Butler starts CBI amid A-10 rumors
11:30 am | March 14th, 2012 | by Dave McConnell
Tags: a-10, atlantic 10, CBI, conference move, delaware, rumors
First off, it’s unfortunate that I go from having basically two months off the day job to pounding out six days a week in the snap of a finger – especially at a golf course, where this Chamber of Commerce weather is wreaking havoc in early March. Honestly, I don’t think it could have possibly been more perfect in San Diego than it was in Indianapolis yesterday. I digress.
There certainly hasn’t been a lack of things to write about concerning the Butler Bulldogs, as they go into tonight’s first round game in the College Basketball Invitational (CBI) against Delaware at Hinkle (8:00 ET). But the game seems like a mere side note thanks to this little story that broke from ESPN’s Andy Katz regarding Butler’s interest in possibly joining the Atlantic 10 Conference. It blew up on Twitter on Monday, among other places, and rightfully so. It’s, um, kind of a big deal.
Catching up during downtime
Being back in the early-spring, six-day-a-week routine at the day job has allowed the out of sight, out of mind theory to work its magic. It’s a hard thing to imagine the field of 64 (*68) without the Bulldogs, but as most people were able to see all season, this particular team just wasn’t built for it. Detroit, however, was – as the Titans ran away from Valpo in the second half last night for the 70-50 win and automatic bid.
Valpo ends Butler’s bid for NCAA’s
12:12 am | March 4th, 2012 | by Dave McConnell
Brad Stevens typically has all the answers this time of year. His gaudy records and accomplishments as a young coach are thrown around far and wide, and rightfully so. But Saturday night was one of the rare occasions where his Butler team had virtually no answers in losing for the third and final time to Valparaiso – sealing the fate of not making the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2006.
The Crusaders had all the answers, just like they did eight days ago in the final game of the regular season on the same floor, again picking apart the Butler defense in the convincing 65-46 decision. The dominance inside with easy baskets in the paint – coupled with largely shutting down that same area to the Bulldogs offense on another poor shooting night – seemed like watching last week’s game on DVR. Valpo proved to be the better team and proved it could finally end Butler’s string of dominance in the Horizon League and postseason play. For one year, at least.
Butler vs. UWM: Survival of the fittest
8:00 am | March 2nd, 2012 | by Dave McConnell Tags: Andrew Smith, Horizon League tournament, james haarsma, kaylon williams, milwaukee, rival
Last year, Butler played arguably its most dreadful game of the season in an early January trip to U.S. Cellular Arena. That was a 76-52 loss to Milwaukee that perfectly fit into the “forgot to get off the bus” category. The Bulldogs went on to lose again to the Panthers three weeks later at Hinkle Fieldhouse – that time by a more modest six points – which started a three-game losing streak ending with Armageddon in Youngstown, Ohio. How quickly you forget (or conveniently dismiss in memory).
A little over a month later, riding an eight-game winning streak, Butler went back to the site of the early January beatdown to play for the Horizon League tournament championship against the same Milwaukee team. An absolute clinic ensued, resulting in a 59-44 win. Milwaukee can have the regular season glory… the Bulldogs are happy to return the favor when it’s win or clean out the locker.
Butler pounds UWM, Valpo awaits
Who wants to play Butler right now? Certainly nobody in the Horizon League, which is unfortunate for Valparaiso, and just a guess that not more than a handful of coaches around the country would raise their hand after that question.
The Bulldogs made it to 20 wins for the 15th time in the past 17 seasons with a thorough 71-49 whipping of Milwaukee in the Horizon tourney quarterfinals on Friday night, scoring 49 points in the second half while running away with it. The victory sends Butler (20-13) to the semifinals on Saturday night, which means a date with top-seeded Valpo on its home floor (8:30 ET, ESPNU). The Crusaders are rested, but the Bulldogs are dialed in. With revenge on the mind.
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