I've been fortunate to attend many games at Hinkle Fieldhouse over the past few years, but never has the air felt so heavy within the building's historic walls as it did Saturday when Butler hosted Ohio State. The atmosphere leading up to tip-off was uncustomarily tense. Sure, there have been big games on Butler's home floor over the past few years, and you can sense a certain uneasiness among the people in attendance, but Saturday was different. So frigid were the feelings, it almost felt like someone had propped open the windows that dot each of Hinkle's brick facades.
There didn't seem to be as many smiles being flashed, handshakes offered, or hugs given as the near-capacity crowd of 9,338 streamed in. This sentiment wasn't limited to the paying customers however, it was everyone. The high expectations, combined with mixed results, appear to have taken a mental toll on just about everyone following or associated with the Butler men's basketball program.
That is, except, for the team itself.
There were no indications Saturday among the players that their losses to Minnesota, Clemson, or Georgetown were lingering in their minds. This was a new day, a new opponent, and a new opportunity to prove they deserve to be thought of as one of the nation's best teams. They have no interest in what anyone...and I do mean anyone...may be saying, or writing about them. They've got plenty of other things going on in their lives that are far more important...like final exams, and becoming a better basketball player each day. And it's a good thing they have no concern with all of the other stuff, because they've been questioned on various levels for a couple weeks now. Some of it justified, some of it not.
It took the entire 40 minutes for Butler to fend off Ohio State, 74-66. Gordon Hayward showed why he's thought to be an NBA-type talent, Willie Veasley tallied a double-double, and Ron Nored was locked in on the defensive end all game long. Sure, Matt Howard fouled out again, but this time it didn't happen until there were less than two minutes left in the game. As strange as it may sound, that's a sign that he's becoming a better basketball player, a smarter basketball player. Those ideas are at the core of what Brad Stevens preaches to his team. This was, from top to bottom, a much better effort from the Bulldogs. It was an effort that proved they're deserving of their national ranking...although this team could really care less about any number attached to their name.
After the game was finished, the smiles, handshakes and hugs all returned...further proving that the universal cure-all in these situations is always winning. Criticism following some of the early losses was really no different than the hype-machine that began spinning back in September, it's all just noise. The thing to remember is that no season was ever won or lost in December. Butler is no exception, and the team clearly knows this. Hopefully everyone following the Bulldogs remembers this too.
