Editor's note: March Madness is too much for any one person to handle, so I'm adding help. The guys behind Ballin' Is a Habit, Rob Dauster and Troy Machir, will be contributing throughout March and into the Final Four, both with content from their Web site and original articles for us. This post originally appeared at BIAH.

By Troy Machir

The 2009-2010 season is officially over. Gone are the days of "the John Wall Dance" and 65-team tournaments. It was an amazing season. But it is over now. As Jay-Z always says "It's on to the next one".

- Mike DeCourcy details the best and the worst from the past season

- Gary Parrish takes a look back at the best tournament ever

- For Jeff Goodman, this one was "one for the ages"

- Yeah, you could call it an "instant classic"

- Say goodbye to 65 teams

- Championship game watched by the most people in decades

- There was nothing "mid-major" about Monday night's ratings

- Indiana Mayor says Butler are "Champs"

- According to the Charlotte Observer, Carolina is still better than Duke

- Butler still wins even though they lost

- Dominique Archie's request for an extra year is denied

- Greg Monroe wins Pete Newell Award

- Cornell head coach Steve Donahue will take over at Boston College; more Cornell coaching-related news and notes

- Big Red senior Jon Jaques wishes "Captain D" the best of luck

- Rutgers coach Frank Hill is being investigated for baseball game incident; Pink slip could be on the horizon

- Tulane will name ex-Citadel coach Ed Conroy as new head coach

- Finally, Jim Boehiem gets the recognition he deserves.....

- What if Gino tried coaching men's hoops?

- Coach Cal has no interest in the NBA

- Is there a "can't win it all" stigma with Calipari?

- Cornell has been busy in the off-season

- Who DOESN'T remember Wisconsin's Brian "The Polar Bear" Butch?

- Look at it this way, Your bracket for next year can't be as bad as it was this year

- The top guards in the 2010 draft

- One-and-done might not be the best fit at Kentucky

- Devils win, raise hell

- Mascot news: W&M change from "Tribe" to "Griffins". In other news, political correctness blows

- Apparently a fake-Eric Bledsoe declared for the draft and a real-Pat Forde fell for it

- Your only womens-hoops-related-news of the week: UConn wins. Again.

- This has little to do with college basketball, but will make you laugh for minutes

You can find more of Troy's writing at Ballin' is a Habit and follow him on Twitter @BIAHtheTrizzle.

Editor's note: March Madness is too much for any one person to handle, so I'm adding help. The guys behind Ballin' Is a Habit, Rob Dauster and Troy Machir, will be contributing throughout March and into the Final Four, both with content from their Web site and original articles for us. This post originally appeared at BIAH.

By Rob Dauster

That is the only way to put it.

I'm not talking Jennifer Hudson's performance itself, although that has been ripped to the point that CBS actually put out a press release addressing it. I didn't think she did all that bad.

No, what I hated what the editing job done by, well, whoever puts it together.

According to Deadspin, only once in the previous 23 One Shining Moments was any screen time given to the singer, eight seconds to Luther Vandross in 2003. Hudson got 12 seconds, which in and of itself wouldn't be a problem.

But what about the snubs?

Where is Ohio's win over Georgetown? Where is the game-winner from Quincy Pondexter? Where is anything -- seriously, anything -- from the best game of the tournament, the two overtime thriller between Xavier and Kansas State? Jordan Crawford's 35 footer to force the second overtime was the best shot, and the best call, of the entire tournament.

And what happened to "the ball is tipped" line? Give me a close up shot of a jump ball, not a close up of Hudson flicking her fingers.

Was a seventh place finisher on American Idol really worthy of that much TV time? This is One Shining Moment, not a remake of "Dreamgirls." The Final Four isn't the Grammy's. Give me some basketball highlights.

Anyway, here is the video, watch at your own risk.

You can find more of Rob's writing at Ballin' is a Habit and follow him on Twitter @ballinishabit.

Editor's note: March Madness is too much for any one person to handle, so I'm adding help. The guys behind Ballin' Is a Habit, Rob Dauster and Troy Machir, will be contributing throughout March and into the Final Four, both with content from their Web site and original articles for us. This post originally appeared at BIAH.

By Troy Machir

Congratulations to the Duke Blue Devils. You earned it. You might not have deserved it, but damn, you earned it. Butler, you did an admirable job in defeat.

- What.A.Ballgame.

