Duke downs Butler to clinch fourth national title

A disappointing ending to those who wanted to see the Hoosiers sequel play out in real life. In that movie, based on the high school championship won by tiny Milan High in 1954, Jimmy Chitwood hits the game-winner at the buzzer to win one for the little guys. The ball sailed from halfcourt with the buzzer sounding, bounced off the backboard, the rim, the floor. Most of the 70,000 fans on Butler's side let out an "Ohhhhhh," and the Duke players piled onto forward Kyle Singler at center court. What a game! And what a way to end the season, even if America's favorite underdog came up a little short. Duke beat Butler 61-59 for the national championship Monday night, a win that wasn't secure until after the buzzer sounded -- when Gordon Hayward's halfcourt, 3-point heave for the win barely missed to leave tiny Butler one cruel basket short of the Hollywood ending. Butler coach Brad Stevens said they just came up with a bounce short to win the NCAA Championship Game. That bounce went in favor of Duke snapping Butler’s 25-game winning streak. Butler Bulldogs did a great game this year with their aggressive defense and a great basketball game plan. Butler’s Coach, Brad Steven proved to be a great coach with a game plan that came close to winning the 2010 NCAA Championship Game.

Police call recruit's fall a 'tragic accident'

Matt James a senior at St. Xavier, where he played offensive lineman, one of the nation’s most sought-after football recruits, died Friday in a fall from a hotel balcony on a Gulf of Mexico beach while on spring break.James, 17, died almost instantly after falling from a fifth-floor balcony at about 6:25 p.m. at the Days Inn on Front Beach Road. James was part of a group of about 40 St. Xavier students and a half-dozen parents on the trip. "Witnesses and friends indicate he had become drunk and belligerent," Humphreys said. "He had leaned over the balcony rail, was shaking his finger at the people in the next room over. He fell over." James was the second St. Xavier athlete to die during the school year. Junior wrestler Kevin Le was struck by a car and killed in September. The football team -- including James -- wore his initials on their helmet for the next home football game. James, a U.S. Army All-American, had scholarship offers from the likes of Alabama, Tennessee, LSU, Florida State and North Carolina, among others. James signed with Brian Kelly’s Fighting Irish on Feb. 3 after also considering Ohio State. The lineman also had looked at Florida and Cincinnati earlier in the recruiting process. "The Notre Dame football program is in a state of disbelief and incredible sadness with the news of this tragic event," Kelly said in a statement. "Matt was an extremely talented person who was very bright and possessed a great dry sense of humor. He could not wait to join the Notre Dame family."

Buffalo takes a chance on Chad Jackson

Chad Jackson is a special case. He's one of the division's most notorious flameouts in the past decade. The Buffalo Bills signed Jackson on Wednesday. Jackson was a star receiver at the University of Fla. As a junior in 2005, Jackson started 11 games and appeared in all twelve. He tied the school record for receptions in a single season with 88, which also led the Southeastern Conference. Jackson was named to the AP All-SEC Team for 2005 and was one of 15 semi-finalists for the Biletnikoff Award. His best season came the same year, as his 88 catches went for 900 yards and nine touchdowns, with two additional rushing touchdowns. Following that season, Jackson declared that he would forgo his final year of eligibility and enter the NFL draft. Jackson is the Patriots' greatest draft failure on Belichick's watch. They overvalued the University of Florida receiver and kicker returner enough to move up 16 spots and draft him 36th overall four years ago. Jackson ran the 40-yard dash in 4.32 seconds. He was supposed to be the replacement for Super Bowl hero Deion Branch. Terms of his contract weren't disclosed, but it's safe to assume it's a low-risk deal for Buffalo.