Da Sean Butler

Rk. Team Rec. Result Next 1. KANSAS 5-0 d. Tenn. Tech, 112-75 Alcorn State, Wednesday Jayhawks shoot 61% from the field against another overmatched opponent. 2. MICHIGAN STATE 4-1 l. to Florida, 77-74 Massachusetts, today Kalin Lucas scores 20 points but Spartans fall in semifinals of Legends Classic. 3. TEXAS 4-0 Did not play at Rice, Sunday 4. VILLANOVA 5-0 Did not play La Salle, today 5. KENTUCKY 6-0 Did not play N.C. Asheville, Monday 6. PURDUE 4-0 Did not play Central Michigan, today 7. DUKE 6-0 d. Connecticut, 68-59 at Wisconsin, Wednesday The Blue Devils win their third straight NIT Season Tip-Off title (2000, 2005)

Butler (32-4) vs. Michigan State (28-8): The Spartans have the experience — Michigan State lost in the national title game last season — but injuries have whittled away their depth. That could be an issue if Butler continues to play the swarming type of defense that brought it this far. Michigan State is the nation's top rebounding team and Butler is a bit undersized, but the Bulldogs don't often get beaten on the boards. Guard Durrell Summers is averaging 20 points in the tournament for Michigan State and Korie Lucious has been a more than adequate replacement for injured point guard Kalin Lucas.

Marcus Johnson scored 20 points and Dayton handed North Carolina one more disheartening loss at the end of a lousy season, beating the Tar Heels, 79-68, on Thursday night to win the NIT championship game at New York. Reserve guard Paul Williams had 16 points for Dayton (25-12), which bounced back from a disappointing regular season to capture its third NIT title and first since 1968. Picked to win the Atlantic 10 Conference, the Flyers faded late and missed the NCAA tournament before turning things around and ending on a high note.

Marcus Johnson scored 20 points and Dayton handed North Carolina one more disheartening loss at the end of a lousy season, beating the Tar Heels, 79-68, on Thursday night to win the NIT championship game at New York. Reserve guard Paul Williams had 16 points for Dayton (25-12), which bounced back from a disappointing regular season to capture its third NIT title and first since 1968. Picked to win the Atlantic 10 Conference, the Flyers faded late and missed the NCAA tournament before turning things around and ending on a high note.

WEST REGIONAL Kansas State (29-7) vs. Butler (31-4) THE BUZZ: Butler did a great job controlling tempo in the regional semifinal. The Bulldogs held Syracuse under 70 points for only the fourth time this season (the Orange lost three of them), and they will look to do the same against Kansas State, which prefers a fast pace — it averages 80.4 points per game. Though the Wildcats have excellent guards, they can struggle when it becomes a halfcourt game. Kansas State can be sloppy with the ball (only 17 more assists than turnovers)

Rk. Team Rec. Result Next 1. KANSAS 22-1 d. Nebraska, 75-64 at No. 9 Texas, Monday Cole Aldrich sparks a 16-1 run and Jayhawks win 55th in a row at home. 2. VILLANOVA 20-2 l. to G'town, 103-90 at No. 6 W. Virginia, Mon. Wildcats commit 16 first-half turnovers and suffer first Big East loss. 3. SYRACUSE 22-1 Did not play at Cincinnati, today 4. KENTUCKY 22-1 d. LSU, 81-55 Alabama, Tuesday DeMarcus Cousins has sixth consecutive double-double (17-12)