Butler and UCONN won their national semifinals yesterday to put themselves in a very unlikely national title game. I know a few things about this:
1. This will NOT be a repeat of the 2004 title game when UCONN crushed Georgia Tech.
2. Butler is still on track to be Duke 2.0 by returning to the title game after losing in heartbreaking fashion the year before (but it’s not against the same opponent…you get the idea.)
3. This game should be hard fought, and I really hope we get a really good matchup between Shelvin Mack and Kemba Walker. Who else would you put on Walker (conversely, who else would you put on Mack?)
4. I really hope Shaka Smart doesn’t bolt VCU after losing yesterday.
Butler proved that it IS for real. They had the hottest team in the tournament against them and VCU kept getting close — then again — and again. After a while it seemed like VCU would push the turbo button and run out in front, but Butler just put their hand on VCU’s forehead and kept them at bay for the entire night.
It’s not surprising since Butler plays such great defense, but is that defense enough to contain Kemba Walker? Moreover, is UCONN’s defense enough to contain Matt Howard from getting every available rebound on Monday night.
In the end, it will come down to coaching manuevers. We can assume that each coach (Calhoun and Stevens) can gameplan for what the other does best. If that isn’t apparent by now then the sky isn’t blue either.
It’s those other things. How does Stevens use substitutions to keep Howard out of foul trouble. How does he get Shelvin Mack in the right places to score AND play hard defense on Walker? Or, does he use Nored on Walker as well? The combination could be key.
I’m excited for a great title game on Monday. Check back here for a live journal the day after. It should be fun!
