Jeremy LAMB of UCONN and Shelvin MACK of BUTLER....Key Components to why their TEAMS are headed to the FINAL FOUR in HOUSTON

The UCONN HUSKIES and the BUTLER BULLDOGS are headed to the FINAL FOUR in Houston Texas next weekend as both come up BIG when they had to and both took two entirely different routes to get to this point as well.

The BUTLER BULLDOGS used a 2nd half surge led by their MVP Shelvin MACK with 27 points and 4 rebounds and the inside play of one Matt HOWARD to edge Billy DONOVAN, Kenny BOYNTON, Chandler PARSONS, and the FLORIDA GATORS.

The GAME went into overtime as both teams had chances to win in regulation but didn't knock down pretty good looks. I thought for FLORIDA was their inability to keep going to their two BIGS down low in Seniors Vernon MACKLIN (25 points) and Alex TYUS (14points) as their guard play was a little bit too selfish in BOYNTON and WALKER.

The BULLDOGS had a lot of trouble stopping the GATORS in the PAINT so for the GATORS back court to not utilize them in the OVERTIME was the BALL GAME.....and the BULLDOGS just wanted more and their BIG GUNS in MACK and HOWARD played well in regulation and in OT to get the W.

AT the HONDA CENTER in ORANGE CA, the Upstart Arizona WILDCATS led by PAC-10 POY Marcus WILLIAMS were set to play the UCONN HUSKIES and All-World Combo Guard Kemba WALKER from GOTHAM CITY.

It was a see saw affair in the 1st half with the 'CATS holding serve early and the HUSKIES with the play of back-up PG Shabazz NAPIER coming up big in the ladder moments of the 1st half outplaying Arizona PG MOMO JONES and it looked like NAPIER caught the 'ZONA PG off guard a little bit.

The 2nd half went to the 'CATS again early as they erased a 7 point halftime deficit to tie the HUSKIES about a little over midway through the 2nd half. The Turning Point in this one was the BIGS of UCONN......ORIHAKI, OKWANDU, and SMITH'S ability to negate the Drives and paint points from MARCUS WILLIAMS that Williams had been so easily getting in previous games.

It looked like the UCONN plan worked because at the end of the game WILLIAMS for some odd reason was settling for JUMP SHOTS rather than taking the ball off the bounce and getting in the paint to get 'ZONA easy points. Hats off to UCONN'S Coaching STAFF for recognizing from games and film that WILLIAMS, if he were to get his, it wasn't going to be in the paint doing damage....we are going to make him a jump-shooting beauty tonight.......and the HUSKIES DID.

MVP of the game was UCONN FRESHMAN Jeremy LAMB....and his consistent play on both ends to make the WILDCATS have to account for one more guy...not just KEMBA WALKER. I was thinking in the ladder parts of this game that UCONN was going to be really good next year and earlier in the season there was no way I would have said that. That's COACH Jim CALHOUN and his STAFF getting it done a tailor-making the offense around WALKER and relying on everyone Else to get better as the season went forward.

Out of all the years I have seen the HUSKIES......and usually when they get this deep in the TOURNEY the roster is absolutely loaded......and to CALHOUN and his STAFF'S Credit.......they have probably done their best coaching job to date considering how young and inexperienced their ROSTER really is........STORRS CONNECTICUT must be proud and CALHOUN also considering the SCRUTINY he and his program have come under in the last year.