Connecticut’s incredible ride ended with a national championship.
The Huskies -- who started the season with almost no expectations, had a 9-9 Big East regular season and won nine games in 19 days just to reach the Final Four -- beat Butler 53-41 on Monday at Reliant Stadium to claim their third national championship and hand the Bulldogs their second consecutive title game defeat.
Kemba Walker scored a game-high 16 points and was named the tournament’s most outstanding player and Jeremy Lamb added 12 points – all in the second half – for the Huskies (32-9), who made Jim Calhoun (68) the oldest coach to ever win the national title.
