HOUSTON -- Ho-hum. Another year. Another Final Four. Another basketball center stage in an absolutely huge building designed primarily for football.
“This is all I know,” Butler’s director of basketball operations, Darnell Archey, said with a smile as he walked onto the court Thursday for the Bulldogs’ first Reliant Stadium practice in preparation for Saturday’s national semifinal against Virginia Commonwealth University.
A year ago, of course, the Bulldogs were in Lucas Oil Stadium, just six miles from their campus. This year, in spread-out Houston, Reliant Stadium is far more than six miles from their team hotel.
Not that it matters, really. Not, either, does it matter that when it comes to a Final Four, Butler has been-there, done-that, while VCU has not.
“It allows us to know how to prepare our week,” said Butler coach Brad Stevens. “It will have no impact on the game.”
That Stevens and the Butler players were available to the media horde that already has descended on Houston is a relatively new twist, begun a year ago in Indianapolis. Before that, the first on-site media availability was on Friday.
It’s just another element that can catch the unprepared unaware, though the Bulldogs seem to be handling it all in stride.
In fact, they’ve even been going to class back on campus -- via the web/video technology known as “Skype.”
That actually may be a respite from the non-stop media attention they’ve been receiving. By now, most of the questions are the same and they answers have become practiced. To their credit, though, they treat each query as if they’re hearing it for the first time.
Matt Howard on his ability to make winning game-ending plays: “The ball just sort of ends up in my hands.”
Stevens on what the presence of Butler and VCU in the semifinals might do for the non-BCS leagues: “Here’s what I hope … that teams in the Horizon League and CAA (Colonial Athletic Association) aren’t prematurely judged by losing four or five conference games. Our league play is hard.”
Chase Stigall on The Butler Way: “It’s putting others before yourself. It’s not a program, not an individual thing, and we’re setting a foundation for the future.”
Shelvin Mack, on being from Lexington, Ky. -- home to the University of Kentucky -- ending up at Butler and in a Final Four: “Growing up in Lexington, you dream about going to the Final Four. I was blessed with the opportunity to go to Butler. I know I made the right choice. I knew I would have the opportunity to play right away. Some players are handed a lot of things. I knew I was going to have to work hard each and every day.”
And so it goes … and will go again on Friday during even lengthier media sessions prior to their open practice at Reliant, where it’s doubtful they will be greeted by anything close to the 30,000 fans who showed up last year to shower the Bulldogs with support.
ODDS AND ENDS -- Stevens cited former Indianapolis Colts Coach Tony Dungy as his “biggest influence in coaching” … Stevens cited several reasons for Butler’s ability to return to the Final Four after losing Gordon Hayward, Willie Veasley and Avery Jukes: Andrew Smith’s productivity in the low post, Howard’s increased versatility and the growth of freshman Khyle Marshall … Stevens also pointed out that junior Shelvin Mack has improved his game, in particular his scoring, after February 1st every season at Butler …Butler will be featured Thursday night at the annual Salute Program, honoring the Final Four teams … Butler’s open practice takes place at 3 p.m. (EST) and can be viewed by going to NCAA.com.
Tags: Butler - Men's Basketball · Horizon League - Men's Basketball
