Arizona uprising sends defending champs home

WEST REGIONAL

Derrick Williams carried Arizona in the first half, keeping the Wildcats in the game against Duke. His teammates returned the favor in the final 20 minutes with an offensive barrage that stunned the defending national champions.

Williams scored 25 of his career-high 32 points in the first half of Arizona's 93-77 victory Thursday night in Anaheim, Calif., helping the Wildcats reach the final eight for the first time since 2005.

"As a team, we came together and willed ourselves to win," said Lamont Jones, who added 16 points. "Derrick is a great player, but we all contribute."

The top-seeded Blue Devils (32-5) were sent packing from a regional semifinal for the second time in three years. Coach Mike Krzyzewski, with 900 wins, will have to wait until next season to resume his pursuit of Bob Knight's record as the winningest men's coach in Division I history.

"The tournament is cruel," Krzyzewski said. "It's an abrupt end for everybody when you don't win."

Solomon Hill added 13 points for the Wildcats, who shot 54 percent and made 9 of 15 3-pointers, including five by Williams.

Williams had 13 rebounds to help his team dominate the boards, 40-27, while playing 15 minutes from his hometown of La Mirada.

"It makes me feel great," he said. "If we win this game on Saturday, we'll be known as one of the greatest Arizona teams to play."

Fifth-seeded Arizona (30-7) will play Connecticut (29-9) on Saturday in the West Regional final. The third-seeded Huskies defeated No. 2 San Diego State 74-67 in the other semifinal.

"A lot of people counted us out," Jones said. "We kept on beating on the door, beating on the door until we were in."

Duke's Kryie Irving scored 28 points in his most minutes since returning at the start of the NCAA tournament after missing 26 games with a toe injury.

Connecticut 74, San Diego St. 67: Kemba Walker scored 22 of his 36 points in another dynamic second-half performance, and Connecticut moved to the brink of its fourth trip to the Final Four.

Freshman Jeremy Lamb added 24 points and hit a clutch 3-pointer with 1:43 left for the third-seeded Huskies (29-9).

D.J. Gay scored 16 points for the second-seeded Aztecs (34-3), who had never won an NCAA game before this year.

SOUTHEAST REGIONAL

Florida 83, BYU 74, OT: At New Orleans, Alex Tyus scored 19 points and grabbed 17 rebounds as Florida (29-7) beat BYU (32-5), chasing Jimmer Fredette and the Cougars out of the NCAA tournament.

While Fredette was the star attraction, scoring 32 points on 11-for-29 shooting in the final game of his college career, Florida countered with balance.

Kenny Boynton added 17 points while Erving Walker and Chandler Parsons both scored 16. Boynton and Parsons each hit 3-pointers in overtime as Florida outscored BYU 15-6.

“It was just a little frustration, just because that’s what happens sometimes during basketball games,” Fredette said. “But I tried to keep an even keel, and we were still right in there at the end of the game. We just didn’t win.”

Florida plays Butler on Saturday for the regional title.

Butler 61, Wisconsin 54: Matt Howard scored 19 points and Butler sent home yet another higher seed in the NCAA tournament.

Shelvin Mack scored 13 points and Shawn Vanzant 10 for the eighth-seeded Bulldogs (26-9), who led by 20 points in the second half before withstanding a late rally by the fourth-seeded Badgers.

Jordan Taylor scored 22 for Wisconsin (25-9).