INDIANAPOLIS — “David beat Goliath.”
That history lesson came from Butler Bulldogs head coach Brad Stevens, who will take his ultimate underdogs into Monday’s clash against perennial powerhouse Duke for the NCAA championship.
This time, Goliath is going to ride its massive size advantage to victory.
Plucky Butler, the hardest-working, most physical team in the tournament has gone on a run for the ages, shocking top seed Syracuse, No. 2 Kansas State and a game Michigan State side in the semifinals Saturday.
But it will all end here in Indy, just nine kilometres from Butler’s home gym, storied Hinckle Fieldhouse, site of Hoosiers, the definitive hoops movie.
The coaches certainly don’t seem overwhelmed by the moment. When quizzed about taking out coaching legends Jim Boeheim and Tom Izzo and now facing Mike Krzyzewski, Stevens cracked: “Well, if it’s just me against them, we’re in trouble,” before adding, “they write books and I get to read them.” Countered Krzyzewski, in a rare playful mood: “I’ve already put a pre-order in for his book.”
Duke, in its 10th title game appearance is searching for championship No. 4. Butler, the first Horizon League team even to make the Final Four and just the third fifth seed ever to make the final (its predecessors are 0-2), is trying to pen the last chapter on a story for the ages.
Make no mistake Butler, though embracing the role, is not as much of an underdog as it seems. Sure it wasn’t ranked as highly as Duke during the season and it doesn’t boast a trio of future NBAers as Duke does, but it stayed in the 8-14 range of the pools all season and is on a 25-game winning streak.
Still, Butler cannot match Duke’s height and prowess on the glass. Moreso if starting centre Matt Howard, who missed practice after banging his head on the floor Saturday, cannot go. Gigantic Blue Devils pivot Brian Zoubek, all 7-foot-1 of him, is averaging 10 rebound a game in the tournament and is the top offensive boardman in college basketball. He is just two offensive grabs away from passing Elton Brand as Duke’s all-time leader.
Duke has outrebounded eight of its last nine opponents and outscored West Virginia 19-7 on second-chance points in the semis. It’s not all Zoubek either. Duke also starts 6-foot-8 forwards Lance Thomas and Kyle Singler and has decent size in its backcourt. Meanwhile, Butler’s tallest starter is Gordon Hayward, 6-foot-9, but more shooting guard than centre.
“I think we’re going to be smaller than them no matter what we do,” Stevens said.
Duke is 21-0 when holding opponents under 60 points this season. Butler is coming off a 15-49 from the field performance. You do that math.
And then there’s the outside shooting. Duke is 24-48 from three the past two games and the trio of Jon Scheyer, Kyle Singler and Nolan Smith is the highest scoring group in the NCAA, averaging 53.2 points a game.
Bulldogs guard Ronald Nored knows stopping them will be tough.
“They’re three great players, they can all shoot it,” Nored said. “For us, it’s just going to be about making them uncomfortable. Be physical with them, get them out of what they like to do.”
So what needs to happen besides stopping the shooters for Butler to have a chance? The Bulldogs have to get Zoubek in foul trouble early. Butler can’t let Duke get into its passing game (against the Mountaineers, Duke had three players with five or more assists, just the second time that’s happened this season) and it somehow must contain the Blue Devils on the offensive glass.
Expect both teams to revert back to the mean — Duke’s not going to hit 13 threes again and Butler’s not going to shoot 15-for-49. If that happens, Duke is the better side.
Butler’s had a great run. Sadly, it will end a win short.
ryan.wolstat@sunmedia.ca
