Final Four

Kentucky Wins Eighth National Title

Raphielle Johnson — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 13:19:20 -0400

The looks on their faces seemed to be more of relief than elation. Pegged as one of two overwhelming favorites in October (North Carolina being the other), and the prohibitive favorite entering the NCAA tournament, a season without a national title would have been a disappointment for the Kentucky Wildcats.

Mission accomplished.

Doron Lamb scored a game-high 22 points and Most Outstanding Player Anthony Davis left his fingerprints on the game in spite of a 1-for-10 shooting performance, helping lead Kentucky to a 67-59 win over Kansas in New Orleans. The win gives Kentucky their eighth in school history and first since 1998, and it's also the first for head coach John Calipari.

"Now I can get about my business of coaching basketball and getting these players to be the best that they can be, helping young people," said Calipari when asked what the title meant to him.

"You know, create better lives for themselves and their families, and also helping them prepare for life after basketball. I can get on with that. I don't have to hear the drama. I can just coach now."

The reason why he can "just coach now": a group that displayed a chemistry many thought impossible with so many having the potential to make a quick exit to the next level. Talent's great, and this Kentucky team had plenty of it, but a team doesn't go 38-2 and win a national title on talent alone.

Lamb knocked down a pair of key 3-pointers in the second half to hold off the first Kansas rally, extending the lead to 54-38 with 10:04 remaining. Kansas would get as close as six points but wouldn't close the gap any further, with Kentucky's stellar first half establishing a distance they were unable to overcome.

Thomas Robinson led the Jayhawks in what will most likely be his final collegiate game with 18 points and 17 rebounds, and for the junior to put up that kind of line on a night many felt he struggled says something about the effort he gave.

Kentucky's length inside has been a problem for teams all season long and it was for Robinson as he finished 6 of 17 from the field, but he and Jeff Withey kept plugging. Withey finished with seven rebounds and four blocked shots but went 2 of 8 from the field. As a team Kansas shot 35% from the field and 33% from two, nullifying a 5 of 11 night from beyond the arc.

"A lot of times I tried to go to my left shoulder on Jones, but I could see Anthony skying over top of him," said Robinson. "So it was kind of tough for me to even pass it to Jeff or try to get a shot up. [Davis] definitely impacted the game for a stretch on the defensive end."

Davis may have had a poor night from a shooting standpoint but the freshman from Chicago did everything else in the paint for Kentucky. He finished with 16 rebounds and six blocked shots and five assists on the night, and with Lamb and Marquis Teague (14 points) providing the bulk of the offense all he really had to do was produce in the paint.

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist added 11 points, Terrence Jones chipped in with nine and seven rebounds and senior guard Darius Miller gave Kentucky good minutes off the bench, a formula that's worked all season long. Elijah Johnson and Tyshawn Taylor combined to score 32 points on the night for Kansas but they needed 30 shots from the field to do so, making just 13.

The question for both teams now is whether they'll have enough in 2012-13 to make a return to the Final Four happen, and the answer would be 'yes'. Kansas may be losing Taylor and (likely) Robinson, but the other key players from Monday night are expected back and Ben McLemore will be eligible as well. If anything was learned from this season it's that Bill Self's program should never be counted out of the national title discussion.

As for Kentucky, they'll have personnel openings are there's the possibility that all six of their main rotation guys head off to the NBA. But Calipari will reload with another potent recruiting class led (right now) by Archie Goodwin and Alex Poythress, and Kyle Wiltjer should be better equipped for major minutes as a sophomore.

The question is whether or not they can come together as this group did, as the national champs shared a chemistry seldom seen amongst such a young group.

What Can We Learn from the November Meeting?

Raphielle Johnson — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 02:35:06 -0400

The question of what can be learned from a prior regular season meeting can be a tricky one, especially when there's been so much time in between meetings. No. 1 seed Kentucky (37-2) and No. 2 seed Kansas (32-6) will meet on Monday night for the national title, a rematch of their November 15th meeting at the Champions Classic in New York.

Kentucky won that game 75-65, scoring 47 points in the second half of a game that was tied at 28 at the break. While both teams are far different outfits, with the Wildcat freshmen playing just their second collegiate game and Kansas having some players who are important now adjusting to their new roles on that night, there are some things that can be taken away from the Kentucky win.

Here are some thoughts from that first meeting, and how they apply to what each team will need to do in order to win on Monday night.

Kansas Thoughts

1. Tyshawn Taylor
There's no denying the fact that the senior point guard will need to play very well if Kansas is to win its fourth NCAA title. Turnovers have been a talking point when it comes to Taylor for much of the season, but he did not turn the ball over once in the first meeting with Kentucky. The concern on Monday night when looking at the box score from the November meeting: making shots in the lane.

Nine of Taylor's 13 shots came by way of either a layup or dunk, yet he made just two of them. Overall Taylor shot 3 of 13 from the field, scoring 22 points due to a 15 of 17 night from the foul line. It's tough to see him getting 17 free throw attempts on Monday night, meaning that Taylor will need to do a better job of converting the looks he finds in the lane.

With Anthony Davis, who will likely draw Jeff Withey defensively, lurking inside that's easier said than done. And to be fair the missed layups issue wasn't Taylor's alone back in November. As a team the Jayhawks made 7 of 29 layups (14 of 37 overall when counting dunks) according to the CBSSports.com shot chart from the game, a line that simply won't get it done in the rematch.

