Louisville coach Rick Pitino is the only coach in America who has beaten the two teams that will play Monday night for the national title.

His Cardinals beat Butler 88-73 way back in mid-November and were 2-1 against Connecticut, beating the Huskies twice in the regular season and losing to them in the Big East tournament championship game.

"I think Butler will win the game, and it won't be at the buzzer," Pitino said Sunday, reached by telephone. "It'll be by seven or eight points."

After watching the national semifinals Saturday night, Pitino sees fatigue as the biggest factor in the Bulldogs' favor.

"My observation is that Connecticut's a tired team right now," he said. "I thinkKemba [Walker] is worn out. I think Butler is the winner because of it."