No Cinderella Here

Butler's role in the NCAA Tournament is a continued hot topic.

Was Butler a Cinderella team in this year's field? Many in the press made that statement with their stories, columns or broadcast pieces. Many have also cried that the Bulldogs were not a Cinderella team.

I tend to agree with the latter group in this debate.

Butler was a No. 5 seed in the tourney. With the Bulldogs' seed, the selection committee didn't deem them as a Cinderella. They were also consistently rated in the basketball polls during the season. Plus, Butler has a recent history of playing in the Big Dance.

Butler WAS the feel good team of the tournament not the Cinderella. Cinderella needs to move up from the back of the bus maybe as a No. 10, 11 or 12 seed. The Bulldogs were sitting near the front of the bus in plain view. Before the final, they hadn't lost a game since December.

I agree Butler was a great story. Here's a small, mid-major school with talented players but none with eye-popping skills. The Bulldogs defeated some heavyweights in the tournament and played in the Final Four in their hometown.

People also tried to link them with the Hoosiers movie theme. But about the only connection there was both teams hailed from Indiana.

Even if Gordon Hayward's three-point try would have dropped in the bottom of the basket and gave Butler an amazing victory, it would have only capped the feel good story with a perfect ending.

No need to talk slippers here.

Talking Final Four

My heart says Butler, Butler and Butler in the opening semifinal NCAA game Saturday. However, my head says Michigan State, Michigan State and Michigan State.

The Butler Bulldogs are the darlings of the Final Four. It's a mid-major, undefeated team playing in college basketball biggest event in the Bulldogs' home city of Indianapolis. It's the new kid against the standing invitation-type in Michigan State. Butler will no double experience nerves, the Spartans will look at the game as another step on the journey. They will leave their nerves in the locker room.

America will favor Butler. Michigan State will rally around the 'us against the world" theme. Tom Izzo is a master motivator and will use anything in the rah-rah line to gain an advantage.

I look for Butler's magic slipper to drop in a competitive game.

In the second game, my head says Duke, Duke, Duke. My heart says I don't care, I don't care and I don't care.

Maybe West Virginia is a nice story playing in its first Final Four since the 50s. But I doubt if I will watch much of this game. This eastern battle brings me no anticipated excitement.

So, I'm looking for Michigan State to play Duke in the final Monday night.

What excites you about this year's Final Four?

Butler Rocks

Butler dashed Syracuse's national title hopes last night. It was a wonderful sight to see another No. 1 seed fall in the NCAA tourney. It's the beauty of March Madness.

People call the Butler win an upset. But was it? These Bulldogs haven't last a game a game in a long, long time (undefeated this season). Plus, Butler has a history of success in the NCAA tourney.

This veteran club is like other mid-majors in the tournament. The Bulldogs are veteran team with a hard shell. They won't back down, they won't give in to the opposition.

Butler coach Brad Stevens looks calm on the sidelines. His team displays that calm. Even when the Orange look like they were going in win at the 5-7-minute mark, the Bulldogs didn't panic.

So now its on to the Elite Eight against Kansas State. Despite being a Big 12 Conference fan, here's my vote for Butler.

Wouldn't that be something if the Bulldogs could win Saturday and return to their hometown of Indianapolis for the Final Four?