backboard

The ball sailed from halfcourt with the buzzer sounding - bounced off the backboard, the rim, the floor.

The ball sailed from halfcourt with the buzzer sounding -- bounced off the backboard, the rim, the floor.

Most of the 70,000 fans on Butler's side let out an "Ohhhhhh," and the Duke players piled onto forward Kyle Singler at center court.

What a game! And what a way to end the season, even if America's favorite underdog came up a little short.

Willie Veasley glanced up while running back on defense as his 3-pointer bounced high off the rim like so many of Butler's shots had before.

He paused, though, as the ball drifted back, caromed off the backboard and fell through the net -- a huge bounce that helped seal the Bulldogs' 63-59 upset of top-seeded Syracuse on Thursday night in the West Regional semifinals.

Colorado Avalanche forward Darcy Tucker was taken off the ice on a backboard after he was checked into the boards by Carolina forward Tuomo Ruutu.