- Are you kidding me? It's never too early; Not even for a top-50

- Hell, let's look at Bracketology for 2011

- Nolan Smith is returning to Duke, Singler is not sure yet

- Cameron Indoor Stadium was obviously going crazy; court-storming without a team

- Butler did have two chances to win it after all

- A great, great, great story a mother who finally got to see her son play

- This might mean just a bit more to Nolan Smith

- Old dog, new tricks

- Clemson's Oliver Purnell will be the new DePaul head coach

- "One Shining Moment" just isn't what it used to be

- The 24-best "One Shining Moments" from this years tournament

- Not all Dukies are bad people

- UCLA reserve forward Mike Moser is transfering

- Texas A&M is giving Mark Turgeon a raise

- Who is next for Boston College?

- It was a busy day for the Hurley family, says Adam Zagoria

- A source named "Bubba" says Coach K didn't laught at his joke

- Associate AD at Kansas steps down

You can find more of Troy's writing at Ballin' is a Habit and follow him on Twitter @BIAHtheTrizzle.

Editor's note: March Madness is too much for any one person to handle, so I'm adding help. The guys behind Ballin' Is a Habit, Rob Dauster and Troy Machir, will be contributing throughout March and into the Final Four, both with content from their Web site and original articles for us. This post originally appeared at BIAH.

By Troy Machir

To all Butler and Duke fans, I have only this to say: Today is yours. Carpe Diem.

- If I didn't know any better, I'd think Coach K and Brad Stevens are in a bromance

- Stevens is a quick learner

- I wonder how many of these I will read in the next 12 hours

- History in the making

- Ten things to watch for in the National Championship game
- Singler versus Hayward is an extraordinary matchup

- Ryan Fagan gives three reasons why both teams will win

- What would make "the boy wonder" leave Butler?

- Fans weigh-in on tournament expansion talk

- Greg Doyel details the day when Duke turned heel

- The Butler bandwagon gets bigger every day

- Anybody BUT Duke

- Butler is more "playoff-ready" than you would think

- Duke is trying to give Tobacco Road it's second back-to-back championship season

- I know what CBS is thankful for...(Oh. Sorry. Wrong holiday)

- Mike DeCourcy provides the keys to the game

- Andy Katz explains why Shelvin Mack is at home at Butler

- Dick Vitale using catch-phrases? Now I've seen everything

- Defense wins (will win) championships

- A good-read. Not sure how I missed it.

You can find more of Troy's writing at Ballin' is a Habit and follow him on Twitter @BIAHtheTrizzle.

Editor's note: March Madness is too much for any one person to handle, so I'm adding help. The guys behind Ballin' Is a Habit, Rob Dauster and Troy Machir, will be contributing throughout March and into the Final Four, both with content from their Web site and original articles for us. This post originally appeared at BIAH.

By Rob Dauster

Seeing posts like this bothers me.

Last night, with eight minutes to go and down 15 to a Duke team that was playing as well as they had all season long, Da'Sean Butler's left knee bent awkwardly as he planted his foot.

Season, and career, over.

So while Butler -- who is an emotional guy to begin with -- was writhing in pain on the ground, West Virginia coach Bob Huggins came over, gave him a hug, and calmed him down. It's a shame, but does anyone else feel like this is going to be the lasting image we have of this Final Four?

Here's the video.

I've never really been an anti-Huggins guy. From what I've seen of him, especially at West Virginia, he seems like a guy that genuinely cares about his players. At his press conferences, he comes off as a fatherly figure, Papa Bear watching over his cubs.

As for Butler, it's a shame his career ended like this. He wasn't just good, he was a great player for the Mountaineers. I've always considered myself a fan first, and Butler will be a guy I certainly miss watching.

You can find more of Rob's writing at Ballin' is a Habit and follow him on Twitter @ballinishabit.

Editor's note: March Madness is too much for any one person to handle, so I'm adding help. The guys behind Ballin' Is a Habit, Rob Dauster and Troy Machir, will be contributing throughout March and into the Final Four, both with content from their Web site and original articles for us. This post originally appeared at BIAH.

By Rob Dauster

Duke (33-5) vs. West Virginia (31-6), 8:47 p.m. on CBS

These are not your older brother's Duke Blue Devils.

No sir.

This is not a finesse team. These Blue Devils don't have five guards on the floor. They aren't going to live and die by the three. The 2010 version of Duke is a tough, physical group. The Devils defend and they hit the offensive glass hard.

