Do you miss Butler?

[vu72]

You have to give Rotnei and Dunham credit.  They have incredible range and quick releases.  Don't think I've seen anything quite like Clarke, who is playing out of position.

[LaPorteAveApostle]

even the kittens from the Detroit loss are laughing uncontrollably!!!

made my day.

72, I do think it's at least safe to say that Rotnei Clarke is the Greatest Player Ever Who You Thought Was Black At First But Then Turned Out To Be Inexplicably White.

[oklahomamick]

Yes, I miss Butler.  They gave the HL some name recognition.  Until last year...what conference could say that they produced the last 2 national finalist? 

I'm glad they didn't jump into the A10 and win it though.  It looks like St. Louis will win which is okay with me as we lost to them and it will help rpi.

[valpotx]

They are currently getting it handed to them by VCU as well...55-35 with 15' left

[vu72]

I think they were drilled by 30. I'm wondering if, say, they lose in the first or second rounds of their tourney, is there a chance they don't make the dance?

[valporun]

The Bulldogs lost, 84-52, a 32-point drubbing. The worst loss under Brad Stevens. Are there any byes in the A-10 that Butler qualifies for?

[LaPorteAveApostle]

a "good" comes to mind...

[oklahomamick]

I think they were drilled by 30. I'm wondering if, say, they lose in the first or second rounds of their tourney, is there a chance they don't make the dance?

Of course, if anyone gets a nod on the bubble its march madness butler.

[zvillehaze]

Of course, if anyone gets a none on the bubble its march madness butler.

Spot on ... couldn't have stated it better myself. 

[historyman]

Also they have wins over both #1 Gonzaga and #2 Indiana. Those two wins alone are a good reason why Butler as a bubble team would make the Big Dance. Okay not those two wins alone but a pretty good won/loss record too.

[zvillehaze]

The Bulldogs lost, 84-52, a 32-point drubbing. The worst loss under Brad Stevens. Are there any byes in the A-10 that Butler qualifies for?

Top 12 teams in A-10 make the tourney, with the top 4 teams getting a single bye.  Games played on back-to-back days ... Thursday through Selection Sunday.  Butler is currently tied for the 4th spot with Temple and hold the tie-breaker.  They are one game ahead of UMass and Xavier, who they face in their last two games.  Obviously, things are still up in the air.

I think they were drilled by 30. I'm wondering if, say, they lose in the first or second rounds of their tourney, is there a chance they don't make the dance?

Bad loss today, but Butler remains at #30 in the RPI.  Butler has been vulnerable to pressure defense, and nobody does that better than VCU.  It was also another "t-shirt game" and the 7th sellout in 7 A-10 road games ... they act like Butler's going somewhere!  I wasn't surprised at the loss, but was disappointed with the effort.

With that said, Butler doesn't have a loss outside of the top 100 RPI and are 5-5 vs. top 50 and 2-2 vs. 51-100.  They aren't on the bubble yet, but if they lose their last two and first in the tourney, could slip above 50 RPI and would be in big trouble, IMO.  But if they do that, they probably wouldn't deserve to be in anyway.

[StlVUFan]

The Bulldogs lost, 84-52, a 32-point drubbing. The worst loss under Brad Stevens. Are there any byes in the A-10 that Butler qualifies for?

Top 12 teams in A-10 make the tourney, with the top 4 teams getting a single bye.  Games played on back-to-back days ... Thursday through Selection Sunday.  Butler is currently tied for the 4th spot with Temple and hold the tie-breaker.  They are one game ahead of UMass and Xavier, who they face in their last two games.  Obviously, things are still up in the air.

I think they were drilled by 30. I'm wondering if, say, they lose in the first or second rounds of their tourney, is there a chance they don't make the dance?

Bad loss today, but Butler remains at #30 in the RPI.  Butler has been vulnerable to pressure defense, and nobody does that better than VCU.  It was also another "t-shirt game" and the 7th sellout in 7 A-10 road games ... they act like Butler's going somewhere!  I wasn't surprised at the loss, but was disappointed with the effort.

With that said, Butler doesn't have a loss outside of the top 100 RPI and are 5-5 vs. top 50 and 2-2 vs. 51-100.  They aren't on the bubble yet, but if they lose their last two and first in the tourney, could slip above 50 RPI and would be in big trouble, IMO.  But if they do that, they probably wouldn't deserve to be in anyway.

I'm super impressed with SLU.  Watched them obliterate both of these teams in person (at home, I mean).  I was not surprised to see a much tougher game at Hinkle.

[zvillehaze]

I'm super impressed with SLU.  Watched them obliterate both of these teams in person (at home, I mean).  I was not surprised to see a much tougher game at Hinkle.

I totally agree ... SLU has proven to be the class of the A-10 and will not go home in March (or April) until someone matches their toughness for 40 minutes and truly beats them.  It was unfortunate for Butler that SLU was the one team they had to play twice because SLU is really good. 

[bbtds]

Just saw this posted on the Saint Louis board:

Look at Butler, if those 2 seasons (Final Four seasons) were one and done, we look at them the way we look at Valpo.

I suppose I understand this SLU poster's thinking but that hit like a dagger since Valpo started out a lot like Butler started and were rivals.

[VULB#62]

Oh, to have back Nebraska, Oakland and Loyola.  With those three in the win column, we'd be 27-4.  And even if we were to lose in the HL final in a tight one, we might have squeaked in as an at-large, no?

