Well, what a weekend. Surprises and great basketball everywhere.

UConn was able to withstand the loss of Jerome Dyson (which I thought would cost them any shot at the Final Four) and get through 40 minutes of hell to get to Detroit.

Michigan St proves that hey maybe the Big Ten doesn't really suck by beating a team that most people had going to the Final Four in Louisville.

North Carolina reminded people why it was the preseason #1, absolutely demolishing every team it has faced, including a 12 point win over the Blake Griffins.

And finally, Villanova beats Pitt in one of the best games in NCAA tournament history on Reynold's Run.

What it sets up for us is a fantastic Saturday of basketball.

Michigan St. Spartans vs Connecticut Huskies 6:07 pm CBS

Villanova Wildcats vs North Carolina Tar Heels 8:47 pm CBS

Michigan St. has the length on defense to shut down anybody (ask Terrance Williams) and enough scoring on offense to make them dangerous. Not only that, but they have players stepping up when they need them. Goran Suton averaged 10 points a game during the regular season but has averaged almost 20 a game against Kansas and Louisville. Connecticut has been near the top of the rankings all year, using the outside attack of AJ Price and Jerome Dyson/Kemba Walker with the inside presence of Jeff Adrien and Hasheem Thabeet. They are a balanced team that can beat you in many different ways. They need Kemba Walker and Stanley Robinson to continue to play well in their replacement of Jerome Dyson. The Huskies are the favorite in their game against the Spartans, but it should be a great defensive matchup, and Michigan St is more than capable of pulling off the upset. My prediction: Connecticut 71, Michigan State 68.

North Carolina is the best team remaining. They can be beaten, but if they don't win the title, then there was an upset. Tyler Hansbrough, Wayne Ellington, Danny Green, and Ty Lawson all decided to come back for another year in Chapel Hill in order to deliver a national championship to the Tar Heels. They have size, outside shooting, and 2 of the best players at their positions (Hansbrough and Lawson). They're awesome with a capital A, baby! On the other end, Villanova is the lowest remaining seed and a team that not a ton of people thought could make it this far. But after demolishing very good UCLA and Duke teams and beating Pitt, the Wildcats deserve to be in Detroit. They are led by 4 seniors who have won more games than any other class in Villanova history. Dante Cunningham and Scottie Reynolds will be discussed a lot before the week is over, but a lot of credit goes to Shane Clark and Dwayne Anderson, two players that have refused to let the Cats lose. Villanova has the guards and solid inside play, but it might not be enough against a loaded UNC team. Prediction: North Carolina 75, Villanova 71

Yeah right. Real Prediction: Villanova 77, North Carolina 75.

Championship Prediction: Villanova 74, Connecticut 70

MOP: Dante Cunningham, Villanova

I was in Boston last weekend and it was one of the greatest weekends ever. The Pitt-Xavier game was fun and exciting, and while Nova ended up beating Duke by 23, it felt a lot closer. I had terrible seats (literally the back row in the balcony) but the view was still fine and me and my friend snuck down to the lower levels when the Duke fans began to clear out. I thought Thursday was amazing, but I had no idea.

Saturday morning I was still drunk from the night before. I felt so terrible that there was no opportunity for nervousness. As I became less and less hungover, the butterflies bagan to make their appearance. As much as I had said that no matter what it was a great season, a loss this close to the Final Four would have hurt. On the way to the game, Villanova fans outnumbered Pitt fans by a huge margin, which was the case inside as well.

The atmosphere at the end of the game was amazing. When Redding threw in the long inbounds the crowd had no idea what was going on. As Fields waited for his second free throw, I was telling my friend (who goes to BC but was rooting for Nova) that I wanted Fields to make the second, because "if Blair puts in an offensive rebound for the win, I will kill somebody tonight." As we were about to inbounds, it looked like Redding started to call a timeout before (thank god) realizing we had none left. He threw in the inbounds to Cunningham, who barely controlled it before giving it to Scottie, and the rest is history. The roof blew off of the Garden as Nova went crazy. Waiting for that final 00.5 to happen was the worst feeling in the world. Villanova had just won; now Pitt had a chance to take that feeling away. But Fields' shot missed as the celebration was on. Some of the players came into the stands to celebrate with their friends and families. Rollie Massimino was there.

All in all, an incredible experience that will probably not be topped. But I will try.

I will be driving to Detroit with 3 of my friends to see one of the best Villanova teams of all time try to keep it going. It will be a great time, win or lose, but a win would be incredible. Hopefully all three games are fantastic and everybody has fun.

LET"S GO NOVA!