Well, this is the second year in a row that I've picked them to lose in the first round...
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OT- Holy Shit! Butler's in the final 4... again!
March 26th, 2011 at 7:04 PM
#302
Well, this is the second year
March 26th, 2011 at 7:53 PM
#303
Milan High School of
Milan High School of Hoosiers fame lost in Indiana's Final Four in 1953. In 1954 they won the state championship
March 26th, 2011 at 7:05 PM
#304
Awesome story.
But, do
Awesome story.
But, do these teams even talk about late game situations at all? That was pretty poor play by Florida there at the end. Taking a 35 foot 3 with 8 seconds left? How many late game miscues is that this tournament?
March 26th, 2011 at 7:07 PM
#305
posted from iPhone
They Jimmered themselves through osmosis.
March 26th, 2011 at 7:09 PM
#306
Amazingly i agree with Digger Phelps
He called out Billy boy for not getting Florida to drive to the basket at the end of regulation instead of that piss poor long distance bomb.
March 26th, 2011 at 8:49 PM
#307
Dam Digger Phelps
With his matching tie and highlighter shenanigans.
March 26th, 2011 at 8:14 PM
#308
whoa man, racist comment.
whoa man, racist comment. (see 'loving beilein' thread for relevance)
March 26th, 2011 at 8:26 PM
#309
Haha, fortunately I made it
Haha, fortunately I made it more about the team and less about individuals. I apologize if anyone took it inappropriately; that truly was not my intention with this comment.
March 26th, 2011 at 7:06 PM
#310
What program is in need of a coach?
And can break the bank to get Stevens? He's due for a pay raise and a recruiting hotbed. I just hope no one in the Big Ten gets him.
March 26th, 2011 at 7:09 PM
#311
posted from iPhone
Ohio State football, for one.
March 26th, 2011 at 7:09 PM
#312
Has to be considered one of
Has to be considered one of the top few coaches in the country at this point. If we were looking I'd be in favor of just handing him a blank check.
March 26th, 2011 at 7:16 PM
#313
Yes, why is it whenever we actually NEED
A coach, the hot candidates are either ex-Michigan heroes who just enjoy fucking with our mind, or ex-Duke guys who are only hot because they're ex-Duke guys? (It makes me feel better to live in denial and believe we didn't have a coach opening before Pitino signed with Louisville). The intellectual, classy way this guy goes about things, he would be a perfect off court fit for Michigan, if we didn't already have a perfect off court fit for Michigan. But for 20 more years.
March 26th, 2011 at 7:13 PM
#314
Thing is
he's in a recruiting hotbed and has the benefit of having these HUGE runs in the middle of the worst downturn in Indiana basketball in 40+ years. He may not leave Butler.
Death scenario would be if Painter has a brain anuerism and actually takes the Mizzou job leaving Stevens to step into Purdue with a shitload of talent and momentum on their side in building the program. Stevens would then have his pick of Indiana talent, and likely is able to nab most any Great Lakes recruit outside Michigan or Ohio to fill out the roster.
March 26th, 2011 at 7:19 PM
#315
Quite possible
But can a 4500 seat arena school PAY him like those other programs? Though who knows, things don't turn at Indiana soon, he could have that job. Which would suck.
If he wants to stay at Butler another ten years till we're looking for a coach again, I'm fine with that....
March 26th, 2011 at 7:52 PM
#316
Hinkle
Hinkle Fieldhouse can hold 10,000 and is one of the most iconic arenas in the Midwest. (It's the arena from the movie Hoosiers.)
Plus, I think Brad Stevens is pretty content with just staying at Butler and building it into this miniature powerhouse.
March 26th, 2011 at 8:33 PM
#317
posted from iPhone
Probably only leaves to go to a place like Duke, UNC, Kansas, or UCLA. Though none of those jobs are opening up anytime soon.
March 26th, 2011 at 8:58 PM
#318
My bad
I thought Sam Webb or someone who was there said it had the lesser amount. I should have done my own homework.
I'd love it if he stayed there. It'd be good for basketball, and fun. (And bad for Indiana). But I'm not the one turning down money, so it's easy for me to say. Gives me a team to root for that hasn't pissed me off as a Michigan fan, at this point. Be a fan long enough, you eventually find a reason to hate everybody else.
March 26th, 2011 at 7:21 PM
#319
I don't think he wants to go
I don't think he wants to go anywhere. He did just sign a 12-year contrract extension. Not saying it can't be broken, but I think he's staying.
March 26th, 2011 at 7:28 PM
#320
That pays him around $1 mil
Which means he won't leave for some run of the mill BCS job. But if some down on it's luck basketball school comes along, offering to double his salary or more, he'll have to think about it.
