It all comes down to this.

After all the conversation about Butler's improbable run last year, and the equally improbable chance that they would repeat their effort this year, the Bulldogs are back in the title game playing a Connecticut team that has proven that they are more than just the national player of the year contender Kemba Walker and some spare parts.

The Huskies went into the tournament as one of 11 Big East teams, and as most of the Big East teams folded early, Connecticut peaked at the right time. While Walker has been his typical prolific self, Connecticut probably would have faltered if not for the emergence of guard Jeremy Lamb.

The freshman has matured as the tournament has progressed, and has been a stable force in the starting lineup. Lamb has hit plenty of big shots, and has maintained his poise in high-pressure games.

It hasn't only been Lamb and Walker, for head coach Jim Calhoun's squad. The big man presence of Alex Oriakhi and the clever play-making abilities of Shabazz Napier have also been instrumental in the Huskies' tournament run.

This may neither be Jim Calhoun's most talented team, nor his most balanced, but it may very well be his most resilient.