By MIKE HUTSELL
Mike.Hutsell@newsandtribune.com
March 22, 2008 10:27 pm
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The best team in Indiana plays this afternoon. If you’re not busy, sit back and enjoy.
All it does is find a way to win, and win a lot.
I’m talking about Butler — the little engine that nestles nicely in the northern regions of Indianapolis. The Bulldogs have a second-round game today against Tennessee in Birmingham, Ala., with a spot in the NCAA “Sweet 16” on the line.
This type of matchup isn’t new to the Bulldogs.
That’s because Butler hasn’t just become the most prominent “mid-major” in the world of college basketball — it’s quite possible the Bulldogs have transformed themselves into the most successful college hoops program in the very state they inhibit.
Yes, banners hang from the rafters of Assembly Hall in Bloomington and John Wooden did cut his teeth in West Lafayette before he packed up for a legendary career out west.
But that was yesteryear.
Talk about now though and it’s hard to argue against Butler in the battle of state supremacy, and it’s really tough to find a valid argument against it.
Tipping off today, Butler sits at 30 wins on the season. It’s a school record for one year and just a continuation of a decade of victories, tournament appearances and ascension into the realms of the NCAA elite.
Compare the Dogs with Indiana and Purdue — especially in the years following IU’s dramatic run to the NCAA final in 2002 — and you’d find nothing but numbers that would turn a Hoosier fan his favorite shade of Crimson and make a Boiler backer start hitting themselves in the head with Purdue Pete’s hammer.
From 2003 forward, Butler has made two appearance in the Sweet 16 round of the tournament compared (a number that could reach three after today) to zero for Indiana and Purdue. Butler has missed the NCAA tournament just once in that stretch compared to two times each for the Big Ten big boys and if you’re looking for a losing season — Butler has zero compared to one for the Hoosiers and two for the Boilermakers.
Head-to-head, Butler has won two of the past three meetings against Indiana, took down Purdue in last year’s Wooden Tradition (moving to 2-0 this decade against the Boilers) and also owns six straight victories over Notre Dame.
In pre-conference matchups against elite-conference opponents, Butler won the 2006 NIT Season Tip-off (topping Indiana, Tennessee and Gonzaga en route to the title) and in 2007 claimed the Great Alaska Shootout crown (which included victories over Michigan, Virginia Tech and Texas Tech).
The Dogs have become the destination du jour for some of Indiana’s finest collegiate prospects. This year’s rosters overflows with nine Hoosier prep stars — including Matt Howard, a prospect Butler outmaneuvered both Indiana and Purdue to land.
As a “mid-major”, one would think that Butler would also lead the pack in at least one negative aspect, coaching turnover. But when next season tips off, Indiana will be working with its third head coach in three seasons, not exactly a model of stability.
The future may change, it always does. IU’s next coach may be great and lead the Hoosiers back to prominence. Purdue’s Matt Painter may put the Boilers in the Final Four.
But talk about today, and talk about Butler — the best dang team Indiana has to offer.
Contact Mike Hutsell at mike.hutsell@newsandtribune.com.
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Mike Hutsell