Would you believe me if I told you that the key player on this team is Brian Zoubek? For three and a half seasons, Zoubek was a running joke. A top 25 recruit, Zoubek flopped more than Greg Paulus. My six-year-old nephew was stronger with the ball. I don't think he understood the concept of a post move. He still doesn't, but over the last 15 or so games of the season, Zoubek has developed into one of the country's best rebounders. He's always been big, but he's developed an aggressive streak. He goes to the offensive glass hard, he sets screens like a brick wall (ask Chris Kramer, who got knocked out by a Zoubek screen), and he's good for a couple of buckets every game.

Zoubek isn't the only capable big man that Duke has either. Lance Thomas and the Plumlee brothers are all strong, athletic, and capable of getting an offensive rebound or blocking a shot.

And Duke will need each one of them when they go up against the Mountaineers. If there is one thing that you can count on with a Bob Huggins coached team, it is physicality. The Mountaineers have, at any given time, four combo forwards on the floor, all of whom are . 6-7 to 6-9. They're all aggressive going to the glass, and all capable of hitting a perimeter jumper. Duke can rebound, but they are certainly going to have their work cut out for them Saturday.

The key matchup in this game is going to be West Virginia's Da'Sean Butler. He usually plays the two-guard spot, and it is going to create a matchup problem both ways. Whether he is guarded by Jon Scheyer or Nolan Smith, he is going to have a size and strength advantage. Huggins isn't afraid to use Butler in the post, and his height advantage allows him to shoot over smaller defenders.

It works the other way, too. Butler is not as quick as Smith or Scheyer. If WVU decides to go man he is going to be matched up with one of them, because you might not see thaqt much zone from the Mountaineers. The zone worked against Kentucky because they were able to pack their defense in and dare Kentucky to shoot it from the perimeter, and one thing I can guarantee is that Duke won't miss their first 20 3- pointers. The combination of Scheyer, Smith, and Kyle Singler is really good. They can all shoot, put the ball on the floor, and pass. If the 'Eers do go to a zone, they need to make a concerted effort on closing out long while cutting down driving lanes.

The X-factors for West Virginia are Kevin Jones and Wellington Smith. They are essentially the four and the five, and while neither really has much of a back to the basket game, what makes them so dangerous is their ability on the perimeter. Both are better than average shooters, which means that whoever is matched up on them (Zoubek, a Plumlee, Thomas) is going to need to defend them on the perimeter. If they do, that opens up rebounding lanes -- and we all know how good WVU is going to the glass.

Two factors that will be talked about at length that I, personally, don't see being a huge issue is Truck Bryant and Singler. Bryant has a broken bone in his foot, but there is a chance that he could actually see time during the Final Four. If he does, I doubt he is going to be much of a factor. No matter what kind of orthotic you have put in your shoe, a broken bone is a broken bone. And if he doesn't play, well, we all saw what Joe Mazzulla is capable of.

As far as Singler goes, he has a tendency to struggle against players his size with his mobility, which is just about 75 percent of the WVU roster. I don't expect him to be much of a factor.

This is going to be a great basketball game. It won't be that aesthetically pleasing, and I wouldn't be surprised if it ended up somewhere in the low 60s. But what you will see are two well-coached teams that play physical basketball and really compete hard.

I hope there is a lot of ice in Indianapolis, because these kids will need it Saturday night.

You can find more of Rob's writing at Ballin' is a Habit and follow him on Twitter @ballinishabit.

Editor's note: March Madness is too much for any one person to handle, so I'm adding help. The guys behind Ballin' Is a Habit, Rob Dauster and Troy Machir, will be contributing throughout March and into the Final Four, both with content from their Web site and original articles for us. This post originally appeared at BIAH.

By Rob Dauster

Butler (32-4) vs. Michigan State (28-8), 6:07 p.m. ET on CBS

Based strictly on seeding -- that pesky little number always showing up next to the team names -- Michigan State and Butler should probably not be playing in the Final Four.

How quickly we forget that these two teams were picked by many back in October to be Final Four teams.

Butler struggled early against some of the better teams that it faced, and it led many people to write off the Bulldogs -- myself included. They were too small, they didn't have the athleticism to matchup with the power conference teams, and they play in the Horizon League. As much love as we give mid-majors programs here, there is a reason they are mid-major programs. Butler is a great basketball program, but they aren't going to be landing any McDonald's All-Americans. They aren't going to be churning out lottery picks. The way Butler is going to win games is by maximizing the talent that they do get into their program.

