Final Four They're Back To Back Butler Headed To Houston

Southeast Regional Champions are the Butler Bulldogs. Some experts didn't believe in Butler's 2010 National Championship Game appearance, well this year Butler has made it to the Final Four again. #1 seed Pittsburgh was sent home followed by Wisconsin and Florida. Coach Stevens and his team from Indianapolis, has put the Horizon League on the map. Houston, we have a problem as the Bulldogs are heading to Texas. Butler punched their ticket versus Florida by winning in overtime after coming back from a double digit deficit. Cinderella is the title that will be given to them again, however it doesn't bother Butler. All these guys do is survive and advance.

Arizona Destroys Duke Then Williams Fall To Walker UConn Advance To Final Four

University of Arizona knocked out #1 seed and defending NCAA champion Duke Bluedevils. During Thursday Sweet 16 game, the Wildcats All American Derrick Williams hit 5 three's, several post scores and a few dunks in route to 25 halftime points. Eventually Williams Arizona teammates stepped up in the 2nd half to send the champs home. Saturday Kemba Walker and the Huskies took on Williams and the Wildcats. The game was close, back and fourth runs, then back and fourth lead changes. Eventually UConn was able to outlast Arizona 65-63 and advance to Houston, Texas. Awaiting the Hukies at Reliant Stadium will be the 2011 Final Four, their second appearance in three seasons. UConn will represent the Big East as the final team remaining from an eleven bid league. Jim Calhoun has guided his team to their 4th Final Four since 1999, he'll be looking for his 3rd title, his first since 2004.

Butler Out To Prove Final Four Was No Fluke As They Keep Dancing

Butler University Head Coach Brad Stevens lost a player off his 2010 NCAA Final Four team. Gordon Hayward left the program and became a 1st round draft pick of the Utah Jazz. Hayward was a buzzer beater away from a story book ending in the National Championship Game vs. Duke. Butler nearly won a title in the same city as their campus of Indianapolis,IN. Well after defeating Old Dominion on a buzzer beater and knocking out #1 seed Pittsburgh, the Bulldogs are out to prove it's all real, no fluke. Stevens and his Bulldogs will invade New Orleans for the 2011 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 round vs. Wisconsin of the Big 10. It's amazing how Butler is only two games away from returning to the Final Four, the winner of their game will take on the winner of Florida vs. BYU. Houston the site of this year Final Four could be welcoming Butler to the party. However Wisconsin and possibly BYU or Flordia will have something to say about that.

SDSU Led By Fisher Advance To Sweet 16

San Diego State University, led by Steve Fisher were ranked in the top five most of the season. The Aztecs were rewarded with a #2 seed in the West Region. SDSU were taken to the limit last Saturday by #7 Temple, however the Aztecs survived and advanced in double overtime. This weekend in Anaheim, California which will be a short drive from campus, the Aztecs will take on UConn in the Sweet 16. Many remember Steve Fisher from the University of Michigan. Fisher hleped guide the Fab Five to back to back NCAA Final Fours and Championship Game appearances. Fisher also won the 1989 NCAA Tournament after taking over the Wolverines on the eve of the tourney. Now he's help put SDSU basketball on the map, these Aztecs have lost only twice this season and that's only to one team : BYU.

Leonard Hamilton Seminoles Enter Sweet 16 In A Defensive State Of Mind

Leonard Hamilton will lead his Florida State Seminoles into the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16. Florida State #10 seed will take on #11 VCU for the right to move on to the Elite 8. The Seminoles stormed into Chicago and the United Center during the opening weekend of the NCAA's. FSU is the ACC leading defensive team in terms of points per game and field goal percentage. The Noles defeated Texas A&M & Notre Dame only giving up 50 and 57 points respectively. This great defensive was played mostly without the Seminoles leader Chris Singleton. Singleton played limited minutes over the weekend after playing his first pair of games after missing several weeks after a lower body injury. Kitchen and Singletary are the only FSU players that average double figures, obviously this team makes their living on the defensive end. There is a potential Elite 8 matchup between FSU and Kansas. Could you imagine Noles defense vs. Jayhawks offense. However Richmond and VCU both teams from Richmond,VA will have something to say about that. You never know, it could be an all city of Richmond Elite 8.

VCU Are Heading To The Sweet 16

VCU, had to be selected for the NCAA Tournament game. Many experts argue should they be in or out. Not only did VCU win in Dayton, Ohio during the First Four, VCU won 3 games in 5 days. Defeating USC (Pac 10), then VCU traveled to Chicago and defeated Georgetown (Big East) and Purdue (Big Ten). Now VCU has the CAA conference on their back, similar to George Mason. George Mason made the 2006 NCAA Final Four. 33 year old Shaka Smart has led VCU to the Sweet 16. Many experts believe Shaka is a wanted man. It's up to Smart to leave VCU for a bigger school one the season ends.

Possible NCAA Tournament Return For Duke Freshman Kyrie Irving

Coach K said a day prior to the tournament, their is a possibly his super freshman from New Jersey Kyrie Irving could return to the lineup. The freshman point guard hasn't played since suffering an injury three months ago vs. Butler. How ironic Butler is the team Duke defeated to win the 2010 National Championship. The Bluedevils begin their 2011 title defense as a #1 seed in the West Region. If Duke can get Irving back it puts everyone else in their natural positions. Especially All American Nolan Smith, who's been everything for Duke this season, he could move back to his natural shooting guard position. Duke would be one step closer to the likes of Kansas and Ohio State in terms of winning the championship, as many experts have the Jayhawks and Buckeyes as the favorites to cut down the nets.

