Evansville edges Butler in OT to open new arena

What a way to open the basketball season for the Evansville Purple Aces. First, they open their new arena, the Ford Center, then knock off Butler is overtime 80-77.

Butler opens Evansville new arena, the Ford Center, with a controversial loss.

This game certainly had an NCAA-like feel to it, going down to the wire and multiple reviews.

The first came with 0.9 seconds left, Butler’s Jackson Aldridge was called for a foul sending Colt Ryan to the free throw stripe. He led the Aces with 23 points and six rebounds. At this review they were confirming the time remaining.

Post-game when asked about Ryan, Coach Brad Stevens said “it’s hard to guard him at the free throw line.”

Then Butler threw a hail mary to Andrew Smith who appeared to get the layup and was fouled with 0.2 left. The three officials went immediately to the replay, (the house feed was out so they used the tv broadcasts’ angles) and decided the foul happened before the shot and Smith would go to the free throw line. And he missed both.

The worst part about the ordeal was that the officials never went over to the WNDY broadcast crew to explain their call. That in turn affects the audience.

Fouls were a problem throughout the entire game and kept a handful of players off the court.

Both teams were much better than I expected and will surprise some people. For the Bulldogs, it’s about finding everyone’s role, playing smart and Smith, Marshall and Hopkins each taking lead roles.

Butler’s upcoming schedule is not easy, facing Louisville, Indiana and Purdue in non-conference play.

The new Ford Center had their share of problems: no media parking and still setting up for the event two hours before tip. For the majority of the game, the wireless Internet was down as was the stats feed. These things can’t happen. The backboard not lighting up near the end of regulation was a big whiff.

In the end, it’s another growing pain for Butler. The way this team develops and is coached, I expect them to lead the Horizon League. Coach Stevens is confident in his roster.

“What I learned today is that we’re going to have a very good basketball team.”

Butler hosts Chattanooga Tuesday for their home-opener, as part of the Hoosier Invitational.

The Voice of the Bulldogs, Brandon Gaudin, posted the following video of the ending with his call sync’d up. Take a look and make a decision for yourself.

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