They focused on the conference, or the opponents or their history. Somehow, everyone deduced that Butler, ranked near the top 10 at the start of the season, had no chance of doing what it’s done. Which is ruin brackets and stereotypes.
What everyone — us included — missed, however, was reality. And Butler is not just an underdog crashing the Final Four; the Bulldogs are a legitimate program enduring a terrific run. This is not George Mason, a No. 11 seed when it reached the Final Four. This is not a team that will do something this year only to fade away (GMU has been to the tournament once since the Final Four and it lost in the first round). Butler can keep this momentum going; only one senior starts. Aren’t these mid-major underdog types supposed to be senior-laden? Not Butler.
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The Bulldogs are a team that has won 86 games the past three seasons. Not that everyone was paying attention to them, at least in the manner that they would have to a Michigan State, also seeded fifth. They’re the Gonzaga of the Midwest; that is, if Gonzaga didn’t fall short of expectations in the postseason.
“I underestimated how good they are defensively,” CBS analyst Clark Kellogg said of Butler. “They’re physically tough and extremely quick and tenacious.”
Oh, and talented, too. Guard/forward Gordon Hayward and guard Shelvin Mack are legitimate players.
“They probably have two guys that will play at the next level in Mack and Hayward,” CBS’ Greg Anthony, who played in the NBA, said. “They have confidence in themselves. Winning is the great equalizer. When you win you develop a lot of credit in what you’re doing.”
Look who they played this season: Minnesota, UCLA, Clemson, Georgetown, Ohio State and Xavier. They were 3-3 in those games, but never blown out. They beat Syracuse and Kansas State in their bracket.
“They have a lot of young players playing at a high level,” Anthony said.
Did we mention they’re playing seven miles from home? This is a good team with a legitimate chance to win a title. It’s hard to think otherwise.
