Connecticut Wins National Title, Butler Blows Second Chance, 53-41

Well, this was a huge letdown.

In what was expected to be a climactic end to a March full of madness, Connecticut emerged as the 2011 NCAA basketball champion. But the way that they did it was, in a word, boring.

The Butler Bulldogs couldn't make a shot to save their lives, shooting an abysmal 19% from the field. For the entire game. Making 12 of 63 shots is unheard of... for a high school basketball team. This was a real embarrassment for the team and the sport of college basketball.

The first half was a plodding mess, two stubborn teams playing stubborn basketball. Both squads failed to impose their will on each other, and at the half Butler was up 22-19.

Butler continued to shoot ice-cold from the field, scoring only 19 points in the second half. Matt Howard and Shelvin Mack combined to shoot 5-28 from the field. 

In the end, no one will remember exactly how Connecticut won this title, but for tonight, we can all agree that it was one of the worst games of college basketball that has ever taken place in the National Championship game.

Kemba Walker led the Huskies with 16 points, while Jeremy Lamb came on strong with 12 second-half points to help UConn blow by the hapless Bulldogs.

NCAA Championship Game 2011: UConn Takes On Butler For The National Title

The UConn Huskies will take on the Butler Bulldogs tonight to decide the 2011 NCAA National Championship in Houston. The game is scheduled to tip-off at 6:23 PST and can be seen on CBS.

As we all know, UConn knocked off the Arizona Wildcats for a spot in the Final Four. They beat Kentucky on Saturday 56-55 to advance to the Championship game. Butler has beaten the likes of Pittsburgh, Wisconsin, Florida and VCU (The "C" stands for Cinderella) to make it to this game.

The most important matchup of the game will be in the backcourt, between UConn's Kemba Walker and Butler's Shelvin Mack. If the voters could take the postseason into account, I think Walker would be a runaway selection for National Player of the Year. He has put his team on his back, and brought them to ten straight victories in elimination games, including a miraculous run through the Big East Tournament. Mack may not have the same name-recognition as Walker, but he is a big-shot-taker and a big-shot-maker. If he can keep Walker out of the paint on the Defensive end, while tiring him out on the other end of the court, Butler has a good chance to win this one.

The other important matchup is Matt Howard Vs. UConn's collection of rebounders. Howard has been a force on the offensive glass for the Bulldogs, while the Huskies have been getting solid rebounding contributions from Alex Oriakhi, Charles Okwandu, Roscoe Smith and Jeremy Lamb. If UConn can use their length to neutralize Howard in the paint (or if Walker can get him into early foul trouble like he did Kentucky's Josh Harrellson) than the game suddenly swings in UConn's favor. Oriakhi is the most important of these players. When motivated, he can be an absolute beast inside for UConn.

These are two very good defensive teams who don't mind playing an "ugly" game. It might not be the prettiest basketball game we've ever seen, but it should be a competitive one.

Check out the UConn Blog for more on the Huskies, and SB Nation Indiana for more on the Bulldogs.

NCAA Final Four Features Four First-Round NBA Draft Prospects

The excitement of watching this weekend's NCAA Final Four may have dwindled a bit for Arizona sports fans following the Wildcats' loss to the University of Connecticut last weekend, but the fact that the Phoenix Suns will have a lottery pick in the 2011 NBA Draft means that basketball fans should still pay attention this weekend.

As interesting as the VCU vs. Butler game may end up, however, the game of the weekend as far as NBA prospects are concerned should definitely be UConn vs. Kentucky as four likely first round prospects will take the court while trying to advance to the 2011 NCAA Championship game.

Suiting up for the Connecticut Huskies is Kemba Walker, likely to be drafted prior to the Suns' pick, and fast-rising freshman prospect Jeremy Lamb. For the Kentucky Wildcats, freshman point guard Brandon Knight and combo-forward Terrence Jones both seem to be in line to be drafted near the Suns' selection.

Drafting someone to begin his NBA career as a backup to the backup point guard in the lottery probably doesn't make sense unless the Suns are seriously entertaining the possibility of trading Steve Nash this summer which probably rules Walker out, but the remaining three prospects all represent intriguing possibilities for Phoenix's potential pick.

Knight, on the other hand, seems to be more of a natural scorer as opposed to a playmaker which has led many to wonder if his future in the NBA is as a shooting guard. At 6-foot-3, Knight not possess ideal size to play off-the-ball in the NBA, but his ability to hit clutch shots and defend has all but made him a guaranteed lottery pick.

Jones, a 6-foot-8 forward, was projected to be one of the top NBA Draft picks heading into the season but Draft Express's newest NBA mock draft has the Wildcat freshman slotted as the 11th overall pick -- right around where the Suns will be selecting.

