Butler and Duke to Square Off for NCAA Men's Basketball Championship

[Don Quixote]

Following Butler's victory over Michigan State, Duke punched its ticket to Monday's title game with a 78-57 victory over West Virginia. The second semifinal was fairly closely contested until late in the first half; Duke continued to pull away after halftime, especially following a potentially severe left knee injury to West Virginia's Da'Sean Butler more than midway through the second half.

[Sports Guy]

Hey Gesch, how tough is WVU now?

DOMINATION!

[beaner]

The line came out Duke -6...I've NEVER bet on Duke in my life, but, my god that looks too good to be true.

[Sports Guy]

The line came out Duke -6...I've NEVER bet on Duke in my life, but, my god that looks too good to be true.

They have covered the spread in each game this tourney.

[beaner]

They have covered the spread in each game this tourney.

And they will again Monday with ease. Smith has been so good in this tourney, I'm so impressed with him.

[Sports Guy]

And they will again Monday with ease. Smith has been so good in this tourney, I'm so impressed with him.

Just wait until next year.

Yes, Smith is playing at a really high level right now.

[beaner]

Just wait until next year.

Yes, Smith is playing at a really high level right now.

Irving and Smith will be a pretty impressive combo.

[Sports Guy]

Irving and Smith will be a pretty impressive combo.

...not to mention Curry, Singler, Plumlees, Hairston, Dawkins, etc.....

[The Epic]

I don't see how Duke doesn't come in next year with the fanfare that UNC '09 or UF '07 came in with.

[beaner]

I don't see how Duke doesn't come in next year with the fanfare that UNC '09 or UF '07 came in with.

Good point. I think I'm going to be sick.

[Oriolesfan8]

Not a slam dunk that Singler and Smith come back for Sr year, with Singler the more likely of the two to go pro.

I agree that Duke is the favorite on Monday, but they played a pretty much flawless game tonight, and it's going to be really hard to repeat that performance again.

[Pedro Cerrano]

Not a slam dunk that Singler and Smith come back for Sr year, with Singler the more likely of the two to go pro.

I agree that Duke is the favorite on Monday, but they played a pretty much flawless game tonight, and it's going to be really hard to repeat that performance again.

They would both be incredibly dumb not to come back. Neither projects to be an NBA super star entering this draft and will only serve to help dook entering next year.

Butler can definitely win this game but dook will be the best team entering next season and I can (disgustingly) envision dook going back to back next year...

[Sports Guy]

I guess it could be a slip of the tongue but last night, Smith said that he wantesd to make sure it wasn't the last game for Jon, Kyle and Lance.

Now, he didn't say Zoubek, who is a senior...Maybe just a mistake by Smith but maybe he also knows something.

Who knows...Singler shouldn't come out...He is very borderline in terms of being a first round pick.

Wouldn't surprise me to see him test the waters and see where he stands.

[Don Quixote]

Just about time to begin the beguine....

[Don Quixote]

Just over halfway through the first half, 18-all.