Connecticut and Butler prepare for the opening tip-off. The Huskies and Bulldogs were playing in the NCAA tournament title game on Monday, April 4, 2011 in Houston.

Butler's Shelvin Mack gets past Connecticut's Jeremy Lamb.

Butler coach Brad Stevens yells from the sideline.

Butler's Shelvin Mack fights for the ball against UConn's Tyler Olander and Alex Oriakhi, right.

Connecticut's Tyler Olander drives between Butler's Chase Stigall, left, and Andrew Smith.

Butler's Matt Howard has hit shot blocked by Connecticut's Roscoe Smith.

Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun, 68, became the oldest coach to win a NCAA title.

President George H.W. Bush greats former NBA star Dennis Rodman during halftime.

Connecticut's Charles Okwandu drives to the basket for an easy score.

Butler's Andrew Smith, right, grabs a rebound in front of Connecticut's Jamal Coombs-McDaniel.

Butler's Shelvin Mack, right, celebrates after making a three-point shot at the end of the first half.

Connecticut's Kemba Walker, left, and Butler's Shelvin Mack fight for the ball.

Connecticut's Jeremy Lamb dunks for two of his 12 points against Butler.

For the second straight season, the result was the same for Butler: a remarkable run in the NCAA tournament, only to fall short in the title game.

Connecticut players celebrate after the Huskies won their first NCAA title since 2004.

Another Connecticut championship seemed unlikely not all that long ago. The Huskies finished 9-9 in the Big East, but then won 11 straight games after the end of the season to finish as the top team in the land.

Connecticut's Kemba Walker scored 16 points and was named the NCAA tournament's Most Outstanding Player. In six games, he scored 141 points for a 23.5 point-per-game average.