INDIANAPOLIS—Forget the cliches. While Butler coach Brad Stevens may embrace the Cinderella storyline, Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski is the last person to believe in the stereotype.
“I think they’re one of the best teams in the country. I think Cinderella would be, if somebody had eight, nine losses and pulled some upsets,” Krzyzewski said in Sunday’s press conference. “They’ve beaten Syracuse and Kansas State, and Michigan State. I don’t really consider them Cinderella.”
As well he shouldn’t. There’s a reason why Stevens, on the contrary, likes being the underdog. “It makes me feel good. David won,” he said. David certainly has some big wins, but the Blue Devils are not about to be another Bulldogs’ Goliath.
Although Krzyzewski and the Blue Devils are going for their fourth national championship in eight tries together while the Bulldogs are entering brand-new territory with their first trip to the Final Four and now first championship game appearance, make no mistake about it—Duke is taking Butler extremely seriously.
“They actually paved their way to be where they are at right now. You talk about a team that plays as hard as anybody and doesn’t care about what the front of their jersey says for the opposing team,” Duke senior Lance Thomas said. “We’re going to have to be ready for them. This isn’t going to be an easy game by any means.”
What will make it even tougher is that the Bulldogs are essentially playing a home game. Butler and the Horizon League are hosts of the Final Four, and the Bulldogs haven’t lost a game played in Indianapolis all season.
In addition, Butler is the first team in the shot-clock era to make it to the title game by limiting their opponents to under 60 points in each of their first five NCAA Tournament games.
“They’re a great defensive team,” Duke All-American Jon Scheyer said. “They have really active hands. It’s hard to penetrate against them. You need to be strong with the ball. They play great defense. You’re not just going up against one guy; they do a great job of helping.”
“I think they’re one of the best teams in the country. I think Cinderella would be, if somebody had eight, nine losses and pulled some upsets,” Krzyzewski said in Sunday’s press conference. “They’ve beaten Syracuse and Kansas State, and Michigan State. I don’t really consider them Cinderella.”
As well he shouldn’t. There’s a reason why Stevens, on the contrary, likes being the underdog. “It makes me feel good. David won,” he said. David certainly has some big wins, but the Blue Devils are not about to be another Bulldogs’ Goliath.
Although Krzyzewski and the Blue Devils are going for their fourth national championship in eight tries together while the Bulldogs are entering brand-new territory with their first trip to the Final Four and now first championship game appearance, make no mistake about it—Duke is taking Butler extremely seriously.
“They actually paved their way to be where they are at right now. You talk about a team that plays as hard as anybody and doesn’t care about what the front of their jersey says for the opposing team,” Duke senior Lance Thomas said. “We’re going to have to be ready for them. This isn’t going to be an easy game by any means.”
What will make it even tougher is that the Bulldogs are essentially playing a home game. Butler and the Horizon League are hosts of the Final Four, and the Bulldogs haven’t lost a game played in Indianapolis all season.
In addition, Butler is the first team in the shot-clock era to make it to the title game by limiting their opponents to under 60 points in each of their first five NCAA Tournament games.
“They’re a great defensive team,” Duke All-American Jon Scheyer said. “They have really active hands. It’s hard to penetrate against them. You need to be strong with the ball. They play great defense. You’re not just going up against one guy; they do a great job of helping.”
However, Duke should not despair. Their own defense has been surprisingly good, and when they hold teams to under 60 points, they are 21–0. “I think we’re very similar,” Krzyzewski said. “It starts on the defensive end.”
The two teams have other similarities, as well. Stevens held the Blue Devils coach in such high esteem that he joked that coaches like Krzyzewski write books while Stevens reads them. Krzyzewski joked back, “Well, I’ve already put a preorder in for his book.”
Laughs aside, the Butler basketball tradition has risen to a new level with their recent success. “I think every year you get inspired by groups that come together that are certainly willing to put aside their individual talent for the betterment of the team,” Stevens said. “If that can be the inspiration, then we are really honored to carry that flag.”
Butler star Gordon Hayward said in agreement, “What’s so great about our team is we always seem to stay together. If one person gets rattled, all 14 other guys pull him together and set him straight.”
Teamwork will be a necessity for the Bulldogs, especially with starting forward Matt Howard being a game-day decision for Monday after sustaining a mild concussion against Michigan State.
Stevens, the second youngest coach to reach an NCAA title game at 33, has never been on college basketball’s biggest stage, but he realizes the significance, or insignificance, of it all. “Whatever happens on the basketball court, we don’t want it to be the highlight of your life,” he said.
“This will be a big highlight, but I want these guys to be able to move on and do bigger and better things when they’re done.”
