Butler is in the national championship. Say that out loud: Butler is in the National Championship.
Butler did just enough on Saturday night to give themselves a chance for the national title. It seems odd to even type that. This website has been pumping Butler for most of the season and saying that they are one of the best teams in the country. Repeatedly, beat writers from Horizon League schools undersold the Bulldogs and called them overrated. They were too far in the forest to see the trees.
Just because Loyola hung with Butler in Chicago on January, 21st doesn't make them a bad team. It means that Butler's style is more conducive to a team that wants to speed things up. The Horizon League in general slows things down and it's harder to look impressive in those games.
Against Michigan State, Butler was the more physically aggressive team. They put it to one of the most physical teams in the country. They are earning respect by being ‘Butler tough' every game they win. This isn't news to HL teams. Butler isn't a perimeter bombing, finesse loving, offensive-only team. They're incredibly tough and find a way to win.
National writers are all coming to the same conclusions that HL people have been saying all year. This is a team that wins in different ways and can play different styles. It's amazing how far a team can go that is offensively flexible and defensively stingy.
In less than 24 hours Butler could be the national champions. Say THAT out loud.