But don't fool yourself into thinking that Butler lacks talent.

Gordon Hayward is going to play in the NBA one day. A 6-foot-9 two-guard with his skill set is going to get a shot somewhere, and he may even sneak into the back end of the lottery when he finally decides to go pro. Matt Howard was recruited by a number of Big Ten schools. He didn't end up at Butler, he chose Butler. Shelvin Mack is a Lexington, Ky., native who drew interest from some high-majors and slipped through the cracks. I think he's certified himself as an Adam Dunn special -- one of the guys that the big schools whiffed on.

While Butler does have talent, the key to its team is it doesn't rely on that talent to win. What Butler does is play arguably the nation's toughest half court defense, forcing you out of your comfort zone offensively, finishing off possessions by clearing the defensive glass. There may not be a better perimeter defender left in the tournament than Ronald Nored (if you don't believe me, go back and watch the struggles of talents like Randy Culpepper, Andy Rautins, Jacob Pullen, and Denis Clemente when they played Butler).

Then look at a guy like Willie Veasley. At 6-3, he essentially plays the small forward spot for Butler most of the time, but he was the one that drew the assignment of helping Nored slow down Kansas State's backcourt in the Elite Elite. Anyone that saw that game would attest -- he did an exemplary job.

Michigan State, for much of the season, was the exact opposite of Butler. While it didn't exactly have NBA potential littering their roster like Kentucky, there are more than a couple guys on this team that will get a shot at making an NBA roster. During the season, these guys just didn't live up to their potential. So while the inconsistent play of Durrell Summers and Raymar Morgan and Kalin Lucas made everyone in the country temper their expectations for Sparty, it in effect made us forget just how good they really are. Remember, this is a team that returned a lot of important players from a team that was the national runner-up.

And in typical Tom Izzo fashion, Michigan State saved its best for the tournament. Summers -- the Midwest Region MOP -- was outstanding, averaging 20.0 ppg through the first two weekends. He was knocking down jumpers, getting to the basket, and turned into the Spartans best player in the clutch. Morgan has been playing like the tough, talented combo forward we all knew he could be. Delvon Roe, balky knee and all, has been active on the offensive glass. Draymond Green has done everything your glue guy and team leader is expected to do. Remember who set up both of Michigan State's game winners in this tournament?

There are a number of areas that can decide this game.

Michigan State is a very good rebounding team and Butler will have to keep them off the offensive glass. The Spartans are going to have to find a way to slow down Mack and Hayward. Howard has been foul prone all season, and while Andrew Smith performed valiantly on Saturday against K-State, Butler probably doesn't want to have to rely on another performance like that.

But where this game will be decided is with Korie Lucious. As we mentioned, Butler's back court is very, very good defensively. The Bulldogs can pressure the ball and make it difficult for your guards to be able to do anything on the offensive end. Lucious has not been great in his limited time at the point this year. He is a bit undersized, more of a natural scorer than a pure point guard, and as Izzo has said, has a little street ball in him. He has shown a tendency to turn the ball over when faced with pressure, and you better believe that Brad Stevens will have his players getting all over Lucious.

One thing you can be sure of is Izzo's ability to game-plan and to diagram sets that can be effective. If Lucious is able to perform against that pressure and get the Spartans into these sets, Michigan State is going to be in a very good position. If he can't, than Michigan State may not break 60 points, like each of Butler's last six opponents.

So who wins out? The team missing their star but led by Izzo, or the team on a 24-game winning streak playing in their home city?

Expect a dogfight that ends with a coaching chess match.

You can find more of Rob's writing at Ballin' is a Habit and follow him on Twitter @ballinishabit.

Editor's note: March Madness is too much for any one person to handle, so I'm adding help. The guys behind Ballin' Is a Habit, Rob Dauster and Troy Machir, will be contributing throughout March and into the Final Four, both with content from their Web site and original articles for us. This post originally appeared at BIAH.

By Troy Machir

On expansion: Dana O'Neil, Gary Parrish, Mike DeCourcy. But could it actually be a bad business move?

