V-RECAPS: Elite Eight | March 24
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EAST REGION: (1) Maryland 90, (2) Connecticut 82
Wow, what a matchup in Syracuse! Maryland and Connecticut battled down to the wire. Maryland's Gary Williams and UConn's Jim Calhoun matched moves and their teams gave their all. It was a Maalox Masher that wasn't decided until the final minute.

Maryland was clutch on the foul line, hitting 31-of-35. A sign of a veteran team is its ability to convert opportunities under pressure.

In the end, it came down to Maryland's experienced players coming through. Senior guard Juan Dixon hit big shot after big shot down the stretch, finishing with 27 points.

Senior center Lonny Baxter was a force inside with UConn diaper dandy Emeka Okafor in foul trouble. Baxter scored 29 points, including 15-of-18 from the foul line.

Dixon told me at the Apple Blossom Festival last year that Maryland will win the 2002 national championship. I'm not going to argue with him right now.

The key shot of the game came when point guard Steve Blake, with his Terps up three in the final minute, hit a big-time trifecta to lock up the W.

Maryland was clutch on the foul line, hitting 31-of-35. A sign of a veteran team is its ability to convert opportunities under pressure. The Terps are tourney-tough, and now they're heading back to the Final Four for the second straight season.

Maryland needed those free throws to offset a brilliant performance by UConn's sophomore sensation, Caron Butler. After being in foul trouble in the first half, he came through with 26 of his 32 points in the second half, displaying a variety of great moves on the baseline and inside.

When Maryland's Tahj Holden hit a big 3-pointer at the end of the first half, Maryland had a seven-point lead and looked like it was in solid shape. Give the Huskies credit for fighting back, scratching and clawing against the top seed.

If Caron Butler stays in school, Connecticut will be among my top three teams in America next season, up there with Arizona and Kansas. The Huskies team are really special. Okafor came in and gave the Huskies quality minutes despite foul problems.

This was a heavyweight matchup, and now Maryland gets another showdown against Kansas in Atlanta. That will be like the Thrilla in Manilla, baby! It should be awesome with a capital A!