Last night a fantastic sporting event took place in Indianapolis. The Butler vs Duke NCAA Championship was a classic. It was not a classic because it was an exceptionally well played game, in fact at times there were several mistakes and misses that you wouldn't typically see. It was not a classic because there were tons of NBA players on the court. It was not a classic because of the way it ended (although it could have been). No last nights game was classic because it exhibited everything that is great about college basketball.
The game was as physical as it could have been and I felt that the referees let the kids play, it was great. The defense in the game was something to behold, as an aspiring basketball coach I found the defense in this one to be a thing of beauty especially that of Butler. But beyond the physical nature of the game and the beautiful defense being played, the game exhibited two teams that both run systems to perfection. It featured two coaches who seemingly do everything the right way. It featured 1, maybe 2, future pros. And most of all it featured 2 teams full of guys that will stay for 4 years, earn their degrees and be college student-athletes. There was not a single "1 and done" player on the court, no John Wall or Derrick Rose type. This was two college teams proving that your team doesn't have to have the "1 and done" type players to win. It was a great exhibition of intensity and passion, but without any weird moments (like the moment when West Virginia's coach Bob Huggins was laying on top of De'Sean Butler hugging him after Butler hurt his knee... a little much for me).
The only thing that I would have changed in this game that would have made it even better was the ending. I have never been shy about my hatred for Duke University, I have long disdained the Blue Devils. My night last night would have been perfect had Gordon Hayward's fall away baseline jumper found the net. It would have been even better had Hayward's half court desperation prayer been answered. Both shots missed by only a matter of inches or even less. We were that close to seeing one of the greatest upsets of all time, not because Duke was that much better than Butler, this was not Houston's Phi Slamma Jamma vs Underdog NC State. No Butler's win would have shown everyone that in College Basketball it is win when you are from a small league like the Horizon League. It would have shown everyone that you can take 2 or 3 star recruits and turn them into champions regardless of location or athletic budget. I think that even though Butler lost, they showed that they belong, they were no fluke. As a result I think that some time in the near future we will see a team like Butler win the championship. All of that is something that is impossible in college football. For those reasons people everywhere will still gravitate towards March Madness as the greatest sporting event in College Sports, and second only to the Super Bowl on a national level.
My last comment about the game last night is that I still disdain Duke, but I was extremely impressed with how their players and coach handled the win. It is easy once it is all over to say something wrong and disparage a team that you beat or be a poor winner. But Duke didn't take that road, in fact they answered everything perfectly (which in no way makes me dislike Duke any less). And it all started with Coach K. As much as I have loathed Duke over the years I have always had a lot of respect for Coach K, and that respect level only went up last night. That said, I can't wait until next year when the Tar Heels beat the crap out of the Dukies.
That is the View from the Upper Bowl for now.