- More funny business going on at Binghampton

- SO this is what a college basketball BCS would look like

- Isiah wants to coach at DePaul. In other news, I feel the need to vomit

- It looks like Tubby will stay in Minnesota afterall

- Wake Forest's Al-Farouq Aminu declares for the draft

- I sure would. But then again I'm not a coach, GM or owner

- Houston hires James Dickey

- The people at DraftExpress do good work: full highlights from the McDonald's H.S. Dunk Contest

- Oh great, ANOTHER banner or the Dean-dome. Like UNC seriously needs any more.

- Not everybody hates the Dukies this year

- A quick look at the list of who is staying and who is going

Jimmy Chitwood and the rest of "The Hooisers" embrace Butler's run- Unfortunately, this whole tournament expansion thing wasn't just a big April Fools prank

- The NCAA doesn't care how we feel

- Cornell's Louis Dale is named Collegeinsider.com's NMMMVP

- What team has the most important starting five

- This is the first time I've heard of Jim Delany but I already don't like him.

You can find more of Troy's writing at Ballin' is a Habit and follow him on Twitter @BIAHtheTrizzle.

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images Can Kyle Singler be consistent enough to beat West Virginia?

Editor's note: March Madness is too much for any one person to handle, so I'm adding help. The guys behind Ballin' Is a Habit, Rob Dauster and Troy Machir, will be contributing throughout March and into the Final Four, both with content from their Web site and original articles for us. This post originally appeared at BIAH.

By Rob Dauster

DUKE BLUE DEVILS

Star: Can you really decipher between the big three on Duke? All three average between 17.4 ppg and 18.2 ppg. Kyle Singler was an All-American last year. Jon Scheyer was this year. Dollars to donuts, Nolan Smith will be an All-American next year. Singler is going to have a tough matchup against West Virginia, but the Mountaineers are going to have a tough time matching up with Scheyer and Smith, as they only have one real guard on the court at any given time.

Unheralded Hero: For three and a half years, Brian Zoubek was a running joke. Soft, slow, un-athletic, uncoordinated. But something clicked midway through this season. The 7-footer is now a rebounding machine, a tough SOB on in the paint that isn't scared to drop an elbow or set a menacing screen. Duke has become one of the best offensive rebounding teams in the country, and Zoubek is the biggest reason why.

How they got here: Duke smoked both Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Cal during the first weekend. Against Purdue in the Sweet 16, the Blue Devils got off to a sloppy start, but turned it on in the second half as they out-toughed one of the country's toughest teams. In the Elite Eight against Baylor, Duke pulled away late. While some credit it to a shady call on a charge against Quincy Acy (drawn by Zoubek, who else), it actuality it was four offensive rebounds that led to three threes and a three-point play down the stretch.

Three reasons they can win it all:

Perimeter play: As I mentioned, Duke's three perimeter guys are fantastic. There is a reason Duke is the most efficient offensive team in the country. West Virginia, whether it goes man or zone, is going to have a tough time defending Duke's three perimeter guys. They can't go zone. Scheyer, Smith, and Singler are just too good. They all can shoot, and all three are capable of putting the ball on the floor, getting into the paint and making a play. If the Mountaineers go man-to-man, Duke is still going to have an advantage. One of West Virginia's four forwards is going to have to defend either Scheyer or Smith. Can they?

Toughness: This isn't your typical Duke team. This is a tough group of guys. They defend and they rebound. Ask Baylor. The Blue Devils got 23 offensive rebounds against the big, athletic front line of the Bears. Ask Purdue, Cal, or Arkansas Pine-Bluff, who combined to score 154 points against the Blue Devils. Ask Chris Kramer, who was knocked out by a Zoubek screen. With guys like Zoubek, Lance Thomas, and the Plumlees, Duke is bigger and more athletic than they have been in a long time.

Mental Toughness: It's not just physical toughness either. Duke has been run through the ringer this season. From the typical "Duke is overrated" storyline to the idea that they couldn't win on the road. They are hated in everyone arena they play in. They have dealt with tragedy -- Andre Dawkins' sister died this season. And Smith is on a mission to win a title in the same city his father won one 30 years ago. The pressure of a Final Four doesn't seem like it will register to this team.

Three reasons they won't:

Singler's inconsistency: Singler has not had a bad season, but he has definitely regressed from where he was last year. While some of it is a result of the emergence of Smith and Scheyer as stars, a big reason has been his move to the perimeter exclusively. Singler excelled at the four, where he was quicker than most of the people that would defend him. But he struggles when he has to go against players with a similar physical profile. West Virginia is chock full of those players. Butler and Michigan State both have guys that match up very well with Singler. If he has another performance like he did against Baylor, and Smith and Scheyer don't combine for 49 points, Duke could be in trouble.

