Butler 2010 = Duke 1986?

[bjornolf]

Young coach gets a few marquis players (Howard, Hayward, Mack) and takes a small school on the upswing to the national title game. This vaults them into the national limelight and helps recruiting. Soon they return, and eventually win one.

Is this a sign of things to come from Butler? I hope so. I think they deserve it.

[CameronBornAndBred]

Young coach gets a few marquis players (Howard, Hayward, Mack) and takes a small school on the upswing to the national title game. This vaults them into the national limelight and helps recruiting. Soon they return, and eventually win one.

Is this a sign of things to come from Butler? I hope so. I think they deserve it.

If you watch Coach K in the presser tonight, he gives loads of props to them and to their coach. K pretty much says they will be around for awhile, he predicts that in the "preseason rankings" put out tomorrow "because it's sports" Butler will be "one or two". He also recommended Stevens stay right where he is "because he seems to believe in the school". The parrallels are almost scary..except Stevens has done MORE than K did at that age. Granted..the opportunities are different.

[Miles]

Nice comparison bjornolf. Stevens, and his underrated assistants, were quite impressive. I don't think I've ever seen a team more prepared to take apart the Duke defense AND handle their offense.

[YmoBeThere]

It would be the stuff of how legends are made...which goes against the current atmosphere in college sports. Unfortunately, $ drive most things. Rumors continue that Oregon would love to have Mr. Stevens as their coach at $2-3 million per year. But what real history does Oregon have? Yes, a title in 1939, but no subsequent appearances in the Final Four. Stevens nearly matched that on Monday night.