"He has a bit of a Michael Beasley feel for me as an undersized '4.' He's a good athlete but not off the charts. His greatest asset is his ability to dribble when a '4' has to guard him, a Western Conference executive told Sports Illustrated. "He's pretty mobile with the ball, he will rebound and he can score some. He's not a good shooter, but he'll make just enough that you have to defend him, and that will enhance his ball-handling because he'll dribble-drive you."

That sounds a bit too much like Earl Clark, but Clark had some fans so maybe that would work!

The last, but not least, NBA prospect playing in this weekend's games is Connecticut freshman Jeremy Lamb. Lamb, a rail-thin 6-foot-5 wing, has played very impressive so far this tournament and could end up as a lottery pick if he's able to play as well this weekend.

As a bonus, he compares favorably to Nash in at least one category according to the Western Conference executive cited in the SI article.

"He scores easily, he's long, he's bouncy," the executive said. "He's in the top five right now of players I've ever seen make runners -- he's up there with Steve Nash and Juan [Carlos] Navarro. A pretty good shooter but not a great shooter. He looks like he weighs 130 pounds."

Lamb is actually listed at 185 pounds, but he does look rather frail.

The Suns don't have a second round pick in this year's draft after sending it to Chicago when they acquired Hakim Warrick, meaning those are -- as of this weekend -- the final four NBA prospects still playing that would be in consideration to be drafted by Phoenix this summer.

Derrick Williams All-American Snub: Fans React To News

Derrick Williams is not a first team AP All-American.

For most fans of the Arizona Wildcats, this news is a slap in the face to an amazing basketball player. After showing the world just how talented he was in his team's Elite Eight run, it was broadly assumed Williams would be on the first team.

But don't forget, AP All-American picks are based on the regular season, just like an MVP or Cy Young in MLB. Your season-long statistics and output are weighed against the competition, and five players are picked. Here's the first team:

Jimmer Fredette, BYU Cougars

Jared Sullinger, Ohio St. Buckeyes

Kemba Walker, Connecticut Huskies

Nolan Smith, Duke Blue Devils

JaJuan Johnson, Purdue Boilermakers

AZ Desert Swarm had a unique take on this, saying "That's OK."

...It goes to show that the AP simply hadn't seen Williams.

Those who had, knew the whole deal.

Those who hadn't chose Purdue's Johnson, a guy with better numbers than Williams, comprable shooting percentages, and blocks that came otherwise of game winners. Not a bad choice. Plus, consider that the votes were tallied before the postseason, and you miss out on some of Williams' best clutch moments.

That ignorance comes down to TV contracts, one that Pacific 10 Conference president Larry Scott is, should I say, "has been for a while," trying to fix.

So yeah, Williams ended up on the second team. But look at all the compliments that came about over the course of this season, and you'll realize it's a symptom of a lack of knowledge, not disrespect.

If anything, look at it this way Wildcat fans; just another reason for Superman to prove everyone wrong yet again.

Putting a positive spin on this takes talent. Williams clearly deserved the nod, and it feels like a snub regardless of your allegiance.

Derrick Williams: NBA Draft Decision Not Yet Made, Will He Go Pro?

After a surprising run to the Elite Eight, the Arizona Wildcats are on the right track to national prominence. But that resurgence could take a detour if Derrick Williams decides to go pro and enter the 2011 NBA Draft. An All-American in 2010-11, Williams scored over 19 points a game during the season.

Most impressive, however, was Williams during the 2011 NCAA Tournament. Scoring nearly 23 points a game, Derrick Williams put his team on his back and led them with confidence, swagger and authority. College fans across the nation were blown away by the athleticism, talent, and drive that Williams played with against his opposition. He was clearly a man among boys.

From highlight reel dunks against Duke to spotting up and making an open three-pointer, Derrick Williams has exhibited the majority of traits required of a successful NBA basketball player. But as a sophomore, will he declare for the draft?

According to the Los Angeles Times, Williams had this to say after his team's heartbreaking loss to UConn in the Elite Eight:

"I'm not answering any questions about that, no questions about the next level, no questions about the NBA," Williams said.

This was in stark contrast to Ohio State's Jared Sullinger, who vowed to return to Columbus next season after their disappointing loss to Kentucky in the Sweet 16 on Friday.

I'm not going to sit here and compare Williams to Sullinger. It's clear that Derrick Williams is more polished, more versatile, and at this point, more talented. From a logical perspective, he should enter the NBA Draft. His stock has never been higher, and he is a lock for a top 3 pick. With the money he will earn from that contract, it must be very tempting.

At the same time, coach Sean Miller has cultivated a special environment for his team in Tucson. Leaving a program he assisted in rebuilding would be difficult to do, but much like James Harden leaving ASU after his sophomore season, it only makes sense.

Arizona fans across the country are hoping that Williams sees it differently.

For more coverage on Derrick Williams and the Arizona Wildcats, check out AZ Desert Swarm.