MARCH MADNESS BRINGS APRIL SADNESS

Does defense win championships, or does your opponent starting the game 1 - 22 inside the three point line?. Yesterday I wrote that this game was must see TV, and I would still argue that after the fact simply because the the on goings seemingly defy the odds. Both teams had seven minute stretches of zero field goals from the floor. After Butler mercifully ended theirs in the second half after finally making a lay up, they then had another six minutes of infertility. I say "finally making a lay up" because they literally missed ten of them for the game. It was as if the baskets had a small sign underneath that said, "Rims are not regulation size," as seen at your local state fair. Some credit has to go to the UCONN defense and their length, but still more than half of these shots were uncontested, within fifteen feet, and found every way possible not to drop through. The game came down to UCONN and their scorers finding some sort of rhythm in the second half, and Butler being unable to. When people look back on this game I think they'll remember it as one of the worst championship games played in memory, and that's unfortunate. The road to the final four was one of the best compilation of tournament games ever. Buzzer beaters, overtimes, star match ups, Gus Johnson, etc. -- this year had it all. Both teams had impressive runs to Monday nights game, some thinking UCONN's may have been the best ever. Another thing I hope that's not forgotten after one atrocious game is how remarkable Butler's run was this year and last, and hopefully this isn't the last time we hear from them for an extended period of time. Before this weekend, the 2011 tournament grade was easily a solid A. Now it may have dropped to the C+/ B- range, and that's just sad.