2. Elijah Johnson and Travis Releford
These two came up big against Ohio State on Saturday night, and Johnson's the reason why the Jayhawks were able to get past Purdue in the Round of 32. Yet they combined to shoot 5 of 17 from the field against Kentucky, scoring 12 points. Releford had the toughest time of the two when it comes to adjusting to Kentucky's length as he accounted for five of Kansas' 14 turnovers.

But in five tournament games Releford has accounted for just three turnovers. Kentucky's a different class of opponent than the five teams the Jayhawks have faced to this point due in large part to their size and wingspan at all five positions. But Releford taking better care of the basketball is a good trend to ride into the title game. The last time Releford's had a turnover percentage of 50% or worse was Kansas' win over Baylor back on February 8. Since then the number's been no higher than 20%; it was 55.5% against Kentucky back in November.

Johnson made just one of his six jumpshots on the night, and for the season 59.5% of his shot attempts come from beyond the arc. But he's been better down the stretch than he was at Madison Square Garden, which could bode well for the Jayhawks. In that game Johnson posted an effective field goal percentage of 31.8%; in four of the five tournament games he's posted an eFG% of 60% or better. Johnson's shooting better and Releford's taking better care of the basketball, and both of those things will need to happen on Monday night.

3. Thomas Robinson
With this being the first match-up of First Team AP All-Americans in a title game since 1999 (Duke's Elton Brand and Connecticut's Richard Hamilton) it's obvious that Robinson and Davis will receive a lot of hype, and rightfully so. The question for Robinson will be how he deals with Kentucky's interior length, and that also includes sophomore Terrence Jones.

Robinson will likely see both players, with Jones possibly getting more time in an attempt to keep Davis out of foul trouble. But regardless of which one he's being guarded by, the Big 12 Player of the Year has to do a better job of scoring around the rim than he did in the first meeting. Robinson missed six shots around the rim, and for the night he made 5 of 12 from the field. On the season Robinson is making 51% of his 2-point shots, and he's been around that number just once (53.8% vs. Detroit) in the tournament.

That's understandable given the amount of attention Robinson's received from opposing defenses, so if Jeff Withey can make Kentucky pay with a couple baskets early things could open up for Robinson. That being said, the Wildcats may be willing to gamble on Withey being able to beat them as he did Baylor in their meeting in Waco. Either way, Robinson will need to score more than the 11 points he tallied in November if Kansas is to win.

Kentucky Thoughts

1. Marquis Teague
Similar to Taylor, the freshman from Indianapolis will be a key figure in the action at the Mercedes Benz Superdome. As it was for Kentucky as a team back in November, the first meeting was a tale of two halves for Teague. Teague turned the ball over six times in the first half, and it's no coincidence that the Wildcats played better as he took better care of the basketball (zero turnovers in the second half).

On the season Teague has an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.8 and for the tournament his ratio is at 2.0, which is a far cry from what he put forth at MSG. Teague was similar to Taylor in regards to shots around the basket, as he also struggled in November. Teague made 2 of 7 layups and dunks, with wild forays to the basket tending to lead to either misses or the turnovers discussed above.

With experience has come maturity for Teague, and if he can continue on that path Monday night both he and his team should be able to reap the rewards. Attack the lane with a purpose, and be sure to not kill his dribble without knowing what his next move will be, and Teague should be productive at the point.

2. Terrence Jones and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist
There aren't many players in America who are scrutinized as much as Jones, with his demeanor being the focus of many. When he's dialed in Jones is one of the toughest match-ups in the country, as he can finish above the rim and knock down perimeter jumpers. And he played well in the first meeting, accounting for 15 points, seven rebounds and three blocked shots.

Similar to Jones, Kidd-Gilchrist was all over the box score against Kansas with 12 points, nine rebounds, four assists and three blocked shots. His versatility on the defensive end lends itself to John Calipari being able to give him nearly any defensive assignment on the floor. Kidd-Gilchrist saw some time defensively against Peyton Siva on Saturday, with his length giving Siva trouble in the first half, and he could be called on to defend Tyshawn Taylor some on Monday night.

The one issue for Kidd-Gilchirst in the first meeting were the five turnovers, a number he hasn't matched since January 3 against UALR when he had six. MKG finished Saturday's game with four turnovers in what was a somewhat frustrating night following an outstanding weekend in Atlanta the week prior. If Jones and Kidd-Gilchrist are able to leave their prints on the game in a variety of areas, Kentucky is going to be tough to beat. If one (or both) struggle, then the door opens even wider for Kansas.

3. Anthony Davis
Regardless of what the freshman from Chicago may have said at the end of Kentucky's win over Louisville on Saturday night, the fact of the matter is that he took over against Louisville. 18 points, 14 rebounds and five blocked shots for Davis, who has won every major Player of the Year award except for one (Michigan State's Draymond Green won the NABC's award).

14 points, seven blocked shots and six rebounds is what Davis put up in the November meeting, and that doesn't take into effect the number of shots he changed on that night (see Kansas' numbers on layups and dunks above for an idea of that). The task for Davis is a simple one on Monday night: stay out of foul trouble, whether he's on Robinson or Withey to start. The battle between he and Withey features two of the best shot-blockers in the country, with Davis leading in blocks per game and Withey in block percentage.

Of the two Davis is the better offensive weapon, but it isn't as if Kentucky has to run a lot of plays specifically for him. Four of his six made field goals in the first meeting were either layups or dunks, and he's fifth on the team in possession percentage (19.1%) according to Ken Pomeroy's numbers. Davis being a force on both ends of the floor would likely mean an eight national title for Kentucky, something the Jayhawks must make sure doesn't happen.

