CARSON, CA/CERRITOS, CA (smt)-  The second-half was a back-and-forth affair but the #8SE-Butler pulled away in the last few minutes to beat #11SW-VCU, 70-62, in the first semifinal.  The Bulldogs are the first runner-up to get back in the final since '98 when Kentucky made it back and won the title.  It's amazing that Butler was considered a Cinderella last year as a #5 seed but this year as a #8 seed, no Cinderella title although they will be the underdog against #3W-UConn who beat #4E-Kentucky 56-55 in the other semifinal.  Kentucky stunk it up at the free throw line (4/12) while UConn stuck it up from long range (1/12).  It was tied at 48 before UConn scored the next six points over 5 1/2 minutes (ugly!).  The Wildcats had a chance to get back in but they missed the front end of a one-and-one while UConn with 2 seconds left nailed both free throws (of a 1-and-1).

Seven picked UConn propelling five of the seven into money contention.  The Mighty Mobelfakta (107 pts) is now in first knocking Craig (2nd-T, 106) out of first for the first time since Day 3.  Five have clinched money.  The MM will finish 1st or 2nd.  Krispy Kremer (5th, 100) will win 1st or 5th. Craig and The Lake Show (106) will finish 2nd, 3rd, or 4th.  MB Camel Jockies (4th, 104) will finish 4th or 5th.  That leaves five battling for sixth.  Either BINLADEN (25th-T, 91) will win it if UConn wins or Joker's Wild, Swerveman, The Downtown Fiction, or Union Strong (all 6th-T, 99) will battle for the tiebreaker if Butler wins.  This is the 6th time in the past 8 years that the Pool winner will be decided in the final.  The tiebreaker will finally break the logjam for last, as Keebler's Three Sum, Yellow Monkey, and WE LOVE GORDO!! (66) have been joined at the hip since the end of the Elite 8.

As for the Bonus, the Big East will win the Winningest Conference with either 12 or 13 wins.  If UConn loses in the Final, then BamaG 2 (72nd-T, 81), Cally 2 Stiff (105th-T, 74), or Cally 2 Tough (31st-T, 90) (Matt C will have 2 chances!) could win the Bonus.  If UConn wins it all, then For Narnia (119th, 69) or Buzzer Beaters (17th-T, 95) will win the Bonus.