Luckily for Butler, most of the big name schools have successful coaches or made recent changes.
March 26th, 2011 at 8:09 PM
#321
Everything that is out there
Everything that is out there suggests that he is happy at Butler..Really happy. Some people just can't be bought. Why take a job with more money and stress when he is a semi-god at butler with all the money he wants and is truly happy?
March 26th, 2011 at 7:45 PM
#322
posted from iPhone
It depends on if he's looking or wants to enjoy the program he's built.
March 26th, 2011 at 8:43 PM
#323
Brad Stevens
just got an extension last summer and isn't interested in coaching elsewhere. From what I hear, he's pretty much a lifer at Butler until he decides to retire.
Butler was never really a great school for recruiting. They lost out to a local kid in Cody Zeller who picked Indiana over Butler and host of top schools including UNC who has his older brother starting for them.
March 26th, 2011 at 9:53 PM
#324
The flagship university
The flagship university in Butler's home state has a pretty successful history, and an underperforming coach at the moment. Unfortunately for them, they stupidly gave that underperforming coach (Crean) a Charlie Weis-sized contract that will cripple their finances to break.
March 26th, 2011 at 11:34 PM
#325
Crean is starting to bring in top recruits.
IU will be improved next season, similar to a leap that Michigan have made from last to say 5th-6th in the Big 10. They got a stud recruit coming up in Cody Zeller. Crean's 1st recruiting class was a solid one but a disappointment because of the expectation placed on 3 players who is highly rated.
'12 class is loaded with top talent like Yogi Ferrell and Hanna Perea, both 5* recruits. Also landed 2 4* recruits with local talent, Hollowell and Patterson.
IU fans and administraton have been very patient with Crean and they seems to believe and support Crean. My guess is next season will be put up or shut up for Crean. I think they're goign to give him 2 more years before making a decision whether to keep him or fire him.
March 27th, 2011 at 1:51 PM
#326
They'll keep him because they
They'll keep him because they quite literally can't afford to fire him. IU's athletic revenues aren't that great, and they're paying off Bill Lynch as it is. They were so fearful of instability that they gave Crean a huge extension that will be a bitch to ever break. If not for that, I'd have to think they'd make a run at Stevens. A guy with his track record can probably land recruits, too.
March 26th, 2011 at 7:07 PM
#327
Amazing run again. They have
Amazing run again. They have truly gone through a gauntlet to make it to the final four. Very impressive.
I can't believe how young their coach looks either.
March 26th, 2011 at 7:07 PM
#328
Taking Butler to the Final
Taking Butler to the Final Four two years in a row when you lost your star player in between those two years has to count as one of the more impressive coaching feats in recent memory.
If this team had Haywood they would be even more terrifying. As it stands I think they're very solid.
March 26th, 2011 at 7:09 PM
#329
This game was incredible. In
This game was incredible. In fact the past few games for Butler have been such fantastic basketball. I was impressed with their defense x100000000.
March 26th, 2011 at 7:09 PM
#330
Florida lost...
Florida had control of that game and went away from their dominant inside game for some reason. Butler made some shots down the stretch, but Florida really crumbled. Their last shot before OT was terrible and thier guards stopped getting the ball down low and started launching 3s.
March 26th, 2011 at 7:15 PM
#331
Thad Matta
Looking back on it, it's hard to figure out why Thad Matta would leave a national powerhouse like Butler for a place like Ohio State.
March 26th, 2011 at 7:21 PM
#332
Xavier
Thad coached Xavier before Osu, if I remember correctly...
March 26th, 2011 at 7:22 PM
#333
Or even worse
For a place like Xavier....
March 26th, 2011 at 7:15 PM
#336
If VCU could somehow knock
If VCU could somehow knock off Kansas and have some sort of Bizarro-World Final Four matchup against Butler, it would be pretty amazing. And I think I'd take the winner vs any of the other 4 teams left in the Title Game tbh.
But Kansas isn't losing.
March 26th, 2011 at 7:17 PM
#337
Kansas isn't playing anybody.
Kansas isn't playing anybody. To get to the Finals, the best team they'd have to beat is an 8-seed.
March 26th, 2011 at 7:36 PM
#338
Well, if Arizona keeps winning too
Kansas could max out at a #5 seed.
March 26th, 2011 at 7:45 PM
#339
Easiest run ever?
Easiest run ever?
March 26th, 2011 at 7:59 PM
#340
True. But seeds don't matter
True. But seeds don't matter at this point. Butler is playing as good as anyone right now.
My Bracket is doing great right now. I'm currently in the lead of a $500 pool where everyone picked Ohio State basically. There are a couple Kansas picks though. I still have Butler, Kansas, and UConn alive in my final four. If I win I will be hitting the Beveled Guilt button because I haven't yet in my two years of reading the blog.
