The No. 8 Butler Bulldogs clinched their second consecutive Final Four trip with a 74-71 overtime win over the No. 2 Florida Gators in one of the most exciting games of the entire 2011 NCAA Tournament so far. Florida had multiple chances to win in the closing minutes, but a pair of bizarre long threes gave Butler all the opportunity it needed. Not that Brad Stevens really needs your help, you understand.
Butler advances to take on either the No. 1 Kansas Jayhawks or No. 11 VCU Rams. If Kansas can hold off VCU, then Kansas’ average opponent seed throughout the entire tournament will be 10. Shelvin Mack was huge today for the Bulldog, scoring 27 points and adding four boards and four assists.
The No. 4 Kentucky Wildcats are now the only SEC team remaining. They’ll take on the No. 2 North Carolina Tar Heels Sunday.
For more on this game, Florida fans should visit Alligator Army and SB Nation Tampa Bay, and Butler fans should head to SB Nation Indiana.
More 2011 March Madness resources: Visit our NCAA Tournament hub for up-to-date news and information … updated printable NCAA Tournament bracket.
Check the full NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 schedule, and see predictions and previews for each game.