BASKETBALL

It was Final Four weekend in college basketball, and it did not disappoint.

First up, it was the underdog Butler Bulldogs vs. another tournament surprise the Michigan State Spartans.  Both of these teams were curious when their exciting run was going to end.  Well, Saturday night they would find out.  The game was neck and neck the entire way, with the game knotted up at 28 heading into the half.  But, in the second half, Butler played their tough defense to keep the Spartans in check.  On the other hand, Michigan State kept the Bulldogs in check too.  There was a 6 minute stretch where each team only scored 3 points.  In the end, however, Butler had just a few more points, and earned a trip to the National Championship.  That’s right — the Butler Bulldogs are in the National Championship Game.  Not Kansas, not Syracuse, not the talent-filled Kentucky… Butler.  Butler 52, Michigan State 50.

In Game 2, it was the only #1 seed left in the tourney, the Duke Blue Devils, vs. the red-hot West Virginia Mountaineers.  West Virginia had not been to a final four since 1959, when Jerry West played there.  But they are the spirit of the state of West Virginia, and they want to bring home a title.  Duke, on the other hand, has been playing fantastic as well, and are jelling at just the right time.  What would happen?  Well, unfortunately, West Virginia just couldn’t find their rhythm.  Duke heated up from the 3-point line, which is almost certainly a dagger in the opponents heart.  In the second half, WVU essentially folded, letting Duke control the boards.  And that was all she wrote.  With that, the Duke Blue Devils head to the National Championship for the first time since 2001.

It’s the ultimate David vs. Goliath story.  The small, mid-major surprise story Butler vs. the mighty Duke Blue Devils.  If Duke wins, everyone will remember Butler’s historic run, and talk about Coach K’s ever-impressive resume.  But… if Butler wins, that will change the face of college basketball.  If a team like Butler can genuinely win the National Championship, that is a huge win for small schools everywhere.  It will put them on TV more, and thus generate more income for the schools.  This game is big.  It’s on Monday night at 9:00pm ET on CBS.

Finally, there was a big trade over the weekend in the NFL.  Long time Philadelphia Eagles quarterback is finally headed to another team.  There was speculation this team would be the Raiders or the Bills, but from out of left field, the Washington Redskins signed Donovan McNabb.  This is actually a good pick-up for the Redskins.  Sure, McNabb is in his twilight years, but he can still play.  Now, the Redskins will finally have a QB that can efficiently run the offense.  If they can keep games close with their good Defense, McNabb actually gives them a chance to win.  Then again, the Redskins are in the same division as the Eagles, and this move has drawn ire from Eagles fans.  He knows all of Philly’s secrets.