After making the short drive to San Antonio to watch the VCU Rams defeat the powerhouse Kansas Jayhawks, we made a last minute decision to head up the road to Houston to watch the Final Four games, in what may be the best day of basketball to attend. Four teams, two games, the winners advance.

In the first game, the Butler Bulldogs played the upstart VCU Rams. This was a matchup of two Cinderella teams, neither of whom was expected to even win two games, let alone make it this far in the tournament. The game was never really close however, as the Bulldogs advanced to their second straight championship. A feat that very few teams have ever accomplished.

But, the real excitement started with the second game of the double-header as Julie’s hometown UConn Huskies played the Kentucky Wildcats for a chance to face Butler in the championship game on Monday night. Here is how the game unfolded.

The UConn Huskies are riding an improbable hot streak through the postseason.

Kemba Walker is the main reason why the Huskies are rolling.

Freshman Jeremy Lamb is Walker’s right-hand man.

He can shoot.

and he’s got hops… Jeremy Lamb goes over the rim.

The Huskies pre-game shoot around.

The Huskies await introductions.

The Wildcats introduction.

The Kentucky Wildcats huddle pre-game.

The Media Circus surrounding the Final Four.

Today’s game is brought to you by… the CBS announcers: Steve Kerr, Jim Nantz and Clark Kellog.

The meeting at half-court before tip-off.

The Corporate Crowd doesn’t give away who they are rooting for.

But, it’s easy to see who the fan favorite is, as Wildcat fans fill the arena.

The Wildcat Cheerleader.

The Wildcat Dances.

The game is underway. Jeremy Lamb guards Liggins at the top of the key.

If the Wildcats are to win, the young Brandon Knight must have a big game.

John Calipari and the Wildcat Bench watches the game unfold.

The Kentucky Wildcats huddle.

Kemba Walker and the Huskies start to take control of the game.

The Wildcat fans start to feel the game slipping out from under them.

The UConn Huskies feel the excitement coming on.

 

Is this destiny?

UConn at the line… Make it and win.

Huskies Win!

The UConn Huskies talk to the TV people.

Jim Calhoun and the Huskies.

One more game to go.

The Reliant Arena in Houston empties, as the Huskies prep for a matchup against the Butler Bulldogs.

UConn Huskies go on to win the National Championship two days later, in what will be remembered as maybe the worst final ever played. The Butler Bulldogs hardly made a shot all night, and the Huskies were not much better. However, the Huskies are the Men’s NCAA Basketball National Champions.

The Huskies started out the season winning the first tournament of the year. They had a fairly average year, but turned it back on in the Big East Championship, winning five games in five days. They continued that hot streak in the Big Dance. Kemba Walker may not have won Player of the Year, but there is no denying that he carried UConn through all of those tournaments, and his season will be remembered as one of the more remarkable single season performances in NCAA history.

Congratulations to the UConn Huskies.

I finally got to make it to the tourney, and it definitely lived up to the hype. I will be back sometime, but as of now, this is checked off of the list..