ATHENS, Greece - Whether you're awed by Michael Phelps or worn out by the mere mention of his name, listen up. He'll be hitting the pool for the last time at these games Saturday, so it's worth tuning in for one last glimpse, especially since he could be wrapping up one of the most dominant performances by any Olympian.

The women's 100 meters in track is even more compelling. The dash to crown the world's fastest woman is wide open because reigning Olympic champion Marion Jones failed to qualify, reigning world champion Kelli White gave up her crown after admitting she used steroids and successor Torri Edwards was bounced for taking tablets that contained a banned substance.

Then there's the U.S. men's basketball team. They showed a glimpse of cohesion in the fourth quarter of their last game, but will need 40 minutes of it against Lithuania, the new favorite in this tournament based on how lousy the Americans have looked.

Whew, what a day Saturday will be in Athens - and for sofa-bound channel-changers in America.

Considering the quality and the quantity (32 medals from 14 sports) of the action, it's wise to plan ahead. Grab the TV listings and a highlighter so you can plot out a viewing strategy.

The best stuff will be on NBC, starting with the basketball game live during the day. Prime-time action includes the women's 100, Phelps' race and more action from the track, the pool and, of course, the beach volleyball courts.

More prime-worthy action will be shown after midnight EDT, such as cycling's track finals, American weightlifter Cheryl Haworth competing in the super heavyweight finals, and finals in women's discus and heptathlon.

For the majority of the medals, turn to the cable networks, primarily CNBC.

Phelps' quest to meet or beat Mark Spitz's record of seven gold medals at one Olympics dissolved days ago, when he got two bronze. But he was heading into the 100-meter butterfly finals Friday night almost certain to win a fifth individual medal, which would be one more than Spitz and the most by a swimmer at one Olympics.

If so, he will go into the last day of swimming with a chance for eight overall medals at these games, which would match the record set by Russian gymnast Aleksandr Dityatin at the boycotted 1980 Moscow Games.

The clincher for Phelps could come in the 400-medley relay. And it just so happens that the United States is 10-for-10 in the event.

The only hangup is whether Phelps actually swims Saturday night. He would still be eligible for a medal if he swims a leg on the prelim team Friday afternoon and it's hard to imagine coaches leaving him off both squads when he's this close to such a prestigious achievement.

Among the remarkable aspects of Phelps' Olympics is that every event he's entered, he's finished with a trip to the medals stand. No matter how often it happens, he never tires of leaning over to have the ribbon hung on his neck and a laurel wreath placed on his head.

"It is the greatest feeling in the world, standing on the podium, listening to the national anthem," Phelps said Thursday night. "I can't explain how exciting it is."

The women's 100 meters has provided the same kind of golden excitement for Americans at every Olympics since Los Angeles.

But with Jones, White and Edwards not competing and Chryste Gaines and Michelle Collins also left home, both haunted by doping questions, the fun is likely to end.

The top hope to keep up the U.S. streak is Gail Devers, who was responsible for two of those previous five victories.

Problem is, those titles came in 1992 and '96. Now 37, she's far from being a favorite.

Devers is seventh in the world rankings - and that's better than the other Americans, Lauryn Williams and LaTasha Colander, who are tied for 19th.

The shattering of an American powerhouse is the theme of the men's basketball tournament, too. At least it seemed that way when the squad formerly known as the Dream Team opened with an ugly loss to Puerto Rico, then squeaked past Greece, and even when they were slogging their way through three quarters against Australia on Thursday.

Then they clicked in the fourth to win easily. Coach Larry Brown came away hopeful that his players have started figuring out their roles and realizing that they're not in the NBA or on an All-Star team, but that they're playing international ball, which has different rules and a different kind of competition - like the Lithuanians, who've won bronze at the last three Olympics and are the reigning European champions.

"I envy international teams, looking at players showing passion for their teammates, their country, their sport," Brown said. "It's a beautiful thing that we're missing."