Resources Used: CBSSports.com, statsheet.com and kenpom.com

Kentucky vs Louisville: Prediction

Greg Mengelt — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 09:47:34 -0400

(1) Kentucky vs. (4) Louisville

Records

Kentucky 36-2, 16-0 SEC

Louisville 30-9, 10-8 Big East

Time: 6:09 p.m. Saturday

TV: CBS

Location: Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans

Winner will face: (2) Ohio State or (2) Kansas, Monday in National Championship

Tournament Results

Kentucky def. Western Kentucky, 81-66; def. Iowa State, 87-71; def. Indiana 102-90; def. Baylor, 82-70

Louisville def. Davidson, 69-62; def. New Mexico 59-56; def. Michigan State, 57-44; def. Florida, 72-68

Regular-season Meeting

Dec. 31 – At Kentucky 69, Louisville 62

Rankings

Kentucky No. 1 AP; No. 1 ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll

Louisville No. 17 AP; No. 18 ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll

RPI Ratings

Kentucky 1

Louisville 9

Line: Kentucky -9 (O/U 137)

Players to Watch

Kentucky: F Anthony Davis, 6-10 Fr. (14.3 ppg, 10.1 rpg, 4.6 bpg); F Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, 6-7 Fr. (12 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 48.6% FG); F Terrence Jones, 6-9 So. (12.6 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 1.8 bpg). Kidd-Gilchrist saved his best for the most important time of the year. In two regional games in Atlanta, MKG had 43 points and 15 rebounds in a pair of wins over Indiana and Baylor.

Louisville: G Peyton Siva, 6-0 Jr. (9.1 ppg, 5.6 apg, 1.7 apg); C Gorgui Dieng, 6-11 So. (9.2 ppg, 9 rpg, 3.2 bpg); F Chane Behanan, 6-6 Fr. (9.5 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 51.3% FG). Behanan has been a beast on the boards in the tournament. In four games, he has 31 rebounds to go along with 56 points, four steals, three assists and three blocks.

Why Each Team Dangerous

Kentucky: In their regular-season win over Louisville, the Wildcats out-rebounded the Cardinals 49-28, including 14 offensive rebounds. Kentucky will have a significant advantage inside with Davis, Jones and Kidd-Gilchrist, who had 24 points and 19 rebounds last time out against the Cardinals. For the season, UK out-rebounds opponents by 7.1 per game. The Cats also lead the country with 8.6 blocks per game. Few teams – if any – are as good in transition and Kentucky’s half-court offense has improved as the season has progressed. Defensively, UK allows opponents to shoot just 37.5 percent from the floor and 31.5 percent from the 3-point line.

Louisville: The Cardinals win with defense. Opponents have shot just 80-of-214 (37.4 percent) overall and 22-of-83 (26.5 percent) from behind the 3-point arc against Louisville in the tournament and it has forced 52 turnovers, including 21 steals. The Cards held Kentucky to 17-of-57 the first time around and forced 20 turnovers and got 12 steals. U of L’s offense is balanced with six players averaging at least 9.1 points. It shot 45 percent from the floor and 37.5 percent from 3 in Saturday’s win over Florida.

Why Each Team is Vulnerable

Kentucky: In the win over Louisville, the Cats shot just 29.8 percent from the floor and made just 3-of-16 3s. They’ll have to be better than that this time. Kentucky got to the foul line 43 times in that game. However, opponents shot more free throws than the Wildcats did this season. At times, Kentucky has been prone to turnovers and Louisville forces a ton. Depth could be an issue, particularly if they get into foul trouble.

Louisville: The Cardinals sometimes struggle to score. Even in tournament wins over New Mexico and Michigan State, Louisville managed just 116 combined points and shot 43-of-103 combined. The Cardinals are just plus-1.6 in the rebounding category for the season. That could be deadly against Kentucky. Louisville also turns the ball over 14.1 times per game.

The Bottom Line: Pitino has seen Kentucky once and he has had a week to prepare for the Wildcats. He’ll find a way to slow them down. Enough for his Cardinals to pull off the upset? Probably not. But his gameplan should be enough to keep them close.

The Pick: Kentucky 73, Louisville 66

Greg Against the Spread This Season: 207-161-6

Ohio St vs Kansas: Prediction

Greg Mengelt — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 09:43:24 -0400

(2) Ohio State vs. (2) Kansas

Records

Kansas 31-6, 16-2 Big 12 (Regular-season Conference Champions; At large)

Ohio State 31-7, 13-5 Big Ten (Regular-season Conference 3-way Champions; At large)

Time: 8:49 p.m. Saturday

TV: CBS

Location: Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans

Winner will face: (1) Kentucky or (4) Louisville, Monday in National Championship

Tournament Results

Kansas def. Detroit, 65-50; def. Purdue, 63-60; def. N.C. State, 60-57; def. North Carolina, 80-67

Ohio State def. Loyola (Md.), 78-59; def. Gonzaga, 73-66; def. Cincinnati, 81-66; def. Syracuse, 77-70

Regular-season Meeting

Dec. 10 – At Kansas 78, Ohio State 67

Rankings

Kansas No. 6 AP; No. 6 ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll

Ohio State No. 7 AP; No. 7 ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll

RPI Ratings

Kansas 6

Ohio State 5

Line: Ohio State -2½ (O/U 137)

Players to Watch

Kansas: F Thomas Robinson, 6-10 Jr. (17.7 ppg, 11.8 rpg, 51.2% FG); G Tyshawn Taylor, 6-3 Sr. (16.7 ppg, 4.7 apg, 1.4 spg); G Elijah Johnson, 6-4 Jr. (10 ppg, 3.6 apg, 1.5 spg). Taylor came up big against North Carolina with a trip to the Final 4 on the line. After struggling through the first three rounds of the tourney, Taylor was 10-for-19 from the field with 22 points, six rebounds, five assists and five steals.

