Duke moved within 40 minutes of its first national title in 9 years tonight, getting 23 points from Jon Scheyer to pull away from West Virginia, 78-57. Kyle Singler had 21 and Nolan Smith 19 for the Blue Devils, who squashed West Virginia's feel-good story and will now try to put an end to Butler's in Monday night's title game.
In the Final Four for the first time since 2004, Duke opened a double-digit lead in the first half. West Virginia's best hope at a rally ended with 8:59 left when star guard Da'Sean Butler hurt his left knee while driving to the basket and had to be carted off the court. Butler finished with 10 points for the Mountaineers, who were led by Wellington Smith with 12. (More Duke University stories.)