Playing the bad guy: Duke is always going to be the enemy. Coach K is always going to be the enemy. That's what you sign up for when you decide to play for the Blue Devils. In each of their Final Four games, every fan not wearing blue will be cheering against the Dukies.

Pressure on the back court: Duke struggled in the first half against Purdue. They held the Boilermakers to just 23 points, but could only muster 24. As tough and physical as Duke's front court is, their back court can be pressured and pushed around. If you get them uncomfortable, they miss shots. If they are missing shots, Duke is very beatable.

You can find more of Rob's writing at Ballin' is a Habit and follow him on Twitter @ballinishabit.

Brian Snyder / Reuters Can Kevin Jones and West Virginia reach the mountain top?

Editor's note: March Madness is too much for any one person to handle, so I'm adding help. The guys behind Ballin' Is a Habit, Rob Dauster and Troy Machir, will be contributing throughout March and into the Final Four, both with content from their Web site and original articles for us. This post originally appeared at BIAH.

By Rob Dauster

WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEERS

Star: As good as Joe Mazzulla was against Kentucky, the star of this West Virginia team is Da'Sean Butler, as he kind of embodies what they are all about. Butler isn't flashy. He isn't a great athlete, he doesn't handle the ball well, and his jumper is pretty ugly. But it all works, he gets the job done. And Butler can really do it all; he's one of those guys that isn't great at any one thing, but is pretty good at just about everything. He can defend multiple positions, he can hit a three, he can slash to the rim, and he can get on the boards. Oh, and something about game-winning shots?

Unheralded Hero: The obvious answer is Mazzulla, but Mazzulla had to go and have an awesome game on Saturday, scoring 17 points against Kentucky and winning the East Region MOP. The other answer is Wellington Smith. Of West Virginia's four starting forwards, Smith is the one that gets the least fanfare. Smith is a versatile forward, and given his girth he usually ends up defending an opponent's biggest player with the 'Eers decide to go man. He rebounds well, especially on the offensive end of the floor. But perhaps his most valuable skill is the ability to knock down a three. Because he often is guarded an opponent's big man, he draws the defender out to the perimeter, which helps to open up the paint.

How they got here: After smoking Morgan State in the opening round of the tournament, West Virginia got 19 first-half points from Butler as the Mounties were able to dictate tempo and avoid turnovers in a win over Missouri. WVU pulled away from Washington in the second half of their Sweet 16 game, getting 18 points and 8 boards from Kevin Jones. Against Kentucky in the Elite 8, West Virginia hit eight threes and no twos in the first half, but still found themselves in the lead. The 'Eers, sparked by Mazzulla, would go on a big second-half run to take a 16-point lead and hold on for the win.

Three reasons they can win it all:

Rebounding: In a Final Four based around rebounding, West Virginia might be the best rebounding team left. Why? Because they have to get to the offensive glass if they are going to win. This isn't a team loaded with offensive superstars. There are times when the Mounties struggle to score and their best offense becomes taking a shot and chasing a rebound. And they are good at it. WVU has four guys on the floor at any given time that are 6-foot-7 to 6-foot-9, physical, athletic, and that really chase the ball.

They don't have to play just zone: I don't think West Virginia is going to be able to use that 1-3-1 defense against Duke. The Blue Devils have too many good perimeter players and too many good shooters. The good news? West Virginia isn't a zone team. Up until recently, the 'Eers were known for their man-to-man defense. The one was a wrinkle that Huggins put in before a game earlier in the season, and it was effective enough to stick.

The Da'Sean Butler effect: I have been high on Butler since his sophomore season with WVU. The kid plays hard, plays smart, and has turned into arguably the best clutch shooter in the country. Butler hit those six game-winners. He scored 19 first-half points against Missouri as the Tigers were trying to run away from WVU. He hit four straight threes to kick start the 'Eers against Kentucky. Oh, and he surprises old Mountaineers fans in the hospital.

Three reasons they won't win it all:

They aren't hitting 10 threes again: This is not a great shooting team. They shoot just 33 percent from deep, and usually make about six per game. They don't win that Kentucky game if they don't hit 10 of them. Granted, the Wildcats are a different defensive team defensively than Duke, but the Devils may actually be better. They excel in the half court not at forcing turnovers or blocking shots, but at making you take the toughest shot they can. West Virginia can struggle on offense at times, especially against good, disciplined defensive teams.