Ohio State: F Jared Sullinger, 6-9 So. (17.6 ppg, 9.1 rpg, 53.1% FG); F Deshaun Thomas, 6-7 So. (16.1 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 53% FG); G William Buford, 6-6 Sr. (14.4 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 35.1% 3s). Buford hasn’t shot well during the tournament, but Saturday’s win over Syracuse, the senior contributed with 13 points, nine rebounds and a pair of assists.

Why Each Team Dangerous

Kansas: Robinson is a National Player of the Year candidate. He has 16 double-doubles for the season and should have a big game against the Buckeyes. Defensively, Robinson and C Jeff Withey defend the paint as well as any pair in the country. Kansas blocks 5.6 shots per game as a team. Opponents have shot just 77-for-224 (34.4 percent) against Kansas in the tournament. Offensively, the Jayhawks are shooting 47.6 percent for the season, 22^nd nationally. Kansas is a solid rebounding team with a plus-5.6 margin for the season.

Ohio State: The Buckeyes are as good offensively around the basket as any team in the country. Sullinger and Thomas are strong and creative with the ball. For the season, Ohio State is shooting 48 percent from the floor. The Buckeyes’ 55.7 rebound percentage is sixth nationally and their 75.2 percent defensive rebound percentage is second. They own a plus-7.7 rebounding margin and a plus-3 turnover margin and a 1.25-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio. Ohio State has gotten to the foul line 803 times. OSU forced 18 turnovers in December’s loss to Kansas.

Why Each Team is Vulnerable

Kansas: Until scoring 80 points in the win over Carolina, the Jayhawks were averaging just 62.5 points and shot just 40.6 percent from the floor in the three victories. Kansas has almost no frontcourt depth, which could be a concern against the active Buckeyes. For the season, KU turns the ball over 13 times per game.

Ohio State: Although Buford, Thomas and Aaron Craft are capable perimeter shooters, OSU is not a great 3-point shooting team. They are shooting just 33.3 percent from behind the arc and score just 20.1 percent of their points from deep. The Buckeyes also allowed opponents to make over six 3s per game. Despite decent size, Ohio State is not great in the paint defensively.

The Bottom Line: Robinson will be a handful, but the Buckeyes will pull away for a comfortable win.

The Pick: Ohio State 71, Kansas 62

Greg Against the Spread This Season: 207-161-6

2012 Final Four

Shawn Siegel — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 13:23:39 -0500

New Orleans will host America's premier college sporting event - the NCAA Final Four - from March 31st to April 2nd, 2012.

The Road to New Orleans begins on March 11th, Selection Sunday, and the following weeks will lead up to the Final Four in New Orleans. The first men's national semifinal on Saturday, March 31st will begin at approximately 6:00 p.m. (ET) and as usual will be televised on CBS. The men's national championship game will air at approximately 9:15 p.m. (ET) on Monday, April 4. (Complete 2012 NCAA Tournament TV Schedule.)

Like the last three years, the 2012 Final Four will be held in a football stadium, the Mercedes Benz Superdome. The Superdome also hosted the event in 1982, 87, 93 and 2003.

Want to head to the games? 2012 Final Four Ticket Info

Mercedes Benz Superdome

The Superdome features well over 50,000 people for basketball events. Up until 2009, the '87 Final Four in New Orleans was the most attended Final Four ever. Seating Chart.

The Mercedes-Benz Superdome has seven (7) parking garages for public parking and two (2) surface lots, which can accommodate approximately 6,000 vehicles. The public parking garages are designated #1, #1A, #2, #2A, #5, #6 and Champions Garage. Parking Map.

More information, including directions can be found at the Superdome Website.

Final Four Weekend Schedule

March 30th

Open Practices - noon-4 pm

AT&T Block party - 4-10 pm

Bracket Town - noon-8 pm

College All-Star Game - 4:30 (free)

March 31st

Semifinals - 5 and 7:30 pm

Youth Clinics - 8:30 am - 12:30 pm (Reilly Center & Alario Center)

Bracket Town - 10 am-7 pm

April 1st

Bracket Town - noon-8 pm

Final Four Dribble - 2 pm

Capital One Jam Fest- 3-10 pm

April 2nd

National Championship - 8 pm

Bracket Town - noon-7 pm

+ New Orleans Final Four Travel Information

Links:

+ 2012 NCAA Tournament

+ Final Four Info on Wikipedia

+ Official 2012 Final Four Website

2012 NCAA Tournament Schedule

Shawn Siegel — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 12:45:03 -0500

Below is a basic schedule of the 2012 NCAA Tournament, including dates and venues. Also check out the 2012 NCAA Tournament TV Schedule, which includes preliminary starting times for CBS, TNT, TBS, and truTV.

