The Kentucky Wildcats captured their eighth national championship Monday night, defeating the The Kansas Jayhawks 67-59 to furnish head coach John Calipari with his first national title. The matchup featured a showdown between the two winningest programs in college basketball.

The road trip to the state capitol proved worthwhile for Mater Dei High School as the boys and girls basketball teams took home the California State title. For California’s all-time winning head coach Gary Mcknight, it marked a record ninth state crown.

Four teams have survived the madness and booked a trip to New Orleans for the 2012 NCAA Final Four. The first national semifinal will feature an in-state clash between bitter rivals Kentucky and Louisville. The nightcap will feature the Ohio State Buckeyes against the Kansas Jayhawks.

Louisville (4) vs. Florida (7)

With brackets locked and ready to bust, the 2012 NCAA men’s basketball tournament kicked off its first full day of action with 16 games on four networks. 64 teams entered Thursday with a shot at the ultimate prize.

Murray State (6) vs. Colorado State (11)

"They battle, they get after it. Their guards are very good," said Head Coach Gary McKnight of Loyola's Parker Jackson-Cartwright and Jacob Hazzard. Jackson-Cartwright nearly sealed the deal for the Cubs, however, Mater Dei's combo of senior center Xavier Johnson and sophomore forward Stanley Johnson put the clamps on Loyola's efforts.