The 2011 college basketball championship was certainly historic but not for the reasons we would have hoped. It was unquestionably the worst combined offensive display in championship game history, and Butler was unimaginably bad. But, to the victor go the spoils, so let’s start with UConn.
-Jim Calhoun wins his third national championship, which passes Dean Smith and ties Bob Knight on the all-time list for most titles. He now only trails Adolph Rupp (4), Mike Kryzewski (4), and John Wooden (10). We don’t always talk about Calhoun with the same reverence as other all-time great coaches and I’m not sure why, but he has certainly locked up his spot as one of the best to ever walk the sidelines.
-Kemba Walker was horrible last night. He went 5-19 from the field, but that’s also credit to Butler’s defense. He did manage to snatch 9 rebounds; stars always find some way to impact a game. Walker might really struggle on the next level to get his shot off.
-UConn Freshman Jeremy Lamb is going to be a star. He played very well and was one of two Huskies, along with Alex Oriahki, to actually play well offensively.
-The Huskies' size was the biggest single reason they won this game. They had ten blocks and changed virtually every Butler shot. At one point late in the second half, UConn led 22-0 in points in the paint. They also out-rebounded Butler 51-40.
-Early in the proceedings Steve Kerr called this game, “The Steelers vs. The Ravens”—perfect description. Jay Bilas also tweeted during the game, “Jim Nantz can't wait to get to Augusta National for the Masters. Someone is guaranteed to post a score at least in the 60's.”
-The play that clinched victory for Connecticut was Oriahki’s and-one dunk with 5:40 remaining. It gave The Huskies a 13-point lead, and with how Butler was shooting, they weren’t coming back.
-The game last night was a horrible performance, but in no way should diminish what Butler has accomplished the past two years. Making it to consecutive championships would be a tremendous feat for Duke, moreso for a mid-major.
-Brad Stevens is an incredible coach. Last night it was obvious that Butler was not nearly as talented as UConn, but somehow they led at halftime and stayed in the game in the second half. Butler shot 19% from the field, got thoroughly outrebounded, barely scored in the paint, and had two stretches without a field goal that spanned more than half of the game, and only lost by 12.
-I felt terrible for Matt Howard. He went 1-13 in this game and just could not put the ball in the hoop. Shelvin Mack wasn’t much better going 4-15.
-It was clear Butler finally missed last year’s star Gordon Hayward. He was a guy that could manufacture his own shot, create off the dribble, and guard multiple positions. They needed him in this game badly.
-We often get bad games in the college basketball championship. I think that’s because success in the tournament is not about being the best team, but matching up best with whatever opponent you draw. Butler finally ran into a team they just couldn’t match up with, and they paid for it.
All in all it was a great tournament with a less than stunning climax. We’ve seen this story before, and it proves once again that the first weekend of March Madness is really the best part of the tournament. Congrats to UConn, and to Butler congrats on an amazing two year run. Finally, to college basketball, goodbye for another year.
--from Adam
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