Sunday, March 27, 2011

News On The Horizon 3/27/2011


Butler's Stevens is too smart to take the next best thing--
Fans throw another Final Four party for Butler--MICentralSports.com
Butler back in Final Four, beats Florida in OT--MICentralSports.com
Bracket Breakdown: Critical Questions for the Elite Eight--Hoopville
RTC Live: Southeast & West Regional Finals--Rush The Court
NCAA Tournament Tidbits: 03.26.11--Rush The Court

Southeast

* When Butler went through a swoon in January, head coach Brad Stevens called good friend Mark Few for advice to get his team through the tough time.
* This Indianapolis Star columnist is not attributing Butler’s run as “magic,” but merely as the best team winning. The Bulldogs need to be on their game if they want to beat Florida to advance to their second straight Final Four.
* Hailing from little Connersville, Indiana, Butler forward Matt Howard has been the heart and soul of the Bulldogs throughout this season. Howard has been so unselfish that point guard Ronald Nored has, at times, had to beg the big man to shoot more.

Florida was flawed all along--Ballin' is a Habit
You have to appreciate just how impressive Butler's last two touraments are--Ballin' is a Habit
Can we even comprehend what Butler's just done?--Eye On College Basketball
Final Four at Stake: Florida vs. Butler--The Big Lead
Brad Stevens to Billy Donovan After Butler’s Win: “You Outcoached Me”--The Big Lead
NCAA Tournament Elite Eight: Butler vs Florida An Advanced Look--Mid-Major Madness
Butler Returns To The Final Four--Mid-Major Madness
Mid-Major Morning Mashups: Butler Back To The Final Four Edition--Mid-Major Madness

Utah Jazz notebook: Gordon Hayward enjoying Butler's tourney run--Deseret News
Jazz notes: Hayward being more aggressive as season closes--Salt Lake Tribune
Jazz fall apart late, as Mavericks sweep season series--Salt Lake Tribune

The last time the Jazz were two games below .500 and falling apart, Deron Williams chucked a ball at Gordon Hayward and chewed him out on national television.

Kentucky Basketball: Can-Do 'Cats Survive and Advance ...--A Sea Of Blue

Even though I wrote this piece Thursday entitled "Can-Do 'Cats," reiterating not the shortcomings of Kentucky, but instead focusing on what the 'Cats can do, I still was not a true believer -- I got the idea for the post from Butler Bulldog head coach Brad Stevens, who, when asked during his mandatory media op, how is Butler, a so-called mid-major, able to consistently challenge the supposed big boys, answered in his best John Wayne deadpan (paraphrasing) -- We focus on what we can do, not on what we can't do, or can't control.

In spite of my misgivings, Stevens' words inspired me to write about the positives Kentucky brought to the floor in their match-up with OSU, such as, UK's ability to score from anywhere on the floor, take care of the basketball, play defense, and rebound. I also wrote about the 'Cats' team speed, as well as the unmatched improvement of Josh Harrellson, and the fact that I liked the point guard match-up of UK's Brandon Knight vs. OSU's Aaron Craft.

Florida Blows 11-Point Lead, Loses to Butler in OT--Team Speed Kills
The Butler defies conventional wisdom once again--Searching for Billy Edelin
"The Butler Did It...Again" Prime Offenders--Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician
2011 NCAA Elite 8: Back To Back! Butler Heading To Final Four Again, UConn Joins Them--SB Nation Indiana
TOURNEY WATCH: 3/27/2011 (NCAA Open Thread)--Bring On The Cats
Every Dog Had its Day--Basketball Prospectus
Butler knocks off Florida to advance to Final Four--The Chicago Tribune
Hopkins, Marshall come up big--The Indy Star
As expected, Howard comes up big again--The Indy Star
BUTLER, THE SEQUEL--The Indy Star
Bob Kravitz: It seems like a fairy tale, but it's real--The Indy Star
You can’t make this stuff up--Indy Star Butler Insider
Basking … Final Four style--Victory Firelight
BUTLER 74, FLORIDA 71 (OT)--THE unOFFICIAL BUTLER BULLDOGS MEN'S BASKETBALL PAGE
FOLLOW THE GAME LIVE: Bulldogs vs. Gators--Butler Collegian
PHOTO GALLERY | Moment by moment of Butler vs. Florida--Butler Collegian
PHOTO GALLERY | Bulldogs celebrate Florida upset--Butler Collegian
[VIDEO] Students celebrate on Hampton Dr. after Elite 8 win against Florida--Butler Collegian
Butler men’s basketball upsets Florida; advances to Final Four--Butler Collegian
FINAL FOUR TICKET INFORMATION--ButlerSports.com
NEXT STOP: HOUSTON FOR THE FINAL FOUR--ButlerSports.com
Final Four Gear Now Available--ButlerSports.com
FINAL FOUR CAMPUS REACTIONS--ButlerSports.com

UWGB women's basketball notebook: Baylor isn't one-woman show--Green Bay Press Gazette
Women's basketball: Slowing Baylor's Griner is tall order for UWGB--Green Bay Press Gazette
Green Bay Meets the Press, Practices for Sweet 16--uwgbathletics.com
Matt Bollant Previews Green Bay's Sweet 16 Contest--uwgbathletics.com
(5) Green Bay Ready to Face (1) Baylor in Tonight's Regional Semifinal--uwgbathletics.com

More success for Butler=more money for Horizon League teams--Section EE

Butler Headed Back to Final Four After 74-71 Thriller--Horizon League Network

Follow the Phoenix through the Sweet 16--Horizon League Network

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