March 11 - Selection Sunday, 6 p.m. ET (CBS)

March 13 and 14 - First Four (truTV)
UD Arena, Dayton, OH
Host: University of Dayton

March 15 and 17 - 1st and 2nd Rounds*
Albuquerque, NM

The Pit

Tickets

Pittsburgh, PA

Consol Energy Center

Tickets

Portland, OR

Rose Garden

Tickets

Louisville, KY

KFC Yum! Center

Tickets

March 16 and 18 - 1st and 2nd Rounds*:
Columbus, OH

Nationwide Arena

Tickets

Greensboro, NC

Greensboro Coliseum

Tickets

Nasheville, TN

Bridgestone Arena

Tickets

Omaha, NE

CenturyLink Center

Tickets

March 17 - Division III Championship Game

Salem, VA

March 22 and 24 - East & West Regional
Boston, MA
TD Garden

Tickets

Phoenix, AZ

US Airways Center

Tickets

March 23 and 25 - South & Midwest Regional
Atlanta, GA

Georgia Dome

Tickets

Saint Louis, MO

Edward Jones Dome

Tickets

March 24 - Division II Championship Game

Highland Heights, KY

March 30 - Reese's College All-Star Game
New Orleans, LA

Louisiana Superdome

March 31 - Final Four (CBS)
New Orleans, LA

Louisiana Superdome

April 2 - Championship Game (CBS)

New Orleans, LA

Louisiana Superdome

Next year's Final Four: Atlanta, GA

*Due to the First Four, the NCAA calls these rounds the 2nd & 3rd Rounds

National Title Game Recap: UConn Wins Third National Title

Raphielle Johnson — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 03:06:07 -0400

Given the defensive numbers that both Butler and Connecticut boasted going into Monday night's matchup for the national title few expected a high-scoring contest. But what ensued at Reliant Stadium was stunning, as a game that featured just 17 turnovers combined (11 for the Huskies) looked far uglier than anyone expected. Thanks to their dominance scoring inside and a good job of challenging shots, Jim Calhoun's team won the school's third national title by the final score of 53-41.

Kemba Walker, who has led the Huskies all season long, made just five of nineteen shots but scored a game-high 16 points and was named Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four. But the catalyst offensively for UConn was freshman Jeremy Lamb, who scored all 12 of his points in the second half and sparked a 22-3 run that essentially put the game away.

Shelvin Mack led the Bulldogs with 13 points but shot 4-for-15 from the field, and as a team Butler made history and not in a good way. Brad Stevens' team could not find their groove offensively, shooting 18.8% from the field to set the record for worst percentage in title game history. Butler's 9-for-33 showing from beyond the arc was trumped by an even worse percentage inside the arc: 3-for-31. Why'd Butler shoot so poorly on the biggest stage in college basketball? A combination of two factors: UConn's length/ability to challenge shots, and the Bulldogs missing a number of shots in the paint.

"I thought we got decent looks in the second half. We just missed quite a few," said Coach Stevens of his team's offensive struggles. "Credit UConn for defending the way they do because I thought they challenged shots better than any team we've played all year."

Neither team was particularly good offensively, with UConn shooting just 34.5% for the game. But they were able to get hot (comparatively speaking) early in the second half, going from six points down following a Chase Stigall three pointer twenty seconds into the half to up 13 with 7:33 remaining. Butler made just two field goals over a 13-minute stretch, and by that point am 11-point deficit felt more like 21.

The Bulldogs outscored UConn by 24 (27-3) from beyond the arc but disadvantages from two (36-6) and the foul line (14-8) left them in the role of runner-up for the second straight season. As for UConn, they ended a remarkable run through tournament play in March: 11-0. Add in three wins in Maui back in November and the Huskies went 14-0 in tournament games, not to mention 17-0 against non-conference opponents.

While the Big East coaches may not have been far off in their projection of this team (preseason pick to finish 10th in the conference; finished tied for 9th), outside of those directly connected with the program what this team has accomplished was unfathomable back in February. Last season, one that featured a serious lack of leadership, finished in the NIT with an 18-16 record. But with a leader as powerful as Walker the youngsters were able to grow, ultimately resulting in UConn winning the national title.

"From last season, the loss to Virginia Tech, coach, he gave me the keys," said Walker. "From that point on, I just drove. I called these guys, told them that we gonna work hard. Just be ready to come and work hard. That's what they did."

The Huskies did just that with Shabazz Napier coming off the bench to once again change the flow of the game, and Alex Oriakhi (11 points, 11 rebounds) and Roscoe Smith blocking four shots apiece (UConn finished with 10 blocks, a big reason why Matt Howard and Andrew Smith combined to shoot 3-for-22). One player doesn't result in a championship, something UConn has put on full display in both New York (Big East Championship) and the NCAA Tournament.

So while the Huskies head back to campus with another title, where does this leave the Butler program? To simply point out the fact that the Bulldogs are the fourth school to have lost consecutive title games would be terribly unfair. To get to this point in consecutive seasons is an admirable achievement in itself, and solid proof that there's a very good program (and not just a team) that calls Hinkle Fieldhouse home.

It all began with Barry Collier's tenure as head coach, and while the names have changed on the floor and in the head coach's chair throughout the years the success has remained. This much can be guaranteed: Butler will be heard from in the future. Monday simply wasn't their night.

National Championship Game Preview: Your Commentary

Raphielle Johnson — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 12:34:44 -0400

9:23 PM (CBS) (8) Butler (28-9) vs. (3) Connecticut (31-9)

The end of the college basketball season is here, for better or worse, and the national title game matches a pair of teams few expected to get to this point on Selection Sunday much less at any point during the regular season. The Butler Bulldogs are back where they saw their season end a year ago, and if Gordon Hayward's half-court shot were a few centimeters to the left we're talking about a possible repeat. Instead, they look to avoid going home empty-handed for the second consecutive season with the Connecticut Huskies standing in their way.

