VCU

Next up in the short series of looking ahead to next season is the Southwest region, where things essentially went haywire the first weekend. Advancing to San Antonio was the top seed Kansas and seeds 10 through 12, and when the dust settled VCU won the region. A number of teams have some important personnel issues to address, but the Jayhawks won't be the lone team expected to contend for their league title out of this region in 2011-12.

On March 19th two teams advanced out of the Washington, D.C. subregional, making their way to the Sweet 16. And on Monday night those two teams, Butler and Connecticut, will play for the national title.

In the first game of the night in Houston, Butler was able to withstand an early barrage of VCU three pointers to take a six-point lead into the intermission. After an even start the Bulldogs allowed themselves to be drawn into the Rams' hectic style of play, breaking the pressure for three pointers instead of attacking the rim.

(11) VCU (28-11) vs. (8) Butler (27-9) 6:09 PM (CBS)

How they got here
VCU (Southwest Region champions)
W 59-46 over USC (First Four)
W 74-56 over (6) Georgetown
W 94-76 over (3) Purdue
W 72-71 over (10) Florida State
W 71-61 over (1) Kansas

Butler (Southeast Region champions)
W 60-58 over (9) Old Dominion
W 71-70 over (1) Pittsburgh
W 61-54 over (4) Wisconsin
W 74-71 (OT) over (2) Florida

The opinion that this season provided the NCAA Tournament with the weakest bubble in history did not stop many pundits from bad-mouthing the VCU Rams. Instead of worrying about what the experts thought of their inclusion Shaka Smart's team moved forward, taking care of USC, Georgetown, Purdue and Florida State to get to Sunday's Southwest Region final. Top-seed Kansas awaited VCU and the Jayhawks got off to a quick start, scoring the first six points of the game.

Butler

UCONN

Kentucky

VCU

Countless times over the past few weeks Kentucky head coach John Calipari has noted that his upperclassmen deserve some of the credit for the Wildcats' improved play as many rush to credit the highly-touted freshman class. Friday night was just the latest example of what the veterans mean to the team but when the game is on the line the basketball will end up in the hands of a freshman. Just as he did in the second round against Princeton Brandon Knight struggled offensively, shooting 2-for-9 over the first 39 minutes of the game.

There's usually one region that defies logic in the NCAA Tournament and this year that distinction goes to the Southwest Region, which features top-seed Kansas as the lone team to reach San Antonio that was expected to be there. They'll take on Atlantic 10 tournament champion Richmond in the first game of the night at the Alamodome and it won't be easy as Chris Mooney's Spiders boast a pair of pro prospects in guard Kevin Anderson and forward Justin Harper.

6:40 PM Texas-San Antonio vs. Alabama State (TruTV)

(6) Georgetown vs. (11) USC/VCU

Southwest Region - Chicago

March 18 - 9:50 TNT
 

Tulsa (March 18)
(1) Kansas vs. (16) Boston University

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