Talor Battled Penn State Into NCAA Tournament

Thursday #7 Temple will face #10 Penn State during a West Region first round NCAA Tournament game at the University of Arizona. Penn State led by senior guard Talor Battle, made an incredible run through the Big Ten Tournament in Indianapolis this past weekend. Prior to losing to #1 overall seed Ohio State, Penn State knocked off Indiana, Wisconsin and Michigan State respectively. Penn State probably needed those three postseason victories to make the field of 68. Temple hasn't won a NCAA Tournament game since 2001, head coach Fran Dunphy has won since 1994 while at UPenn. Penn State hasn't been to the NCAA Tournament since 2001. How ironic that postseason the two schools met in New Orleans in the Sweet 16 as Temple won that contest. Something has to give seniors Lavoy Allen of Temple and Talor Battle will leave the court Thursday with their 1st tournament win or for the final time in their college career. Senior forward Jeff Brooks is a key player for the Nittany Lions as he can post up and stretch the defense from three point land. Battle's backcourt made Jennings has extremely quick hands, really isn't a jump shooter. However he's a theft artest defensively and can push the basketball on offense. Both teams on paper match up extremely well.

UConn You Have Won 5 Games In 5 Days As Big East Champs

Jim Calhoun, has seen plenty of positive moments since he's been head basketball coach of the University of Connecticut program. Calhoun has led the Huskies to a pair of National Championships in 1999 & 2004 respectively and 3 Final Four appearances most recently in 2009. Calhoun has also won several Big East Tournament titles. However the 2010-11 UConn Huskies were led by senior guard Kemba Walker, a player from the Bronx that's in the conversation for Big East and National Player Of The Year awards. Walker has set a conference tournament record for most points scored in a single tournament, while assisting UConn to a five games in five days run. Saturday night in Madison Square Garden, UConn defeated Louisville to make history. The Huskies were victorious Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Many fans will remember the game winning shot Walker hit vs. Pitt to send his team to the semifinals. Sunday UConn will find out where they'll be seeded and playing come NCAA Tournament time.

Philadelphia Have A Problem Utley Injured

Chase Utley, Philadelphia's all star second basemen has yet to play during Spring Training 2011. Charlie Manuel initially said Utley was sore from off season workouts. Later it was reported Utley knee was injured and was given a cortisone shot. Chase Utley has a history in recent years of acquiring nagging injuries. Where do the Philadelphia Phillies go from here? Wilson Valdez the utility infielder will probably fill in like he did last season for Utley and Rollins. How much time will Utley miss? No one truly knows what will happen next. It's simply a wait and see process at this point, nevertheless this doesn't look good. Could the Phillies be forced to make a move at somepoint, especially if the offensive struggles? Philadelphia has already loss Jason Werth to free agency, he'll be playing in Washington, without Utley, Ryan Howard will need protection. The Phillies are build to win now, GM Ruben Amaro has some decisions to make, along with Utley concerning his health.

Kemba Walker Hits Another Game Winner Advances Past Pittsburgh

Kemba Walker, the University of Connecticut senior guard has carried the Huskies all season. UConn came into the 2011 Big East Tournament as a #9 seed. Pittsburgh came in with a double bye prior to Thursday's game and they were the number #1 seed. Pitt opened up a double digit lead in the first half at Madison Square Garden. However Walker and the Huskies have done what they have done all season long, make a strong comeback. Walker helped UConn start the season winning the Maui Invitational while defeating a pair of ranked teams in the process. With the game tied at and a spot in the Big East seminfinals at stake, Pitt was caught in a switch. During the switch Walker was guarded by a big man. Game set match point, swish. UConn defeats Pitt as time expires. Friday, the Huskies will play their 4th game in 4 days vs. Syracuse. The Orange defeated the hometown St. John Red Storm.

Philadelphia Native Ty Garland And VA Tech Upset Duke

Virginia Tech needed a signature win, if they wanted to dance in the upcoming NCAA Tournament. Head coach Seth Greenberg has witnessed his squad finish with .500 and plus .500 ACC conference record over the last two seasons and have been denied the right to dance. Saturday his VA Tech Hokies took advance of the home court advantage vs. Duke. VA Tech beat Duke and got their signature win for the tournament committee to observe. Tech held off the late run by the likes of Nolan Smith and Kyle Singler to survive. Philadelphia native Ty Garland contributed a few tough minutes off the bench. Duke has loss twice this season as a number one ranked team at Florida State and now VA Tech.

Once Again Villanova Struggles Down The Regular Season Stretch

During the 2009-10 college basketball season senior Scottie Reynolds and the Villanova Wildcats struggled to end the season. Villanova was eliminated early on during the Big East Tournament. Villanova was then eliminated in round two of the NCAA Tournament by St. Mary's of California. St. Mary's were a double digit seed. Fast forward to the current 2010-11 season Villanova started the season on fire, ranked well into the top five. Now they stand 9-8 in the Big East Conference, while senior Corey Fisher is in a shooting slump. Currently the Wildcats have lost three in a row vs. Syracuse & St. Johns at home and allowed Notre Dame to can 20 three's on the road. Villanova will close the season over the weekend at Pitt, the Panthers came into the Pavillion and beat the Wildcats two weeks ago. More than likely Villanova a team ranked 11th in their conference, will begin their conference tournament on day one. Tuesday is day one of festivities at Madison Square Garden, while teams have single and double bye's during the 5 day tournament, Villanova will probably part take in day one. It's possbile they could fall out of the top 25. We shall see will history repeat itself in back to back seasons.