With Stevens and Seniors, Butler WIns Playing The Right Way

In looking back at this year in college sports, it was scandal filled and very ugly. We had Cam Newton being auctioned off like a Picasso, the Ohio State tats for team gear scandal, and Big East refs simultaneously going blind in order to give the Red Storm a win. But despite all of this ugliness the NCAA tournament has given us a diamond in the rough, something to take our mind of the troubles in college athletics, the diamond that is Butler basketball. Back in the sweet 16 again, the tourney darlings are making a run at the title they nearly won last year. But Butler is more then a sweet Cinderella story, they're more then a team with a couple of great wins, they represent everything that is right with college sports.

Butler tells us that "Hey you don't need 5 guys who dominated in the AAU circuit, or committed crimes, and are leaving for NBA riches after one year to win," in short they tell us college basketball can be saved. And how do they do it. How does a team in the Horizon League, make it to the NCAA championship game, nearly beat Duke, then beat a number one seed the next year to return to the Elite Eight, and maybe even win the final this time? They do it the old school way, with great coaching and great defense and yes a little bit of luck. Butler does it behind a coach who looks like he still should be playing college intramural. But Brad Stevens is clearly showing that you don't necessarily get smarter with age. He builds his teams around solid fundamentals and good teamwork, you know, the way it should be. He's a basketball wizard, building a team around a core 5 not one John Wall or the next one-and-done. Imagine the things he could do if he went to a major school! But no, just like his players Stevens won't be leaving early. Stevens is signed under contract until 2022, which means when he finally grows a beard, he will still be the coach of Butler.

But it isn't all the Stevens of course. Matt Howard, a senior of course who wouldn't consider leaving early, the scrappy, tough forward with the game-winner against Old Dominion, dominates on the boards and can score. Point Guard Shelvin Mack plays the game the right way, and has lead the Butler offensive attack to put up 71 on Pitt. It's beautiful to watch them play, and one can only appreciate how they play the game. Even the basketball God's love Butler. Consider Gilbert Brown going to the line on Saturday and barely missing the last free-throw in the exact position for Matt Howard to get it and, throw up the prayer that helped convince the ref that he was blatantly fouled. That's the kind of smart play that wins games, behind the smart coach this smart team could very well not only go to the ball this year, but marry the prince, and take home the trophy.