The feel-good story continues to get even better. Last year’s runners-up, the Butler Bulldogs, will make yet another appearance in the big dance. Tuesday, Butler won another Horizon League Tournament Championship for a league-record seventh time, winning at Milwaukee 59-44. They have also played in the tournament’s championship game 13 of the last 15 years!
After losing three straight and four of five, Butler (23-9) has now raddled off nine straight wins. Throughout that stretch, the Bulldogs eclipsed the 20-win mark for the sixth consecutive season.
Milwaukee swept Butler in the regular season, winning at home and away. But like many good teams, Butler switched to another gear come tournament time.
Despite the loss of Gordon Hayward to the NBA, the Bulldogs have had a strong season led by Matt Howard and Shelvin Mack. Howard is nearly an automatic double-double guy and Mack may be NBA bound after this season. This team isn’t the most talented or athletic, but their improvement from year to year and togetherness is what stands out the most.
The Butler Way, as defined on their website, “demands commitment, denies selfishness, accepts reality yet seeks improvement every day while putting the team above self.” Butler along with Gonzaga have established themselves as the top of the class for mid-majors. Their coaches preach it and the players get it. It’s the Butler way. They aren’t five-star kids, and they aren’t even top-100 talent. But Brad Stevens recruits players of high character and high want-to and drive that will benefit the team in an appropriate manner.
Following their win, the Bulldogs were on the HOMEPAGE, yes the homepage of ESPN—The Worldwide Leader in Sports. Butler trumped the Ohio State allegations and the Miami Heat losing five straight to be the top-dawg.
And all because they are the feel-good story and the Bulldogs are already making some noice. They have the experience, leadership and teamwork necessary to win at least a couple games in the NCAA tournament. You can bet no team wants to play the Bulldogs. After all the attention this team has received the last couple of years and especially last year, there isn’t a team unaware of the black and blue.
I do have one negative—and I hate to be such a buzzkill.
I still have a hard time taking Butler fans seriously.
The last decade has been overwhelmingly strong and successful yet the fan support isn’t there. Working the games for the local television broadcast (WNDY), I bet I have attended more Butler home games this season than 90% of their “fans.” The historic Hinkle Fieldhouse is usually just over half-full. They had their lone true sellout of the season for the last home game, senior day. An arena that that can seat nearly 10,000 isn’t even 75% full. The support was absolutely there last season at Lucas Oil Stadium for the Final Four, but where is the support against Ball State or Evansville for example?
I’m calling you out real Butler fans. Travel with the team, support the team during their ups and downs, and enjoy this ride because one of these days it’s going to slow up—we saw some indications this season. As for Coach Stevens and the team, they have my full confidence and have proven their legitimacy over their past nine games.
Nicely done Scott, I read a lot of these and they are well done. Keep up the good work.