuing his fourth national title at the NCAA meet Thursday through Saturday at the Pepsi Arena in Albany, N.Y. With five more wins, Sanderson will become the first wrestler to finish a four-year career unbeaten.    "It's kind of weird if I think about it, but I really don't think about it very often,'' Sanderson said of his career. "It's gone by so fast. That's a lot of matches. It's hard to believe I've wrestled that many matches and now it's almost over.''    Oklahoma State's Pat Smith, who lost five times in college, is the only wrestler who owns four NCAA crowns.    In 35 matches this season, Sanderson has destroyed the competition. No wrestler has been able to score an offensive point against the Cyclone 197-pounder.    Top-ranked Minnesota is the favorite to repeat as team champion. The Gophers return 8 of their record-setting 10 All-Americans from last year's team.    Minnesota has already won the National Duals and the Big Ten dual and tournament titles this season.    "After we won it last year and with our performance at nationals, you put those two together, a lot of people said it was a one-shot deal," Gophers coach J Robinson said. "We want to come here and make a statement that Minnesota wrestling is for real."    Only one wrestler, Lehigh's second-ranked Jon Trenge, has made it through an entire seven-minute match with Sanderson this season. Sanderson has won every other match by fall, technical fall or injury default.     Sanderson owns wins of 16-5 and 6-1 over Trenge.    "Trenge tried to slow Cael down by grabbing his elbows," ISU coach Bobby Douglas said. "Trenge didn't look like he was trying to score any points. Cael is always trying to score points. We will wrestle Trenge differently at nationals."    Douglas said he will do everything he can to help Sanderson stay focused in Albany.    "Cael will be available for interviews just like the other athletes, but we will make sure he is not distracted," Douglas said. "There will be a layer of protection around Cael because it's going to be a zoo with all the attention focused on him."    Douglas said he also has to keep an eye on the autograph-seekers.    "Cael attracts kids like flies," Douglas said.    Sanderson said he is prepared for his final college event.    "I would rather have the pressure and have done as well as I have than to have lost," Sanderson said. "When I am on the mat, that's when the fun begins."    Sanderson said he has a simple way of dealing with the streak.    "I don't think about the streak at all," Sanderson said. "Every day I wake up and I haven't won any matches yet that day. I have to prove myself every day."    Douglas said Sanderson seems unfazed by all the attention his streak has generated.    "Cael's done a great job focusing on his matches," Douglas said. "He has things under control. He goes out there and just worries about scoring points. He is not concerned about anything else."    Nebraska coach Mark Manning marvels at what Sanderson has done.    "People say pressure gets to everyone, but Cael seems to block everything out," Manning said. "To never lose over this long a period, it's incredible. It's mind-boggling."    Douglas said he is amazed that Sanderson has continued to improve. Sanderson moved up to 197 this year after winning three titles at 184.    "I have never seen a wrestler as dominant as Cael," Douglas said. "He is wrestling with more power and being more physical this year. He just keeps adding new weapons to his arsenal. He is always looking for ways to improve."    Iowa coach Jim Zalesky, a three-time NCAA champion, won the final 89 matches of his career.    "My streak wasn't talked about until my last year," Zalesky said. "Cael's streak has been talked about ever since his freshman year, so he's gone four years living under the pressure of the streak. That to me is what is most impressive. People don't realize how hard it is when you have a streak like that and it keeps getting brought up. You can't tell that he's under any pressure."    "Cael has set a standard that people can try to chase and look up to. What he's done might be the hardest record to beat in any sport."    The Gophers will be tough to beat, but a group of five teams that includes No. 2 Iowa, No. 3 Michigan, No. 4 Oklahoma State, No. 5 Oklahoma and No. 6 Iowa State all have a chance to finish in the top three.    The Hawkeyes had won six straight NCAA team titles before finishing second last season.    Iowa has a pair of top-ranked qualifiers in senior Mike Zadick (149) and freshman Steve Mocco (heavyweight). The Hawkeyes have eight qualifiers, but Zadick is the only returning All-American. Zadick was third last season.     "We always preach that anything is possible," Zalesky said. "We've got eight guys competing and right now our philosophy is that we've got eight guys going for first. You can't worry about what Minnesota or anybody else does, you have to take care of yourself and then you might have a chance."    Fresno State's Stephen Abas is seeking his third NCAA title at 125 pounds.    Josh Kosheck of Edinboro (174) and John Lockhart of Illinois (heavyweight) also return to defend their titles.    Here is a weight-by-weight breakdown of this year's NCAA tournament:    125 pounds  Fresno State's Stephen Abas already owns a pair of NCAA titles. Abas is one of the best wrestlers in collegiate history, but he is overshadowed by Sanderson in one of the sport's best senior classes ever. The battle at this weight will be for second place behind Abas with Minnesota's second-ranked Leroy Vega, third last year, a strong contender to make the finals. Oklahoma State junior Skylar Holman also has a legitimate shot at the finals. Don't count out Iowa's Luke Eustice, who was second in the Big Ten. Sesker's pick: Abas.    133 pounds  Oklahoma State sophomore Johnny Thompson is the top returning finisher in this class after placing second behind Iowa senior Eric Juergens in the 2001 NCAA finals. But Thompson is not the favorite. Minnesota's top-ranked Ryan Lewis, who pinned Thompson early this season, is a slight favorite over Thompson. Oklahoma's Witt Durden, third in the nation last year, is another top contender. Sesker's pick: Thompson.    141 pounds  This weight class may be as wide-open as any in the tournament. Navy's Mark Conley, fifth in the nation last year, is ranked No. 1. Arizona State's Eric Larkin, third last year, is ranked fifth. Virginia Tech's Sean Gray, sixth last year, is ranked second. Other top contenders are Northern Iowa's third-ranked Dylan Long and Iowa State's fourth-ranked Aaron Holker. Iowa's Luke Moffitt has come on late in the season, winning the Big Ten title. Sesker's pick: Larkin.    149 pounds  Iowa senior Mike Zadick has been on a season-long quest to not only win a national title, but to finish unbeaten. Zadick enters the national meet with a 31-0 record. Zadick was third in the country last year. Second-ranked Jared Lawrence of Minnesota may be the top challenger for Zadick. Lawrence, sixth in the nation in 2001, fell 4-3 to Zadick in the Big Ten finals. Oklahoma's Jared Frayer is another dangerous wrestler. Frayer beat Zadick in the quarterfinals at nationals last year before Zadick avenged the loss in the third-place match. Zadick rallied to beat Frayer in a wild 21-19 match at January's National Duals after falling behind 11-0. Lock Haven senior JaMarr Billman, ranked third, is another contender. The talented Billman was fifth at nationals last year. Sesker's pick: Zadick.    157 pounds  Top-ranked Bryan Snyder of Nebraska came within an eyelash of winning a national championship last year. Snyder lost in double-overtime to Iowa's T.J. Williams in the finals. Snyder has not lost since, winning all 29 matches his senior seaso