NEW ORLEANS -- Butler is the lone 2010 Final Four participant left in the field of 68 in 2011.  In fact, only one other team has the opportunity to reach the Elite Eight for the second straight year (Kentucky) along with the Bulldogs.

The fact that Butler won and Duke lost on the same day was not lost on Eamonn Brennan, nor on Luke Winn at Sports Illustrated.  It is a remarkable sequel.

Butler's early-season struggles forged the character of this team, says Andy Katz.  It is a theme Mike DeCourcy touches on as well.

After leading by 20 with 11 minutes to play, Butler can't escape last-minute drama.  Nothing seems to bother Butler.  The better team is winning in each of the Bulldogs' victories.

The familiar refrain around the Bulldogs is "the game honors toughness,"  and there is nothing cuddly about the Bulldogs' defense.  The defensive effort suffocated Wisconsin.  Butler took apart Wisconsin with clinical precision.

Buried within his blog, David Woods postulates that Butler's 2000 loss to Florida was the jumping off point for both programs.

Butler is the latest in a growing line of mid-majors to bring Wisconsin's season to an end.  The Bulldogs are not Cinderella.  Butler is to Wisconsin basketball what TCU was to the Badgers' football team.

The formula works for Butler.  Why leave a place where you're happy, asks Jeff Goodman.  Butler fans should savor this run, writes Victory Firelight.

Connersville is swelling with pride in Matt Howard.

Tags: Butler - Men's Basketball · Horizon League - Men's Basketball