How many more tricks does Mazzulla have left up his sleeve?: In 2008's second round, Mazzulla had 13 points, 11 boards, and 8 assists as West Virginia knocked off Duke as a seven seed. On Saturday, Mazzulla had 17 points, including 14 in the second half, as he led WVU to a 73-66 upset of the Wildcats. Does he have anything left? Will he be able to put on his show again? Keep in mind, Duke's guards are much more fundamental on the defensive end, and Mazzulla is playing with one shoulder. And if Truck Bryant is unable to play, Mazzulla becomes that much more important against.

Devin Ebanks is simply not a great player: Yes, he may one day be an NBA all-star, but right now he really has no clue what he's doing. Twice in the last month he has obliterated plays in the final seconds by being unaware of how much time was left. He can't really dribble, he can't really shoot, and he doesn't have much in the way of a back to the basket game. While he may still end up with 12 points, 6 boards, and a handful of assists, steals, and/or blocks, he is not a guy you want to rely on to get you consistent anything.

You can find more of Rob's writing at Ballin' is a Habit and follow him on Twitter @ballinishabit.

Editor's note: March Madness is too much for any one person to handle, so I'm adding help. The guys behind Ballin' Is a Habit, Rob Dauster and Troy Machir, will be contributing throughout March and into the Final Four, both with content from their Web site and original articles for us. This post originally appeared at BIAH.

By Troy Machir

- Butler will win it all, and there are nine reasons why

- Oklahoma might have themselves another NCAA violation

- Reasons why Michigan State will win it all

- Virginia Commonwealth beat Saint Louis to win the CBI

- A somber conclusion to the 2009-2010 Kentucky basketball season

- Jamie Dixon will stay at Pittsburgh, and get more money

- Tim Floyd should write a book called "Perhaps Maybe I Did It and Yes I'd Do It Again"

- Floyd also says he wasn't called about the DePaul job

- Reggie Theus is interviewing for the DePaul job

- Tulane lets Dave Dickerson go after five seasons; Questions remain unanswered

- Kevin Willard is introduced as the new head coach at Seton Hall; Doesn't take him very long to land his first recruit

- Rick Pitino gets extension thru 2017

- Jim Larranaga will stay at George Mason thru 2016

- ...So what you're basically saying is that Boston College wants Frank Martin?

- Was it risky for Iowa to hire Fran McCaffery?

- Iowa fans go crazy a bit overboard with the Fran puns

- Steve Lavin is optimistic about his new team's chances

- I had no idea how hot Lavin's wife is

- Could Andre Dawkins be Duke's X-factor?

- Joe Mazulla exemplifies a true mountaineer

- Travis Leslie aka "The Southern Dandy Dunk Machine" will return to Georgia for his junior year (OK, OK, I made the nickname up, but it's pretty fitting right?"

- Daniel Orton will test NBA draft waters

- So too will Viriginia Tech's Malcolm Delaney

- Kyle Whelliston and the Mid-Majority definitely win for having the best Best Bracket Contest

- Adam Zagoria wraps up a busy day in New York City hoops

- IF you want the latest coaching scoop, Jeff Goodman is your guy

- Mike DeCourcy answers five interesting questions

- Not all of President Obama's brackets are doing poorly

- Gambling Tips: Players to study

- Hating Duke has become second-nature to us all

You can find more of Troy's writing at Ballin' is a Habit and follow him on Twitter @BIAHtheTrizzle.

Jeff Haynes / Reuters Korie Lucious and Draymond Green are two of the Spartans' unsung heroes.

Editor's note: March Madness is too much for any one person to handle, so I'm adding help. The guys behind Ballin' Is a Habit, Rob Dauster and Troy Machir, will be contributing throughout March and into the Final Four, both with content from their Web site and original articles for us. This post originally appeared at BIAH.

By Rob Dauster

During the next two days, we will be taking a team-by-team look at the Final Four.

MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS

Star: Right now, the moniker of go-to player has to be bestowed upon Durrell Summers. Summers has worlds of talent, but for whatever reason -- a lack of focus, inconsistent intensity -- he did not live up to that potential this season. But in the tournament, Summers has been a different player. He has been aggressive, knocked down jumpers, and has been the best scorer for a Michigan State team that needs a star with Kalin Lucas out. He averaged 20.0 ppg in four games in the regional, earning Midwest MOP while knocking down a number of important shots. I don't know if there is anyone else on the Michigan State roster capable of taking a game over.