[LaPorteAveApostle]

Look at Butler, if those 2 seasons (Final Four seasons) were one and done, we look at them the way we look at Valpo.

how embarrassing for that ignorant fan.  look, if YOU hadn't been last year, and won a game, we'd be looking at SLU the way we look at Valpo.

('cept without the love in our eyes, of course.)

EDIT:  no, wait, check that.  you have won precisely the same number of NCAA games as we have since 1996.  if you weren't Catholic, you'd never be invited to the C-7.  you're ridiculous.

[a3uge]

Oh, to have back Nebraska, Oakland and Loyola.  With those three in the win column, we'd be 27-4.  And even if we were to lose in the HL final in a tight one, we might have squeaked in as an at-large, no?

We had a huge 20 point comeback to Detroit,  a comeback to Wright State, and a late game miracle at Kent State that all could have been in the loss column easily.

[VULB#62]

Oh, to have back Nebraska, Oakland and Loyola.  With those three in the win column, we'd be 27-4.  And even if we were to lose in the HL final in a tight one, we might have squeaked in as an at-large, no?

We had a huge 20 point comeback to Detroit,  a comeback to Wright State, and a late game miracle at Kent State that all could have been in the loss column easily.

True, but IF we were 27-4 now in the scenario I mentioned, might we squeak in as an at-large is all I'm asking?  OOC SOS might be a problem.

[a3uge]

Look at Butler, if those 2 seasons (Final Four seasons) were one and done, we look at them the way we look at Valpo.

how embarrassing for that ignorant fan.  look, if YOU hadn't been last year, and won a game, we'd be looking at SLU the way we look at Valpo.

('cept without the love in our eyes, of course.)

EDIT:  no, wait, check that.  you have won precisely the same number of NCAA games as we have since 1996.  if you weren't Catholic, you'd never be invited to the C-7.  you're ridiculous.

I'm pretty sure the average fan doesn't know SLU has a decent basketball team. They will remember Butler for their 2 large runs,  and people will not forget that. Look at  UWM...  they made the sweet 16 a couple years back and that name is completely lost in the eyes of an average fan. That guys acting like they have made continuous sweet 16 runs and tournament appearances.

[LaPorteAveApostle]

Quote from: bbtds on Today at 04:45:19 AM
Look at Butler, if those 2 seasons (Final Four seasons) were one and done, we look at them the way we look at Valpo.

Look at Germany, if those 2 wars (the World ones) were won and done, we look at them the way we look at the US.

[wh]

Oh, to have back Nebraska, Oakland and Loyola.  With those three in the win column, we'd be 27-4.  And even if we were to lose in the HL final in a tight one, we might have squeaked in as an at-large, no?

We had a huge 20 point comeback to Detroit,  a comeback to Wright State, and a late game miracle at Kent State that all could have been in the loss column easily.

True, but IF we were 27-4 now in the scenario I mentioned, might we squeak in as an at-large is all I'm asking?  OOC SOS might be a problem.

I don't know, but you can bet it would be a huge (and exciting) topic of discussion on our board about now.  It's too bad we weren't playing then the way we are now - probably none of the OOC losses you mentioned would have occurred.  We would probably be thinking about a better seed than 12-15, as well. That said, we're peaking at the right time and there is much to be positive about.

[wh]

Interesting comment from Jeff Goodman (College Basketball Insider) in the aftermath of yesterday's VCU win over Butler:

VCU is the superior team, though. Butler has had its share of impressive wins this season, but this could be Stevens' most impressive regular-season coaching job. There are no Gordon Haywards, Shelvin Macks or even Matt Howards in this group -- and he's no longer feasting on Horizon League cupcakes. There was no one to handle the Rams' vaunted press.

Apparently, Jeff isn't aware that Butler also struggled last year in the "lowly" Horizon League.  Not only did they not "feast" on HL cupcakes, 2 teams - Valpo and Detroit - feasted on them.  Butler lost all 5 games by an average of 10 points.



http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/blog/eye-on-college-basketball/21799127/vcus-beatdown-of-butler-a-showing-of-what-the-a-10-gained-will-lose

[valpotx]

He would also know that during their last championship game run, they lost to Valpo as well.

[vu72]

Yet another well researched article.  Stevens has done an impressive job however, taking his team from fourth in the Horizon to fourth in the A-10. 

[covufan]

Oh, to have back Nebraska, Oakland and Loyola.  With those three in the win column, we'd be 27-4.  And even if we were to lose in the HL final in a tight one, we might have squeaked in as an at-large, no?

We had a huge 20 point comeback to Detroit,  a comeback to Wright State, and a late game miracle at Kent State that all could have been in the loss column easily.

True, but IF we were 27-4 now in the scenario I mentioned, might we squeak in as an at-large is all I'm asking?  OOC SOS might be a problem.

I don't know, but you can bet it would be a huge (and exciting) topic of discussion on our board about now.  It's too bad we weren't playing then the way we are now - probably none of the OOC losses you mentioned would have occurred.  We would probably be thinking about a better seed than 12-15, as well. That said, we're peaking at the right time and there is much to be positive about.

Yes, much to be positive about.  We need to get this winning streak up to 8!

Those three losses, as well as the YSU loss, are all games that Butler during their streak would find ways to win.