Best. Tournament. Ever.

What would be the best storyline to win the tournament this year? Would it be Kentucky rising to the top after losing John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins, plus 3 other guys to the NBA draft? Or how about UConn proving their doubters wrong who did not give them a single preseason vote to be ranked in the top 25? What about VCU. Wait, who? Yeah, Virginia Commonwealth University, who most people (cough cough Jay Bilas) didn’t even think should have been in this tournament even as a “First Four” team. A team who made the most of their opportunity and won 5 games to get the Final Four. They would also be the first 11 seed to make it to the title game. That one has got to be the best, right?!

I think if there were any other situation, other than Butler making it back to the title game after losing their star in Gordon Hayward to the NBA and winning it all the very next year, I would have to pick the VCU story. But then there is Butler. A mid-major who made it to the final game last year and almost beat the mighty Dukies on a prayer that in almost every sports movie would have found a way in the basket. How can you not root for a coach like Brad Stevens who is only 34 years old and is the youngest coach to take his team to two Final Fours, consecutive Final Fours? How can you not root for a guy like Matt Howard, who, if you crossed him on the street you would think he probably works as a camp counselor for the YMCA rather than one of the top players in all of Division I basketball?

This team has become America’s sweethearts. They have worked their way, as an 8 seed, to be one of the last four teams standing in a grueling 68-team tournament where teams have beaten up on each other. And they have prevailed, beating quality opponents in ODU, Pittsburgh, Wisconsin, and Florida. And in stunning fashion I may add.

Yes, if it weren’t for the Butler Bulldogs I would be rooting for the Rams and coach Shaka Smart to dance their way in the championship game and win it all. But you know deep down every single person on the Bulldogs staff wants to hoist that NCAA championship trophy in the air and tell Gordon Hayward, “Looks like we didn’t need you after all.”

Yes. That would make for a pretty sweet story.