UConn's season began in earnest with a great run through the Maui Invitational with junior guard Kemba Walker leading the way. But while Walker has continued to play like one of the best players in the nation, the youngsters have matured by the game and have been pivotal figures during the month of March. Jeremy Lamb, Shabazz Napier and Alex Oriakhi are three of the key figures for Jim Calhoun's team, and if they can get one more solid outing from this group a third national title for the program could be on the horizon.

Butler was able to calm down on Saturday night after temporarily being drawn into the helter-skelter game that VCU preferred, winning 70-62 behind 24 points from Shelvin Mack and 17 and eight rebounds from Matt Howard. The difference for the Bulldogs was their ability to get to the foul line, making 20 of 26 while VCU went just 8 for 13. That may not be the case tonight as UConn gets 21% of their points from the foul line as well, but points from the charity stripe will likely be one of the key factors in the outcome.

Connecticut hung on to beat Kentucky 56-55 thanks to a pair of key plays from Napier, a reverse lauyp to give them a six-point lead and two made free throws that sealed the game. UConn ran out of gas late but the same went for Kentucky, who continued to fire away from the perimeter despite losing their legs in a game that lacked whistles in the second half. Could fatigue be a concern for Walker, who has seen nearly every possible type of defense/defender this season and will have to deal with Ronald Nored tonight?

"The reason I was tired was because that long stretch, we didn't get that [media] timeout," said Walker on Sunday. "It was a fast-paced game. That was the only reason I was a little out of breath. But as long as I stay mentally tough and my team stay mentally tough, just like we've been doing throughout this whole post-season, we'll be fine."

Offensively the Huskies are a point better when it comes to scoring and they're practically even when it comes to both offensive and defensive efficiency. But if there's one thing to watch it will be how the two teams get their points. On the season Butler scores 31.5% of their points from beyond the arc, making 35.5% of the shots they take. UConn will have to chase players such as Mack, Zach Hahn and Chase Stigall off the arc or at the very least make sure the Bulldogs have to take challenged perimeter shots.

Kentucky outscored UConn by 24 from three on Saturday night but their poor shooting from both two (34.2%) and the foul line (4 for 12) cost them the game. Butler shoots 73% from the foul line and with Howard and Mack they do a good job of finding quality shots with an eFG% of 50.9%. One other concern for UConn will be how they control the defensive boards. Kentucky grabbed 15 offensive boards on Saturday, and Tyler Olander, Charles Okwandu and Roscoe Smith will all need to help out Oriakhi to avoid a similar situation tonight.

Butler also handled the offensive boards in their win, grabbing 16 and out-rebounding VCU 48-32 on the night. But given VCU's propensity to shoot from the perimeter, it was a little easier for the Bulldogs to control the boards in that situation. The ability of Napier and Walker to get to the basket will pose a challenge that Butler hasn't seen often in the Tournament, and when they have (Florida) those guards lacked the control that UConn's possess.

"The thing that UConn doesn't get enough credit for, everybody talks about how good those guards are with the ball, I think they're great cutters," remarked Butler head coach Brad Stevens. "I think when they put [Walker] off the ball with Napier on the one, he's as difficult if not more difficult."

This is going to be a fun matchup to say the least. While much of the attention will center on Walker and rightfully so, Connecticut's youngsters also have the ability to make plays. Lamb was somewhat quiet on Saturday night but given what he's been able to do this month it would come as no surprise if he were to rise to the occasion. Butler's players have more Final Four experience given their run last year but in Jim Calhoun, UConn has a leader with two national titles to his credit. These may not be the two "best" teams in America when breaking them down, but there's no doubt that the Bulldogs and Huskies are playing the best basketball at just the right time.

Final Four Recap: Butler and Connecticut Advance to Title Game

Raphielle Johnson — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 02:06:01 -0400

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. VCU, who went into the game shooting 43% from three in the NCAA Tournament, made four of ten in the first half. By comparison Butler attempted 13, making just three, but what saved the Bulldogs was their ability to get to the foul line.

Butler outscored VCU 11-2 from the charity stripe in the first half and 20-8 for the game, and when you break even in points from three (24 apiece) the numbers from the foul line tend to add up. Butler used the foul line and a 48-32 edge on the boards to end VCU's dream run by the final score of 70-62. Shelvin Mack led the way with 24 points and six rebounds and Matt Howard added 17 and eight caroms to return the Bulldogs to the point where their season ended a year ago.

"I thought our inability to get out in transition took away from some of the three-point attempts we typically have," said VCU head coach Shaka Smart. "Again, they did a great job scrambling and getting out on shooters. We put it on the floor. We got in the lane. We just didn't make enough plays from there."

The key word leading up to the game was "tempo", with the bigger concern for both teams being what happened within each possession. Butler took some rushed shots early but as the game wore on, the experienced Bulldogs made better use of the 66 possessions (the season average for both teams). VCU opponents had a turnover percentage of nearly 23% on the season and with just nine miscues Butler finished with a percentage of 13.6%, which is better than their average on the season (16.9%).

Defensively the Bulldogs were able to slow down VCU despite the fact that the Rams assisted on 74% of their made baskets, limiting them to 41.6% on two-point shots to go along with the aforementioned numbers from beyond the arc (Ed Nixon, Joey Rodriguez and Brandon Rozzell combined to shoot 3-for-18 from the field). And without the major advantage they enjoyed in wins over Florida State and Kansas last weekend, VCU couldn't overcome the whipping they took on the boards. Jamie Skeen however was outstanding for the Rams, scoring a game-high 27 points to go along with six rebounds and three assists in his final collegiate game.

