It's A Dog Fight for the National Title

"I ain't going home without the hardware"





HOUSTON -- "We're not done yet! Unfinished business, baby!" That was the rallying cry from the Butler Bulldogs, who are headed back to the title game, not as lovable underdogs but a team intent on making up for last year's heartbreak. Maybe this time that final, riveting shot will go in. Maybe this time Butler won't need it.

"We're not going to settle on just getting back," said Zach Hahn, who came up big off the bench in Butler's 70-62 victory over VCU on Saturday night that gave the Bulldogs a do-over and ended the warm-and-fuzzy story of this year's NCAA men's tournament. "I remember the sour taste it left in my mouth last year, and I just think this group, we're here now and we have a chance. That's all you can ask."

"We got this"

Shelvin Mack scored 24 points, Hahn scored all eight of his points during a 90-second span in the second half that gave Butler control of the game for good and the Bulldogs shut down hot-shooting VCU with their trademark unforgiving defense. The eighth-seeded Bulldogs (28-9) will face Connecticut on Monday night, the lowest-seeded team to play for the national title since Villanova won it as a No. 8 seed in 1985. "We've just got to be one shot better than last year," coach Brad Stevens said.


Kemba Walker scored 18 points Saturday night to help Connecticut keep its remarkable postseason run going with a 56-55 victory over Kentucky that placed the Huskies one win away from their third, and most improbable, NCAA title. UConn won despite not making a field goal over the final 2:29 .

Trailing by two with the clock ticking down, DeAndre Liggins had a chance to win it for Kentucky, but his 3-pointer came up short -- the end of a 34-percent shooting night for the fourth-seeded Wildcats (29-9).

Walker also had seven assists, as UConn (31-9) won its 10th game in a row -- a string that began with a five-win-in-five-night leg-drainer at the Big East tournament and now includes five straight in the tournament that really matters.

Associated Press