As someone who has picked Butler in every single game of the entire tournament, what I’m about to write might not surprise you.
Regardless, don’t gloss over this fact: my heart wants to pick Butler…but so does my head.
Now, I understand that Jay Bilas, Digger Phelps, Dick Vitale, and Hubert Davis all picked UConn. In fact, the only person I have heard pick Butler is Doug Gottlieb…not exactly the person you want endorsing your team.
However, I have heard various forms of the same argument come out of every talking head’s mouth: “Kemba Walker is a winner, and he won’t let UConn lose.”
With all due respect to the Kemba, (believe me, I love watching the Revolutionary Iverson ball it up every night) that statement is a slap in the face to guys like Matt Howard, Ronald Nored, Shawn Vanzant, and Shelvin Mack.
I listened calmly as Jay Bilas told Mike and Mike on the radio this morning that “Butler would have a hard time stopping UConn’s fast break, and that would probably be the difference in the game.”
Apparently, research and facts are useless and irrelevant if you work for the World Wide Leader. Someone should tell Jay that Butler just held one of the best fast breaking teams in the country, VCU, to ZERO fast break points on Saturday night.
But that’s ok. Butler has made a living off of proving the doubters wrong. The 2011 NCAA Championship Game will be no different.
Jon Washburn @The_Dr_Twitch
