Remember the Butler Bulldogs
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Many look at Daytons incredible season (29-2 and possible #1 seed) as a once in a lifetime occurrence. After all, everything seemed to roll our way this year, and well never again have national player of the year candidate Obi Toppin take the floor for the Flyers.
Let us remember the Butler Bulldogs, who shockingly made back-to-back appearances in the NCAA championship game in the 2009-10 and 2010-11 seasons.
Butler was a great team in 2009-10 with a 33-5 record, led by future NBA players Gordon Hayward (then a freshman) and Shelvin Mack. The Bulldogs played in the Horizon League not a P5 -- and may not have been taken that seriously. But they put together a 25-game winning streak to reach the final against Duke. They almost pulled off a shocker, but a half-court heave by Hayward bounced off the rim and Duke held on 61-59.
Butler certainly would never be heard from again at that level, especially with their most talented player, Hayward, heading early to the NBA.
The Bulldogs were still a solid team the next year, but didnt have the same credentials. They finished 28-10 and earned an 8-seed in the tournament. Somehow they made it back to the final (beating VCU, by the way, in the semifinals). They eventually fell in the final to Connecticut, 53-41.
Not predicting that the Flyers reach a level anywhere near this season but not expecting gloom and doom either. For now, just remember the Butler Bulldogs.
Let us remember the Butler Bulldogs, who shockingly made back-to-back appearances in the NCAA championship game in the 2009-10 and 2010-11 seasons.
Butler was a great team in 2009-10 with a 33-5 record, led by future NBA players Gordon Hayward (then a freshman) and Shelvin Mack. The Bulldogs played in the Horizon League not a P5 -- and may not have been taken that seriously. But they put together a 25-game winning streak to reach the final against Duke. They almost pulled off a shocker, but a half-court heave by Hayward bounced off the rim and Duke held on 61-59.
Butler certainly would never be heard from again at that level, especially with their most talented player, Hayward, heading early to the NBA.
The Bulldogs were still a solid team the next year, but didnt have the same credentials. They finished 28-10 and earned an 8-seed in the tournament. Somehow they made it back to the final (beating VCU, by the way, in the semifinals). They eventually fell in the final to Connecticut, 53-41.
Not predicting that the Flyers reach a level anywhere near this season but not expecting gloom and doom either. For now, just remember the Butler Bulldogs.