VCU and Kentucky Advance to the Final Four

Virginia Commonwealth knocked off Kansas to continue to their improbable run through the tournament, and Kentucky defeated North Carolina in a battle of the traditional contenders, as the 2011 Final Four is set in Houston.

For VCU, an 11th seed, the victory over Kansas was decisive and they will play another surprising team in the Final Four, the Butler Bulldogs.

Kentucky will face Connecticut in Houston in a game that pits two teams with substantial Final Four experience.

VCU was led by Jamie Skeen, who only shot six-of-17 from the field, but led all scorers with 26 points. Skeen shot 10-12 from the free throw line, and added 10 rebounds.

The Rams led Kansas by 18 points at one point in the first half. Kansas cut the deficit to five points deep into the second half, but they would come no closer.

Kansas, a one-seed, shot just 35.5 percent from the field, and were only two-of-21 from beyond the three-point arc. The Jayhawks only converted 15 free throws in 28 attempts.

A VCU-Butler game will pin teams that beat top-seeds in a Final Four game.

For Kentucky, the Wildcats came off a very close game against Ohio State to beat North Carolina is game they led for most of the game. The Tar Heels were within one point with less than a minute remaining.

But Darius Miller and DeAndre Liggins each came up with critical blocks, and Brandon Knight hit free throws to hold off North Carolina.

The Wildcats had six players score eight points or more. Knight led all scorers with 22 points.

Kentucky hit 12 three pointers off 22 attempts. The Wildcats out shot the Tar Heels 48.2 percent compared to the Tar Heels who shot 43.5 percent.

While young coaches Brad Stevens of Butler and Shaka Smart of VCU (both under the age of 35) take their respected teams to play one another, John Calipari will meet up with Jim Calhoun as the two veteran coaches with several decades of experience try to go back to the NCAA Men's Final game.