How bout them Dawgs???

[quadman]

I don't know how many college basketball fans we have around here.... but even a casual fan had to be proud of the way Butler battled the mighty Duke in the national championship game. Butler has fewer students than my high school did. My HS graduation was held at Hinkle Field House 34 years ago. I've performed on stage at (the nearly perfect acoustically) Clowes Hall (pronounced Clue's). Wow.... I'm still out of breath and worn out.

I can't begin to describe how proud I am of the total effort those guys left on the floor. They have nothing in the world to feel ashamed about. Sure, they are going to be dissapointed for a while.... but in a game on the national stage playing against a team of virtual giants (how the hell many guys over 6'-8" does Duke have anyway?!?) and three McDonalds All Americans.... they nearly won the rebound battle, they matched Duke on every single hustle play, they played fierce defense and their chance at victory rimmed out not once, but twice on shots that looked as though they were good all the way.

Honestly, I was worried that it would be a game much like the Duke - West Virginia contest where the Duke size, speed, and talent.... not to mention past national spotlight experience and tenatious defense would over whelm Butler and it would end up a blow out in Duke's favor. Late in the first half when Duke went up by six, I thought uh-oh, here it comes. But a Brad Stevens time out and ten straight points by Butler before Duke fought back and they were only down by one at the half.

That second half was like a heavy weight prize fight. Both throwing punches and not giving an inch. Man.... I'm filled with pride for those guys.

[phipp01]

Great game but I only wish Butler would have won.

[Ajax]

It was a great game, John. :clapper:

[gonk]

Very well-played game by two very good and well-coached teams. I was pulling for Butler and would have loved to see them win it all, but it's hard to feel bad after the performance they put on. They beat a #1 seed and a #2 seed, then fought another #1 seed all the way to the buzzer.

[tthurman]

They played a fantastic game and have nothing to feel bad for but it makes me ill to watch Duke win.

I was really pulling for Butler but that drought they had in the last half of the second really killed them. Good thing they were sinking them from the charity stripe. What a great team they have!

[quadman]

They played a fantastic game and have nothing to feel bad for but it makes me ill to watch Duke win.

I was really pulling for Butler but that drought they had in the last half of the second really killed them. Good thing they were sinking them from the charity stripe. What a great team they have!

What might be scary is they should be better next year. Of course, that doesn't mean they will do as well, or that Butler will be able to hang on to Brad Stevens.... but it was indeed a gutsy performance and one they should be proud of forever. Especially the way the entire organization carried itself. Three of the players had classes yesterday and they ATTENDED them! Incredible.

[Mike4AU]

OK, I'll go ahead and say it. Butler got hosed! Bigtime and blatant. The refs "let them play" on one end of the court, but then called chicken **** fouls on the other end of the court, or made no calls on obvious fouls by the chosen one's.

[tthurman]

"thumbsup:

Yes it reminded me a lot of the West Virgina game except Butler managed to hang with them.

[arthurs]

I don't know about that Mike, Butler got called for 4 more fouls than Duke, but attempted 2 more free throws than Duke did. I thought the game was called pretty well overall.

It's a shame Butler couldn't complete the story their season became, but they have nothing to hang their heads about at all, it was a terrific year and as John referenced, they will only be getting better. I don't mind Duke winning. It's a relatively small school also (6K enrollment) and I respect the way Krzyzewski coaches and leads.

What a great finish to the tourney!

[Mike4AU]

Take a really close look at the last few minutes of the game, when it was "on the line." You might change your mind.

[arthurs]

I watched the game, and like any game you can find calls you think could have/should have gone differently....but I thought calls were made and missed in both directions, they went to the tape when in question and IMO, the officials did not determine the outcome of that game... :idea: maybe shooting better than 34% from the field would have made the difference for Butler....nah, it must have been the officials...

[Mike4AU]

the officials did not determine the outcome of that game...

I don't disagree with that particular statement, but they sure as heck influenced the outcome of the game. The charge call and bucket disallowance was pathetic. The non-call on the blatant foul defies imagination. The hands on Hayword's arm and shoulder on his drive toward his next to last shot surely was a mirage.

When the chips were down, Duke got the calls. Without those calls, they lose, even though Butler's shooting percentage was not good.

I don't have a dog in the hunt, but I also know that there are teams and coaches that get favorable treatment from the refs and Duke and K lead the pack in BB.

[Mike4AU]

PS....and I will add that we will just have to respectfully agree to disagree.

[arthurs]

PS....and I will add that we will just have to respectfully agree to disagree.

Done.