#8 Butler vs. #2 Florida 74-71 (F/OT)
Thanks to the man pictured above, Shelvin Mack, 26 point game the Butler Bulldogs are back in familiar territory. They are the first team since UNLV in 1990-91 to make it to back to back Final Fours from a Mid Major conference (Horizon League). They have fought and scrapped their way back to this point and they have the most experience of the other 3 candidates. 5 of their players returned from last year's squad so they know the intensity and the pressure to play at this level (UConn is a distant 2nd experience wise with only 2, Kemba Walker and Donell Beverly). This Butler team has won against the likes of Old Dominion, a team no one thought they could even get past, the #1 seed PITT on a last second foul by Robinson, the Wisconsin Badgers who possibly played worse than their loss against Penn State in the Big Ten championship, and the Florida Gators who seemed to have everything pointed in their favor going into that game. Head Coach Brad Stevens and his Bulldogs are in a position this year unlike last year, they aren't the underdogs, they actually are among the favorites in this group of 4. Will they prevail this year, maybe on a buzzer beater that instead of last year bounces off the rim, finds nothing but net?
#5 Arizona vs. #3 Connecticut 63-65
This game was probably the toughest match-up between the 8 teams. Both programs have been exceptional in the final stretches of the season, Arizona surging to what some people thought was going to be a serious National Championship contender and UConn on a current win streak of 8 in a row. Kemba Walker and Derrick Williams were the players to watch, the stars who were leading their teams to victories that people thought weren't possible. Both coming off big wins against Duke and San Diego State, the game was going to come down to the wire. Arizona got off to a hot start but once Williams picked up his 3rd foul in the 1st half, it was UConn's turn taking an 18-7 run, which ultimately won them the game. For the Huskies it wasn't the fire of Walker than won them the game, it was the quiet freshman Jeremy Lamb who seemingly couldn't miss a shot. A few unbelievable 3's, some base line jumpers and big steal for a dunk added up to his 19 points. Kemba knew he wasn't playing well and told Calhoun "Lets give it to Jeremy, he's on fire" and he couldn't have been more right. With 1:43 left Walker made a fade away jumper to but the Huskies up by 5 but Arizona followed suit and brought it within 3. The final possession belonged to the Wildcats. Williams went up for a 3, missed. Rebounded by Arizona, kicked out to Hune with 3 seconds left. Miss. Huddled under the basket both the Huskies and Wildcats went up for the ball, but it was too late. Game over. UConn wins. The last times UConn has made it to the final four they have come out of the West playing in Anaheim. There is something they love about that region. Can they finally come out on top after 7 years without a championship? All signs point to yes right now. Walker is on a mission to end his career on top and he's not stopping until he does.
This game was probably the toughest match-up between the 8 teams. Both programs have been exceptional in the final stretches of the season, Arizona surging to what some people thought was going to be a serious National Championship contender and UConn on a current win streak of 8 in a row. Kemba Walker and Derrick Williams were the players to watch, the stars who were leading their teams to victories that people thought weren't possible. Both coming off big wins against Duke and San Diego State, the game was going to come down to the wire. Arizona got off to a hot start but once Williams picked up his 3rd foul in the 1st half, it was UConn's turn taking an 18-7 run, which ultimately won them the game. For the Huskies it wasn't the fire of Walker than won them the game, it was the quiet freshman Jeremy Lamb who seemingly couldn't miss a shot. A few unbelievable 3's, some base line jumpers and big steal for a dunk added up to his 19 points. Kemba knew he wasn't playing well and told Calhoun "Lets give it to Jeremy, he's on fire" and he couldn't have been more right. With 1:43 left Walker made a fade away jumper to but the Huskies up by 5 but Arizona followed suit and brought it within 3. The final possession belonged to the Wildcats. Williams went up for a 3, missed. Rebounded by Arizona, kicked out to Hune with 3 seconds left. Miss. Huddled under the basket both the Huskies and Wildcats went up for the ball, but it was too late. Game over. UConn wins. The last times UConn has made it to the final four they have come out of the West playing in Anaheim. There is something they love about that region. Can they finally come out on top after 7 years without a championship? All signs point to yes right now. Walker is on a mission to end his career on top and he's not stopping until he does.#11 VCU vs. #1 Kansas 71-61