Unheralded Hero: Delvon Roe has been nothing short of a warrior. The kid has the knees of a 75-year-old offensive lineman -- he's currently playing with a torn meniscus -- and at least once a game comes up limping after it gets it. He isn't playing big minutes (20-25 a game) and he isn't posting big numbers (5.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg), but the simple fact he is playing through the pain is a feat in and of itself, and no doubt inspiring to his teammates. Did I mention he has a torn meniscus?

How they got here: If Butler had the most difficult trip to the Final Four, Michigan State had the easiest -- and the most exciting. In the first round, the Spartans jumped all over New Mexico State, but the Aggies made it interesting at the end, missing three attempts at a three to force overtime in a game that was marred with an officiating controversy. In the second round against Maryland, Kalin Lucas popped his Achilles late in the first half, but Michigan State was able to extend its lead. Maryland made a run in the final four minutes, taking the lead, before Korie Lucious hit a three at the buzzer for the win. Northern Iowa gave Michigan State a run in the Sweet 16, leading by seven at halftime, but Michigan State turned on the defense down the stretch, holding UNI without a field goal for the last 10:22 of the game while Kalin Lucas and Raymar Morgan hit big shots down the stretch. Sparty beat Tennessee to advance to the Elite 8, winning when Raymar Morgan hit a free throw with just 1.8 seconds left on the clock.

Three reasons they can win it all:

Tom Izzo: Duh. The guy is the best in-game coach in the country. Period.

Experience: Michigan State may be without Kalin Lucas, but this is still an experienced group of kids that played in the Final Four last year. None of the other teams can say that. Coach K is the only coach that has been in the Final Four recently, taking Duke there in 2004. Anyone can sit there and talk about this just being another game, but that's before you take the court in front of 70,000 people and a national television audience.

Winning close games: Some may call the Spartans run to the Final Four lucky. It may be (see below). But there is also something to be said for being a "winner". I've said this numerous times, but winning is a skill. It is a mindset. Yes, they may have won all four of their games in the final minute, but they still won them. The Spartans made the plays and got the stops they needed to get to be at this point. Say what you will about officiating and last minute plays, but it was the Spartans who forced New Mexico State into three contested shots to force overtime. It was Green and Lucious who created the buzzer beating jumper against Maryland. It was Michigan State that got stops for the last 10 minutes against Northern Iowa, and Lucious and Morgan who made the big shots down the stretch. It was Green who found an open Morgan who drew the foul against Tennessee. At some point, a reoccurring coincidence becomes a trend, and it's no coincidence that MSU is always successful in March an no coincidence that they won four games this March.

Three reasons they won't win (beyond the obvious Lucas injury):

Statistically, they may be the worst Final Four team ever: The Wall Street Journal crunched some numbers, and, well, I'll let them explain:

Judging by how many points Michigan State beat its first four tournament opponents by, 13, the team is the worst to make the Final Four since 1985, when the tournament switched to its current format.

By comparison, Butler beat its first four opponents -- which included a No. 1 and No. 2 seed, MSU beat a 12, 4, 9, and 6 -- by 31 points. The average of the previous 104 Final Four teams was 55 points. They won on two game-winning shots, one missed game-tying shot, and was tied with Northern Iowa with 90 seconds left.

Is Korie Lucious a point guard? More specifically, can he fill Lucas' shoes? Not necessarily as a scorer, either. I think we can all agree -- and even Izzo and Lucious will admit -- Lucious isn't the player that Lucas is, and that is not meant to be a knock at all. Lucious can shoot and he can create going 1-on-1, but he has had issues turning the ball over when running the point. He is going to go up against a couple tough defenses this weekend. Will the Spartans be able to execute?

Durrell Summers is consistently inconsistent: Summers in an enigma. The guy has the tools to be a pro, but the consistency of a manic depressive. Through four games in this tournament, he has been sensational, averaging 20.0 ppg while hitting 53.3 percent from three and earning the Midwest Region MOP. The four game before that? He averaged 7.3 ppg while hitting just 10-29 from the floor. He has attempted one more three pointer (30) in the tournament than he did field goals (29) in the four games before the tournament started. Which Summers will show up?

You can find more of Rob's writing at Ballin' is a Habit and follow him on Twitter @ballinishabit.