UConn to battle Butler for title

HOUSTON -- Butler will have to go through the big, bad Big East for the national title.

The Bulldogs will face third-seeded Connecticut, another one of college basketball's bluebloods, on Monday night as it tries to make up for last year's last-second heartbreak against Duke. The Huskies (31-9) already have two national titles, and Kemba and the kids are on quite a roll, winning their 10th straight elimination game with a 56-55 victory over Kentucky on Saturday night.

But eighth-seeded Butler (28-9) is on a pretty good run of its own, winning its 14th straight with a 70-62 victory over VCU in the first national semifinal.

"We've got a heck of a challenge on Monday night," UConn coach Jim Calhoun said. "But the fact that we're playing Monday night, that's beautiful."

This will be the first meeting between the schools.