Don't Dismiss Spartans in UNC Rematch

(NEWSER) - Now Tyler Hansbrough, Ty Lawson, Wayne Ellington, and Danny Green can head to the NBA feeling good about their decision to return to school. The upperclassmen led North Carolina to its fifth national championship with an 89-72 blowout of Michigan State tonight in Detroit, reports the AP. "We've been working so hard since last year when we fell short," said Ellington, named most outstanding player. "I wanted to redeem myself. We worked so hard." More»

Popularity has sucked all the charm out of the tournament

(NEWSER) - In the '60s and '70s, the NCAA tournament was boring because UCLA seemingly always won. These days, "instead of UCLA winning it every year, there are now between five and nine UCLAs that can win it every year," Charles Pierce writes for Slate. "It's just as sterile and dynastic as it used to be." It’s oligarchy rather than monarchy, but it feels just as stale. More»

(NEWSER) - Louisville, UNC, Oklahoma, and Michigan are all headed to the Elite Eight after an occasionally ugly night of basketball. Here’s how it went down:

• In a night of lopsided victories, no one dominated more than Louisville. The Cardinals demolished Arizona 103-64, one of the most crushing blowouts the Sweet 16’s ever seen.
• UNC didn’t have much more trouble dispatching Gonzaga. A 17-point first half from Ty Lawson helped lead the Tar Heels over the Zags, 98-77.

Bulldogs beat Michigan State to advance

(AP) - Gordon Hayward scored 19 points and collected the final rebound, sending little Butler to its biggest victory, a 52-50 win over Michigan State in the Final Four tonight. The Bulldogs now will play the winner of West Virginia-Duke for the national title on Monday night. In their hometown, no less. More»

West Regional No. 5 seed topples K-State, will play 5 miles from campus

(AP) - Butler has earned a trip home for the Final Four. Gordon Hayward made a driving layup with under a minute to go, and the fifth-seeded Bulldogs used the same tenacious defense they exhibited all game in the closing seconds to knock off second-seeded Kansas State , 63-56, in the West Regional final today in Salt Lake City. Hayward finished with 22 points to lead Butler (32-4), which won its 24th straight and will play Michigan State or Tennessee next weekend. More»