Power Rankings: The Sweet Sixteen--Sports Illustrated
11. BUTLER (Southeast No. 8 )
Faces No. 4 Wisconsin on Thursday in New Orleans
Josh Levin’s deconstruction of the end of the Butler-Pitt game on Slate.com was one of the better pieces of the tourney’s first week, in part due to its section about Shelvin Mack’s attempt to psych out Gilbert Brown during the clock review that preceded his final two free throws. The Bulldogs have a choir-boyish image nationally, but Mack has acquired a swagger and is known within the Horizon League for his chatter. Here, he was hoping to be a distraction:
With Brown having to wait around, Butler turns to psychological warfare. “We were just trying to psych him out,” Smith explains. “We were just standing there looking at him.” In the lane, two feet in front of Brown’s face, Mack tries to make conversation. “I just asked him where he was from,” Mack says, to laughter in the press room. “I told him I was from Lexington. I have a 3.0 [grade point average]. Stuff like that.”
The other part I loved was how Stevens wouldn’t reveal the details of the inbounds play he drew up in the event Brown hit the second free throw. As Levin wrote:
1.4 seconds to go, score tied 70-70: Butler now has to prepare for the worst: a potential one-point deficit, no timeouts, length of the floor to go. “Coach drew up a play, and so in my mind, I’m just telling myself, ‘This is gonna work, this is gonna work. Even if he makes two, this is gonna work. It’ll be fine,’ ” Howard remembers.
But the Bulldogs’ plan is sketchy. “We were just going to have to throw it deep,” Stevens recalls, “cut guys different ways and choose one.”
There’s a reason Stevens didn’t go into detail: He wants to use that play again — and there’s no sense in talking about something that opponents don’t yet have on film. All they know now is that reserve Erik Fromm is the intended inbounder. The rest is still a secret.
Utah Jazz notebook: Gordon Hayward has a rough birthday--Deseret News
Badgers, Bulldogs rise to the occasion--Bucky's 5th Quarter
Badgers' Ryan wouldn't want to play any other way--The Indy Star
Notebook: Don't fear Butler's fashion sense--The Indy Star
No one dares to overlook Butler Bulldogs this year--The Indy Star
Bucking the Badgers--Indy Star Butler Insider
Countdown to Butler vs. Bucky--Victory Firelight
On this day 8 years ago - Mar 23, 2003--Butler Blue Fever
Bucky is back in the dancing business--UWGB Fourth Estate
PHOTO GALLERY | Bulldogs practice before tonight’s game--Butler Collegian
Newsday: Butler still on script--Butler Collegian
Fort Wayne News-Sentinel: Stevens motivates without the drama--Butler Collegian
Wisconsin State Journal: Taylor is among nation’s elite, Butler’s coach says--Butler Collegian
Akron, Kent State, Cleveland State likely to contend for titles next season: Local Men's College Basketball--Cleveland Plain Dealer
Detroit-Mercy coach Ray McCallum riding high with NCAA Tournament picks--The Detroit News
Loyola basketball coach rumor mill--Loyola Phoenix
Determined UW-Green Bay women break through to next level--Green Bay Press Gazette
Phoenix women’s basketball earns 10th league title--UWGB Fourth Estate
Green Bay in the Big Dance: An Early Look at Dallas--uwgbathletics.com
oewisch WBCA All-America Team Finalist--uwgbathletics.com
In The News And On The Air--Panther Blog Zone
Jeter A Finalist For Three National Coaching Honors--uwmpanthers.com
Lazerus: Should Valpo’s Wood stay or go?--The Post-Tribune
Drew Named NABC District 12 Co-Coach of the Year--valpoathletics.com
Former WSU basketball coach has new team on verge of state title--Dayton Daily News
Tournament Tracker: March 24--Horizon League Network
Jeter a Finalist for Three Coaching Awards--Horizon League Network
Drew, Waters Share NABC District 12 Coach of Year Honors--Horizon League Network
Howard and Behn earn scholar-athlete of the month honors--Horizon League Network
Hoewisch finalist for NCAA All-America Basketball Team--Horizon League Network
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