What team will cut down the nets in the NCAA tourney?

Butler

Butler fans shouldn't have too hard a time remembering how to get to Lucas Oil Stadium where the final four is being held.

East on 49th Street, right on Capital and drive about five miles.

A short 17 mile drive from campus, Butler is essentially playing in their back yard. The last time a team played this close to their campus was when UCLA went on to win the tournament in 1972. Combine this with the fact that Butler is possibly the hottest team in the nation - coming off a 24 game winning streak - and you're looking at a tough matchup. Throw in a couple of impressive key wins over No. 1 Syracuse and No. 2 Kansas State and what do you get? A title contender.

When looking at the components of this Butler team, it's hard to find something that there isn't to like. You have a bonified star in young forward Gordon Hayward and a quintessential sidekick in Willie Veasley. This team is built upon pillars of solid defense, protecting the ball and taking quality shots. The other final four teams fail to live up to the all-around play that makes Butler a threat, with the exception possibly Duke.

The overall talent of Butler is starting to make me like the chances of the Bulldogs celebrating in style come April 3.

-Eric Nelson

Michigan State

The Michigan State Spartans have made it crystal clear that the injury to their star guard Kalin Lucas is not going to force them out of their hunt for the NCAA National Championship.

Their response to Lucas' injury included knocking off the streaking Northern Iowa Panther's and the hot hands of Tennessee, giving them confidence heading into the their final four matchup against No. 5 Butler.

Even with Butler's intensity, the ecstatic Bulldog players are making their first Final Four appearance in the school's history and are competing at home in Indianapolis. The hype of home court advantage and being so close to the Championship will leave Butler star struck and unable to take down the more experienced Spartans.

If Durrell Summers continues to drain his jumpshots, then Tom Izzo and the Spartans will be the ones grabbing the scissors to cut down the net.

Michigan State is still hungry for the title after North Carolina dashed their hopes with a 89-72 blowout win in last year's tournament. Under the leadership of Izzo the Spartans will prevail.

-Gabe Taylor

Duke

In a year where the bracket buster reigns supreme, the Duke Blue Devils, who have become an upset-prone team since their National Championship in 2001, are back in the Final Four for the first time in six years.

Coach Mike Krzyzewski's senior trio-forward Lance Thomas, center Brian Zoubek, and guard Jon Scheyer-were often labeled as underachievers before leading their team to Indianapolis. Having seen senior Tyler Hansbrough lead the Tar Heels to a National Championship last year the three are going to be determined to match his efforts in pursuit of leaving Durham with a memorable legacy.

Krzyzewski, who has won back-to-back National Championships in 1991 and 1992 before winning again in 2001, will be prepared to knock out wide-eyed West Virginia, whose last championship came in 1959.

Either Michigan State, who was the local favorite in Detroit's Ford Field, will once again be runner-up or Butler University's head coach, Brad Stevens, will be calling his counterpart in East Lansing, Tom Izzo, asking him how to deal with the disappointment of losing in front of a football stadium full of hometown fans.

-Tom Schreier

West Virginia

This weekend's Final Four is going to be littered with high profile coaches: Michigan State's Tom Izzo, Duke's Mike Krzyzweski and West Virginia's Bob Huggins. But Coaches don't win games, players do. And West Virginia's got the best one around.

6 foot 7 shooting guard Da'Sean Butler is on a tear and has been America's best college player for the last month. In his last 10 games, in which the Mountaineers have gone undefeated, Butler has averaged 17.9 points, 6.9 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game. Not to mention the fact that he averages more assists per game than he does minutes spent on the bench in the NCAA tournament; the kid never leaves the court. Butler clocked 40 minutes of work against Kentucky last Saturday.

But why would you take him out? He leads the team in points per game and is one of West Virginia's best three point threats (.357).

And when the game is on the line, Butler answers the call. He single handedly eliminated both Cincinnati and Georgetown on buzzer-beaters in the Big East tournament.

If the Mountaineers can climb over Duke into the NCAA Finals, look for West Virginia and Butler to cut down the nets.

-Kurt Wagner