Butler Bulldogs

It’s the NCAA Tournament national championship game as the Butler Bulldogs from the Horizon League faces the Connecticut Huskies from the Big East conference in a college basketball game on Monday night.

Tip off from Reliant Stadium in Houston Texas is scheduled for 9PM Eastern Time with national television coverage provided by CBS.

The betting odds opened up in the NCAA Tournament national championship with the Connecticut Huskies favored by –4 points with an over under of 129 points.

UConn Vs. Kentucky

UConn's youth (and Kemba Walker, of course) beat Kentucky's youth, despite a freshman mistake by Jeremy Lamb late. And it's DeAndre Liggins, a junior, who will be the Wildcats' sickest player tonight.

A Shabazz Napier turnover gave Kentucky a chance to take the lead with 16 seconds left, but the Wildcats were only able to get a deep DeAndre Liggins three on the ensuing possession. Liggins missed, Napier came up with the rebound, and the Husky freshman hit his free throws to ice UConn's third NCAA Tournament final appearance.

In those last two trips to the last men's college basketball game of the season, Jim Calhoun is 2-0.

Walker was his typically brilliant self throughout the game, accumulating 18 points, six rebounds, and seven assists while steadying the Huskies and helping UConn beat back a resurgent Kentucky in the second half.

And now, the most electric player from March Madness will get a chance to win the NCAA Tournament in April.

More 2011 March Madness resources: SB Nation's Kentucky blog A Sea of Blue has tons more on the Wildcats' NCAA Tournament success, while The UConn Blog has coverage of the Huskies and Kemba Walker ... visit our NCAA Tournament hub for up-to-date news and information ... grab an updated printable NCAA 2011 Tournament bracket ... check out the the full NCAA Tournament schedule.

Arizona Eliminates Duke

Derrick Williams carried Arizona in the first half, keeping the Wildcats in the game against Duke. His teammates returned the favor in the final 20 minutes with an offensive barrage that stunned the defending national champions.

Williams scored 25 of his career-high 32 points in the first half of Arizona's 93-77 victory Thursday night, helping the Wildcats reach the final eight for the first time since 2005.

"As a team, we came together and willed ourselves to win," said Lamont Jones, who added 16 points. "Derrick is a great player, but we all contribute."

The top-seeded Blue Devils (32-5) were sent packing from a regional semifinal for the second time in three years. Coach Mike Krzyzewski, with 900 wins, will have to wait until next season to resume his pursuit of Bob Knight's record as the winningest men's coach in Division I history.

"The tournament is cruel," Krzyzewski said. "It's an abrupt end for everybody when you don't win."

Solomon Hill added 13 points for the Wildcats, who shot 54 percent and made 9 of 15 3-pointers, including five by Williams.

Williams had 13 rebounds to help his team dominate the boards, 40-27, while playing 15 minutes from his hometown of La Mirada.

"It makes me feel great," he said. "If we win this game on Saturday, we'll be known as one of the greatest Arizona teams to play."

Arizona Eliminates Duke: No. 1 Seed Falls In NCAA Tournament

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Derrick Williams carried Arizona in the first half, keeping the Wildcats in the game against Duke. His teammates returned the favor in the final 20 minutes with an offensive barrage that stunned the defending national champions.

Williams scored 25 of his career-high 32 points in the first half of Arizona's 93-77 victory Thursday night, helping the Wildcats reach the final eight for the first time since 2005.

"As a team, we came together and willed ourselves to win," said Lamont Jones, who added 16 points. "Derrick is a great player, but we all contribute."

The top-seeded Blue Devils (32-5) were sent packing from a regional semifinal for the second time in three years. Coach Mike Krzyzewski, with 900 wins, will have to wait until next season to resume his pursuit of Bob Knight's record as the winningest men's coach in Division I history.

"The tournament is cruel," Krzyzewski said. "It's an abrupt end for everybody when you don't win."

Solomon Hill added 13 points for the Wildcats, who shot 54 percent and made 9 of 15 3-pointers, including five by Williams.

Williams had 13 rebounds to help his team dominate the boards, 40-27, while playing 15 minutes from his hometown of La Mirada.

"It makes me feel great," he said. "If we win this game on Saturday, we'll be known as one of the greatest Arizona teams to play."

Fifth-seeded Arizona (30-7) will play Connecticut (29-9) on Saturday in the West Regional final. The third-seeded Huskies defeated No. 2 San Diego State 74-67 in the other semifinal.