Butler (28-9) vs. UConn (31-9)
Should be a pretty classic matchup. Butler handled VCU, an impressive team that handled a Kansas team everybody expected to be in the Final Four. Jamie Skeen, VCU’s outstanding power forward, is going to the NBA. He had 27 points and was three of four from trifecta. He also added six rebounds. But Butler got it done with the marksmanship of Shelvin Mack, who was five of six from trifecta and finished with 24 points, and the free throw shooting and leadership of Matt Howard. Howard was 11 of 12 from the free throw line finishing with 17 and added eight boards. His dad is a postal worker who in his 33 years of working has only missed one day of work. They had to start a fund to get his parents down to the Final Four. This is a blue collar group; really America’s team.
UConn outlasted Kentucky. UConn is not only Kemba Walker, who scored 18 on Saturday and has been the player of the postseason and in my opinion the player of the year, but also Jeremy Lamb, a freshman who sinks key basket after key basket. He had 12 on Saturday. They have some pretty good inside players with Alex Oriakhi, who had eight points and 10 boards, and also Roscoe Smith and Tyler Olander. Shabbazz Napier gives them leadership and defense off the bench as he comes in at point guard.
But Butler also has some other key players. Zach Hahn came in Saturday and scored eight critical points for the Bulldogs that gave them a lead against VCU. Shawn Vanzant is a nice player as well.
Should be a pretty classic game tonight.
Thoughts on Kentucky: John Calipari is the best recruiter in the country, but I’m not convinced he is that great of an in game coach. Kentucky was down two with 16 seconds left when Brandon Knight stole the ball from UConn and called timeout. The play that came out of it was a long, contested three by DeAndre Liggins with nine seconds left. Liggins should have been the fifth option in that situation. My first option would have been Knight driving to the basket and either taking the shot or dishing it to Josh Harrelson or Terrence Jones for a layup or a short shot. Then what about getting it to Doron Lamb for a trifecta? He was three-of-five for the game and brought his team back early in the second half with a couple of threes. Liggins should have been the last guy taking the shot. I would think that the play had been designed differently and Liggins got nervous and jacked it up. But it was the worst play the Wildcats could have called and why is he shooting it with nine seconds left. I don’t mind the time as much just the shot. If you have a good shooter with an open look you take it, but not Liggins guarded closely shooting close to an NBA three. It just didn’t make any sense. I’m sure Calipari didn’t have that play in mind. Surely. I faulted Billy Donovan for his last play against Butler in regulation when all they needed was a two to win the game and Vernon Macklin already had 25 points for the game on 11 of 14 shooting, but Erving Walker shot a three off a pick and missed. Walker had been one of six for the day from three. It was just a poor play call.
Maybe these players just take it on their own and don’t listen to their coach. I wonder some times if Calipari is so excited and jacked up that he loses his players in the huddle when there is a strategic decision to be made. I’ve seen his teams make mistakes at the end of games. Another factor is there are three freshman who all play significant minutes for this team. But it’s the postseason and they’re veterans who have been through the SEC wars and the NCAA wars and Knight had made a couple of game winning shots in the tournament. You would think the ball would be in his hands. Most likely, Liggins wanted to be a hero, but it was a poor shot selection and it cost the Wildcats a chance to win the national championship. Another huge factor was Ky was four-of-12 from the free throw line. Calipari’s teams have always seemed to struggle from the line. If you remember Derrick Rose missed a couple of free throws late in the game against Kansas that could have sealed the national championship for Memphis in ’08 when Calipari was coaching Memphis. Kansas went on to win in overtime. Calipari had said during the season that his team’s poor free throw shooting “didn’t matter.” Well it makes a difference there is no doubt and Kentucky paid for it Saturday., UConn was nine of 11 from the stripe.
So it’s the Huskies and the Bulldogs. I would say about 90 to 95 percent of the country is cheering for the Bulldogs. The other five or so percent lives in Connecticutt or close to the state and are alums. You just got to love a team from the heartland of America that is a group of overachievers who are a class act and a coach who handles himself with poise and character. Butler gets it done tonight.
Butler 65, UConn 60
(Matt Howard and Butler are on the verge of a national title.)