March 26th, 2011 at 8:48 PM
#341
You deserve it
For picking Butler. I said I could see 1-8 making it out of there with no surprise, but that doesn't mean I had the courage to pick it.
I have Kansas, but have to make sure they're not playing NC. One thing that hurts about OSU losing. (and only).
March 26th, 2011 at 7:15 PM
#342
In other upset news: Western
In other upset news: Western Michigan is beating Denver 2-0 with 10 minutes remaining in the 3rd.
March 26th, 2011 at 7:38 PM
#343
Not so fast my friend
DU puts 2 goals in the last 3 minutes and almost wins it with literally seconds left. 2-2 heading to overtime.
March 26th, 2011 at 7:15 PM
#344
Coach Stevens
If he wasn't already, he's the Chris Petersen of basketball: The coach thebig name schools wants and can't have.
March 26th, 2011 at 7:19 PM
#345
The difference between Butler
The difference between Butler and their opponents the past few runs is their defense. They get after it on every single possession, which wears teams down, leading to their late game success
March 26th, 2011 at 7:34 PM
#346
Defense wins
No matter what offense you run. ;-)
March 26th, 2011 at 7:19 PM
#347
8 Seed
Butler was an 8 Seed, for anyone remembering our consternation about trying to advance in the tourney from that position.
GO BLUE!
March 26th, 2011 at 7:33 PM
#348
Yes
And they got placed across from Pitt, the most overrated #1 seed in the Tournament. I would have taken our chances vs. them, then a rematch vs. 3-point heave Wisconsin. Not sure we would have done as well against Florida as Butler did, but i'd have gladly traded 8 seed regions with them.
March 26th, 2011 at 7:50 PM
#349
posted from iPhone
Great point. That whole region was ridiculously weak this year. Still doesn't diminish what Butler did, but someone was playing some funny games when they seeded that region.
March 26th, 2011 at 8:46 PM
#350
For the record
Wasn't trying to diminish what Butler was doing (not even saying you were accusing me of that). The way Butler is playing, they could have done what they've done probably in any region. Just saying we would have had a better chance to do some of it in they region.
March 26th, 2011 at 7:25 PM
#351
Brad Stevens is an amazing
Brad Stevens is an amazing coach. He's also under contract for a long time.
What he has done with Butler is amazing, especially winning 3 out of their 4 games in the final minute.
March 26th, 2011 at 8:17 PM
#352
Single-handedly trashed my bracket
All of Butler's wins were against teams I picked with the exception of Pittsburgh. Old Dominion, Wisconsin, and now Florida. I hope they win it all!
March 26th, 2011 at 9:28 PM
#353
Florida = MSU...
When Billy Donovan and Florida were "on top of the world," Donovan signed to coach the Magic. Then he reconsidered, and said he was a "Gator for life." The next few years, there was a lot of attrition and underachievment as the players tuned him out. It has taken him four years for his team to regain national relevance.
I'm guessing, even if Izzo stays, that MSU goes through a similar drought for about three years. This is when Michigan has to strike if it wants to regain dominance in the state on a long-term basis.
March 26th, 2011 at 9:59 PM
#354
Brad Stevens may be the Urban
Brad Stevens may be the Urban Meyer of college basketball. In his short (four-year) career he's won 116 games, four conference titles and has reached two Final Fours. Amazing.
March 26th, 2011 at 10:01 PM
#355
Butler is a fun team to
Butler is a fun team to watch, I always like the underdog.
March 26th, 2011 at 11:40 PM
#356
Words
is Stevens is perfectly content to stay at Butler. Doesn't care about money and has a great thing going for him. IU would be wasting their time trying to lure Stevens to Bloomington.
March 27th, 2011 at 10:38 AM
#357
IU and to a lesser extent
IU and to a lesser extent Purdue are the danger jobs for Butler losing Stevens. It removes the issue of moving his family far away from their support network (I think both he and his wife have a lot of family in the Indy area), since both jobs are like an hour from Indianapolis. And if I remember correctly Stevens was an IU fan growing up.
That said, IU is going to give every opportunity to Crean to get it going, and Painter would be nuts to go from Purdue to Mizzou. And I'm not sure Stevens will be too interested in other jobs. He's an Indiana guy who doesn't seem terribly interested in leaving the state. Besides, after two Final Fours he'll be able to recruit like never before there. Wonder if Cody Zeller is wishing he had his choice back.
Watched the game at the Butler bar in Chicago, loads of fun. You never get that worried when they're losing, they always seem to find a way to get back into it and then make the plays at the end to win. Uncanny.