But despite the end of their run Shaka Smart's club will be remembered nationally for their run to Houston instead of the fact that it ended at Reliant Stadium. For a team few thought had a shot of simply making the field to get all the way to the Final Four is a remarkable achievement, something they'll all realize once a little bit of the pain subsides.

"VCU's run was inspiring to a lot of people, including us," said Butler head coach Brad Stevens. "The way that they played, the way that they really beat a lot of unbelievable teams handily was remarkable and probably made them the hottest team in the tournament coming into this game."

While many (beforehand) bemoaned the perceived "quality" of the first matchup due in large part to the absence of household names, in all honesty Butler and VCU put forth a more artistic showing than Connecticut and Kentucky. The game featured a pair of important runs, with the Huskies taking control once Shabazz Napier entered the game halfway through the first half to take a 31-21 lead at the half.

Kentucky, as they've done multiple times in the Tournament, stormed out of the locker room to regain the lead five minutes into the second half thanks in large part to the hot shooting of Doron Lamb. From there what ensued was a seesaw battle that was absent of whistles, resulting in the under-8 media timeout not coming until 2:09 remained in the game. Napier made two big plays late, scoring on a driving layup to give the Huskies a 54-48 lead with 2:28 to go and grabbing a loose ball following a DeAndre Liggins missed three in the final seconds with the Huskies up 54-52.

Napier's two free throws gave UConn an insurmountable 4-point lead with two seconds remaining, and Brandon Knight's three pointer as time expired had no effect on the outcome. So despite fatigue and some interesting decisions in crunch time Jim Calhoun's team finds itself one win away from a national title, and despite the praise given their offensive weapons it was defense that got it done for UConn.
Napier's bigger contribution was his defense on Knight, who shot just 6 for 23 on the night in his toughest outing of the Tournament.

The freshman led the Wildcats with 17 points but on a night where he didn't have it offensively, Kentucky steadily got away from their interior game. Terrence Jones scored seven of Kentucky's 10 points before the first media timeout...and finished with 11 points for the game. Josh Harrellson finished with just six points, and outside of Lamb the Wildcats weren't particularly efficient on the perimeter either. That all conspired to end a season few people expected before the season began.

"I thought the 1 for 10 down the stretch was the key to the basketball game," said UConn head coach Jim Calhoun. "We knew we were not going to make every shot, but if we can defend them, we can win this basketball game."

Kemba Walker led the Huskies with 18 points but due to fatigue he had to find other ways in which to help his team and he did just that. Walker also accounted for seven assists, six rebounds and two steals on the night, and Jeremy Lamb scored 12 points to go along with nine rebounds and four assists. Neither team had their legs down the stretch but UConn dug deep defensively, keeping Kentucky out of the lane and forcing them to settle for challenged twos (34.2% on two-point shots, UConn finished 59.4%).

"They played well. They defended us. They were physical," remarked Kentucky head coach John Calipari of UConn's performance. "They blocked some shots down the stretch that were killers for us. Like, why did we just pull it out, don't just throw it at the basket."

It didn't help matters that Kentucky made just four of twelve free throws; simply put the Wildcats have a much better chance of winning with a percentage closer to their season average of 71%. UConn's big men were also instrumental in the win despite allowing 15 offensive rebounds. Alex Oriakhi grabbed 10 to go along with his eight points, and despite a quiet stat line (four points, one rebound) Charles Okwandu gave the Huskies one more needed banger in the paint. Jeremy Lamb and Roscoe Smith combining for 17 rebounds was also a factor for UConn, who remains undefeated in games against non-conference opponents this season.

So the stage is set for Monday night, matching up a program that's become a national favorite over the last two years with a program looking to win its third national title. Both teams can point to moments within this season as the catalyst for their respective runs (Butler losing at Youngstown State, UConn's practice following their loss to Notre Dame in the regular season finale). And neither was expected to come close to the stage that will be their canvas back in October.

National Title Game: (8) Butler vs. (3) Connecticut (9:23 PM, CBS)

Notable Performances

1. G Shelvin Mack (Butler)
24 points (8-11 FG) and six rebounds in the Bulldogs' 70-62 win over VCU.

2. F Jamie Skeen (VCU)
27 points, six rebounds and three assists in the Rams' loss to Butler.

3. G Kemba Walker (Connecticut)
18 points, seven assists and six rebounds in the Huskies' 56-55 win over Kentucky.

4. F Matt Howard (Butler)
17 points, eight rebounds, two assists and two steals in the Bulldogs' win.

Kentucky/Connecticut Preview: Your Commentary

Raphielle Johnson — Sat, 02 Apr 2011 03:43:30 -0400

(4) Kentucky vs. (3) Connecticut 8:49 PM (CBS)

How they got here
Kentucky (East Region champions)
W 59-57 over (13) Princeton
W 71-63 over (5) West Virginia
W 62-60 over (1) Ohio State
W 76-69 over (2) North Carolina

Connecticut (West Region champions)
W 81-52 over (14) Bucknell
W 69-58 over (6) Cincinnati
W 74-67 over (2) San Diego State
W 65-63 over (5) Arizona

The champions of the SEC and Big East tournaments meet in the second semifinal, with Kentucky looking to extend their 10-game win streak while UConn has won nine straight. Yes the two teams met in the title game of the Maui Invitational (an 84-67 UConn win on November 24th), but that game really doesn't exist when it comes to figuring out what may happen on Saturday night. The two teams are that different. John Calipari's received increased production and leadership from his upperclassmen, and the youngsters have stepped up to aid UConn head coach Jim Calhoun and star guard Kemba Walker.