The Cinderella story isn't over yet. Since 2006 it's always been "Who is going to be this year's George Mason?" after this tournament it's going to be "Who is going to be this year's VCU?" This incredible run has been nothing short of... well... incredible. Critics, announcers, and fans alike thought they were done with Kansas. Of course the players on Kansas even thought they were going to win. They were so confident even that one of the Morris twins told Joey Rodriguez at the pregame captains meeting "The run ends here." Rodriguez thought otherwise; "We'll see". The game started off in the Jayhawks favor as expected, but then the VCU spark was ignited and they went on a run to put them 18 up over Kansas. Was this really going to happen? At the start of the 2nd half the Rams still lead by 14, but Kansas proved why they were a #1 seed. They brought the score to 46-44 but then a 9-2 run by VCU punched the 3rd ticket to Houston. That was it. All the #1 seeds are gone before the Final Four for only the 3rd time in NCAA history. Going from barely on the bubble, to the first four, to the final four. Can they do the impossible and win it all? At this point I'm not counting any team out. Yes they may have the least experience playing at this level but the Rams have proved that they aren't to be underestimated anymore.
#4 Kentucky vs. #2 UNC 76-59
The final spot in Houston was up for grabs. Historic NCAA teams going up against each other, it was bound to be a blood fest. Going into this game both teams had 105 NCAA tournament wins. Who was going to take the lead? Roy Williams vs. John Calipari. Wildcats vs. Tar Heels. The game remained close until the Wildcats took a commanding 11 point lead but only went into the half up by 6. 20 more minutes. Who would last? Kentucky relied once again on the shoulders of freshman Brandon Knight who throughout the tournament has been beyond clutch. The Tar Heels made a surge in the 2nd half to what it seemed like would be yet another NCAA victory. The Wildcats held off UNC for their 106 NCAA tournament victory, one more than UNC. Tyler Zeller and Harrison Barnes put all they could on the court with 21 and 18 points respectively but it wasn't enough for the phenomenal rebounding of Kentucky's Harrelson. By the end of the game it seemed to be a somewhat new rivalry has been created. The NCAA tournament will do that to you. Can Kentucky keep this hot streak going and hold up the trophy in one week?
So there we have it, the 2011 Final Four. Saturday #11 VCU will play #8 Butler in the first game and #4 Kentucky will play #3 Connecticut in the second. Will this finally be the year a Cinderella team wins the Big Dance? Will the storied program in Kentucky return to the top? Does Kemba Walker have what it takes to carry his team to the Championship? Can Butler make one more buzzer beater to win it all this year? Will VCU be the first team to take home the National Championship after starting from the play in game? In one week we'll have our answer. 40 minutes stands between these 4 teams and their goal to get to the championship. 80 minutes will stand between 2 of these teams before they can cut down the net. Like the rest of this tournament, nothing is impossible. Nothing.
So there we have it, the 2011 Final Four. Saturday #11 VCU will play #8 Butler in the first game and #4 Kentucky will play #3 Connecticut in the second. Will this finally be the year a Cinderella team wins the Big Dance? Will the storied program in Kentucky return to the top? Does Kemba Walker have what it takes to carry his team to the Championship? Can Butler make one more buzzer beater to win it all this year? Will VCU be the first team to take home the National Championship after starting from the play in game? In one week we'll have our answer. 40 minutes stands between these 4 teams and their goal to get to the championship. 80 minutes will stand between 2 of these teams before they can cut down the net. Like the rest of this tournament, nothing is impossible. Nothing.
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