THE NCAA FINAL: It's a packed house at Lucas Oil Stadium for the NCAA Championship Game ...
Published: 04/06/2010 02:33:23
Credits: Cox/Getty
... and the Duke mascot is trying to pump up the fans ...
... but it's not like they need much help.
The Duke fans do all they can to try and counteract Butler's homecourt advantage any way they can ...
... but it's clear that if Duke loses, they'd be in the dog house.
Kyle Singler and the Blue Devils go up early ...
... but Avery Jukes aren't going to let Duke run away, as Singler & Co. are in for a dog fight.
Head coach Mike Krzyzewski is nervous, but keeps his team composed in the face of a big upset.
In the end, it comes down to a last-second heave by Gordon Hayward to try and lead Butler past another formidable foe ...
... but his shot hits off the glass, bounces off the rim and doesn't go in, much to the delight of Jon Scheyer and dismay of Matt Howard ...
... who can't seem to bear the agony of this defeat.
The Duke bench erupts when the horn sounds ...
... as Lance Thomas and the Blue Devils begin to bathe in confetti.
The Duke Blue Devils celebrate a 61-59 over Butler. It is Coach K's fourth national championship.
THE FINAL FOUR: Butler, the team often compared to the film, 'Hoosiers,' opens its game against Michigan State.
It's a packed house in Indianapolis at Lucas Oil Stadium as the national semifinals get underway.
Only a few short miles from their campus, the Butler faithful are out in full force.
The Butler cheerleaders show they've got some skill, too.
Raymar Morgan of Michigan State drives to the basket.
Ronald Nored helps lead the Bulldogs attack against the Spartans from the Big Ten.
Here's the real Butler Bulldog.
Delvon Roe puts up a shot as Michigan State tries to end Butler's 'Cinderella' run one game short of Monday's title tilt.
Butler's Shelvin Mack drives for two of his 14 points.
Gordon Hayward paces the Bulldogs with a team-high 19 points.
Butler's youthful head coach Brad Stevens has the best seat in the house for this tourney thriller.
Despite Delvon Roe's best effort, the Spartans fall short ...
... as the Horizon league champs celebrate a 52-50 semifinal win.
The nightcap sees a battle between Big East power West Virginia ...
... and the ACC's best, the Duke Blue Devils.
West Virginia tries to get Lance Thomas and the Devils off their game early.
But Thomas and his mates do the harrassing, keeping Da'Sean Butler and the Mountaineers offense in check.
John Flowers tries to fend off Duke forward Kyle Singler, but Singler scores 21 points to power the Devils as this game turns into a laugher.
Miles Plumlee gets the dunk ... and the technical for hanging on the rim.
The West Virginia cheerleaders try to find something to cheer for as this game slips away in the second half.
And it goes from bad to worse for the Mountaineers as Butler hurts his knee as he drives to the basket late in the second half.
Mike Krzyzewski is as intense as ever, but he has to like what he sees as he advances to his first NCAA title game since 2001.
It's all over for the Mountaineers as the bench watches the final minutes of their season play out in Indy.
John Flowers hangs his head as Duke sends West Virginia packing, 78-57.
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