The Huskies' run, winning nine games in 19 days, has been an unprecedented one made possible not just by the excellence of Walker but also the play of Jeremy Lamb. The freshman more than a few overlooked back in October has blossomed over the last month, averaging 18.3 points per game in the NCAA Tournament. Lamb's scored in double figures in each of the last nine games, and late in the win over Arizona it was he the Huskies ran off of baseline picks instead of Walker for a pair of key baskets. Classmate Shabazz Napier (8.0 ppg, 3.0 apg) offers Walker the chance to rest on the offensive end by playing off the ball, and Napier can knock down shots as well.

Up front Alex Oriakhi and Roscoe Smith are two of the players UConn will call on Saturday night, with the former leading the team in rebounding on the season. Oriakhi's grabbed double-digit rebounds in the first two NCAA Tournament games and will need to be a factor on the glass if UConn is to win on Saturday. Oriakhi also averages just under 10 points per game, and he'll need to finish inside while dealing with Josh Harrellson and Terrence Jones. Smith allows UConn to play small with him at the four in spurts when Tyler Olander and Charles Okwandu don't enjoy beneficial matchups.

As for the Wildcats, they essentially go six deep with Eloy Vargas being the seventh who could see action in this contest. Their effectiveness has been affected by the play of their three upperclassmen, who stepped into the role of leaders following that loss at Ole Miss on February 1st. Harrellson, affectionately named "Jorts" by the fan base, averages a team-best 8.8 rebounds while also scoring around eight points per game. The Wildcats will use Harrellson in ways outside of banging in the paint, and how UConn deals with this will have a lot to do with the outcome.

Harrellson can be used not only in ball screens but also in handoff situations, where he can either give the ball to a perimeter player while effectively setting a screen or fake the handoff. Once the fake happens the senior becomes a threat to turn and go to the basket, something he's been able to do throughout the current run. This level of contribution is a far cry from what was expected of the Missouri native upon arrival in Lexington, which is a credit to his hard work.

DeAndre Liggins may end up being the most important player on the floor for Kentucky due to his defensive ability, and he's been a solid contributor offensively as well. Averaging 8.8 points and 4.1 rebounds per game, Liggins is also one of the best defenders in America and stands to see quite a bit of Walker. Liggins averaged 13.5 points and 3.5 assists per game in Newark last week while also pestering both Ohio State and North Carolina defensively.

"You have a 6'6" player with long arms who can guard a point guard, a two-man, a three-man, and if I wanted him to, he could probably guard the four," remarked Coach Calipari when asked about Liggins. "Whoever is hurting you, he can go guard."

Darius Miller rounds out the upperclassmen trio (Vargas is a JUCO transfer in his first season at Kentucky), and when aggressive offensively Kentucky as a whole becomes a better team. MVP of the SEC Tournament, Miller averages 11.1 points per game on the season and shoots 48.5% from the field and 44.9% from three. Before scoring 10 points combined in wins over West Virginia and Ohio State the junior from Maysville, Kentucky reached double figures in 10 straight games. If not for his 17 against Princeton there's a good chance that Kentucky is at home instead of Houston this weekend.

There's also no mistaking the impact of the three freshmen, Terrence Jones, Brandon Knight and Doron Lamb. Knight runs the show at the point while also leading UK in scoring with an average of 17.3 points per game (4.2 assists/game as well). Simply put, Knight is a winner. He didn't make a single field goal going into the final seconds of the Princeton game but was still the option Coach Calipari chose, and Knight responded by making the game-winning basket. He's alternated poor shooting games with outstanding performances in the tournament, and if form holds it could be a long night for Knight (22 pts against UNC). But don't bet against him when it comes to making winning plays down the stretch.

"Brandon didn't have his best game against us, but I definitely expect him to have a better game," said Oriakhi. "He's definitely the leader for that team. He's been making clutch plays for them and has gotten them this far."

Jones is as gifted as any frontcourt player you'll find, averaging 15.8 points and 8.7 rebounds per game on the season. His scoring numbers may be down in the NCAA Tournament (high of 12 came against WVU) but the Portland native has a better understanding of the ways in which he can have an impact outside of scoring. Jones is averaging 6.8 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game in the NCAA Tournament, and four of his six turnovers in the tournament came in Sunday's win over North Carolina. Lamb is the team's third-leading scorer with an average of 12.3 points per game, shooting 49.7% overall and 48.1% from three. UConn has to keep tabs on the freshman from Queens, who can silently kill teams who fail to acknowledge his presence on the floor.

The two teams are about even when it comes to rebounding with both having rebounding margins right around a plus-4. But the Huskies grab 14 offensive rebounds per game, a number that Harrellson and Jones (among others) need to keep UConn from reaching if Kentucky is to win. Assists and turnovers are close as well, although the Wildcats allow opponents to assist on just 48% of their made baskets (UConn allows 51.5%). The job for Kentucky is a simple one on the defensive end: make Walker work for everything in hope that he struggles, making the others beat them. Given how the Huskies young players have stepped up however, that could end up being just as bad as allowing Kemba to score 30-plus on his own.

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