Before I get to the things I like, things I hate about this game, let me first give an ol'fashioned middle finger, blog-style, to Rick Pitino. If you didn't catch it this afternoon, Pitino got a call from Pat Forde, one of the many morons who get a paycheck from ESPN.com for helping to set sports writing back 200 years (I am fairly confident they didn't have sports reporters 200 years ago, thus the accuracy of the reference). Forde, being the grand investigative journalist he is, evidently got Pitino on the phone sometime in the last 24 hours. See, Ricky played both Uconn and Butler this year and beat both of them, the only coach in America to do so. So, naturally, Rick would be the perfect guy to break down both teams.
So, what was Pitino's prediction? Butler, and by a lot.
The slimy little quote was “it won't be at the buzzer. It will be by seven or eight points.”
Really?
Well, oh sage of the sporting world, why would you say that?
Because, sports fans, Uconn is tired and had a “war” with Kentucky. In his mind, the team that came out of their game exhausted would lose Monday night. That, he determined, was Uconn.
Pitino's illogic here doesn't really bother me, but it does warrant a response. First, did he watch the VCU, Butler game? That game was 61-57 with 2 minutes to play, and VCU missed a GIMME layup. Before that, both teams traded clankers, and neither team could take control. Plus, while Uconn and Kentucky were happy to play in a half court, VCU tried to run Butler around (the only way they can beat better teams) and, in the first half, were very successful. Butler looked tired in the first half, desparate to slow things down. Just because the final score showed a rather comfortable margin doesn't mean Butler had that margin for long. Again, with 2 minutes to go, it was 61-57, with VCU about to make it a 2 point game with an easy layup, which they missed. I guess, if you want to make a big deal about what turned into a less-stressful last 1:30 for Butler, as opposed to Uconn, which came down to last possessions, go right ahead. To me, however, I don't think the fatigue is that much of a factor.
The other joke of that comment is Uconn BEAT Louisville for the BE Tournament having played five games in five days, including an overtime game the night before against Syracuse. They had enough in the tank, after five grueling days, to beat the Cardinals, but not enough after having played a game on Saturday to beat Butler on Monday? Please.
But, like I said, that's just an opinion. A lot of people are picking Butler. You would think the bulldogs are an immovable force (forget the fact they last-second shots to beat both Pitt and Florida just to get to this point), but Pitino isn't an assmuncher for picking against the Huskies.
What makes him as assmuncher is a comment he made in the middle of the article. When asked about Lousiville throttling Butler early in the year, Pitino essentially called it a fluke. They had five weeks to prepare, were opening a new arena, and while Butler played well, they were simply behind the eight ball. Uconn? Different story.
According to Ricky Pants Drop, if Louisville had played Uconn 30 times, the Cardinals would have won 20. What a pricky little prick thing to say.
Wonder how many times Lousiville would beat Moorehead State if they played 30 times? Unfortunately, we'll never know because the Cardinals got bitch slapped by a 13 seed that then went out in their next game and got pummeled.
What is even funnier about that statement is that Uconn played Pitino and Louisville three times this year and in TWO of the games, Uconn was clearly better. Uconn had a comfortable lead at Gampel in their first meeting, then played way too much “keep-away” with the ball, blew the lead, and lost in double overtime. Louisville handled Uconn at their YumYum Center, or whatever the hell that redneck heaven is called, until meeting up in the Finals of the BE Tournament. In case you were wondering, Uconn won the game and, at one point, had a 14-point lead.
I guess, as a fan, you always end up finding something about you team's opponent that you dislike. I still can't find something specific about the Bulldogs, but can hang my hat on this: I desperately want Butler to lose so people like Pitino have to suck it for seven months. I am already sick of hearing how unbelievable this Butler team is. You would think they are beating people by 30 points a game. Please. They are good defensively, okay offensively, they play smart, they play hard, and that makes up for a lack of true athletic ability. I like Butler, a lot. But, I want Uconn to win by 25 now, just to shut everyone up.
Now, onto what I like, hate in this game:
Things I hate
*I hate that Cinderella does get the slipper sometime, and Butler might be due. Now, I was worried that Calipari and his Wildcats were on a similar run, but Butler feels more like the magic carpet ride than Kentucky.
*Kentucky played young for a lot of the first half against Uconn. Butler won't. I think Butler is going to play smart, aggressive, and run their offense.
*This Mac kid is good, and is a house, so if they put him on Kemba, it could make for a tough night.
*Butler was here last year and didn't win. Most teams that return, historically speaking, do win that second time around.
*Uconn has been in two very tight games against Arizona and Kentucky. In both games, there was a three in the air, in the final seconds, that would have sent Uconn home the loser. Butler usually plays tight, close games. I don't want Uconn in another spot where they are watching a shot in the air to beat them hoping it is just off the mark.
Things I love about this game:
*I think Uconn is better, pure and simple. I think they have the better athletes, and I think they can create more matchup problems for Butler than Butler can create for them.
*I like that Butler is getting picked by EVERYONE to win this game. That's fine. I don't care what Vegas says, technically, they are coming in here as the favorite. When the less talented team comes in with the pressure to win on their shoulders, I like that.
*Butler played Duke last year as a true Cinderella. They played loosey-goosey. No one expected them to even compete, let alone win. They played well and took Duke down to the wire. Now, for Butler, they will come into this game with expectations. Not only that, they will come in knowing it is now or never. Again, the less talented team, in my opinion, also has the best chance of showing up tight in this game. I like that for Uconn.
*Somehow, we've gotten to the point where Shelvin Mack and Kemba is considered a wash? Really? Mack hit five threes in his game against VCU and had 24 points. There are games where Kemba scores that many points BEFORE hitting some threes. With all due respect to Mack, a very nice player, he aint Kemba Walker.
*Uconn has played San Diego State, Arizona, and Kentucky in the Sweet Sixteen, Elite Eight, and Final Four. Butler played Wisconsin, Florida, and VCU. Sorry, no comparison in terms of athleticism and toughness. Only Florida, a somewhat overrated SEC team beaten up by Kentucky this year, came close to giving Butler the look of a team like Uconn. And, as was said above, they were in a dogfight with VCU, a team just lucky to have been hanging around and to have gotten Kansas on a night when they couldn't throw the ball into the ocean.
*I like Jim Calhoun over Brad Stevens. Just saying.
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