I cannot believe Butler is in the Final Four. The team sitting just six miles from Lucas Oil Stadium, the site of the Final Four, will be there after their amazing win over Kansas State. Congrats, Butler!
Now let me make this clear: Butler is not a Cinderella.
George Mason, the last true mid-major to get to a Final Four in 2006, was a Cinderella. G-Mason was an 11th seed that beat Michigan State, defending champ North Carolina and tournament favorite UConn along the way. Butler isn't.
Butler is now 32-4. They were the only team in the nation to go undefeated in conference play. They are currently on a 24-game winning streak. Three of their four losses came to teams that are in this NCAA Tournament (Minnesota, Clemson, Georgetown) and a team that was on the bubble (UAB). This year, they beat Ohio State, Xavier, Syracuse and Kansas State.
This was a team that was ranked 10th in the preseason USA Today/ESPN Coaches Poll.
As for their seeding (I said in my tournament preview that Butler was mis-seeded), it isn't like a No. 5 seed can't get to the Final Four. In 2005, Michigan State got in at that seed. In 2002, it was Indiana. In 2000, Florida made it as a No. 5 seed ... while No. 8 seeds North Carolina and Wisconsin also made it there.
However, the last team that was seeded 5th or higher to win the championship was Kansas (No. 6 seed) in 1988.
Butler should have gotten the respect it earned by the Selection Committee and placed better than a No. 5 seed. This, by the way, furthers my point that the Selection Committee did a lousy job of setting up this tournament.
Now let me make this clear: Butler is not a Cinderella.
George Mason, the last true mid-major to get to a Final Four in 2006, was a Cinderella. G-Mason was an 11th seed that beat Michigan State, defending champ North Carolina and tournament favorite UConn along the way. Butler isn't.
Butler is now 32-4. They were the only team in the nation to go undefeated in conference play. They are currently on a 24-game winning streak. Three of their four losses came to teams that are in this NCAA Tournament (Minnesota, Clemson, Georgetown) and a team that was on the bubble (UAB). This year, they beat Ohio State, Xavier, Syracuse and Kansas State.
This was a team that was ranked 10th in the preseason USA Today/ESPN Coaches Poll.
As for their seeding (I said in my tournament preview that Butler was mis-seeded), it isn't like a No. 5 seed can't get to the Final Four. In 2005, Michigan State got in at that seed. In 2002, it was Indiana. In 2000, Florida made it as a No. 5 seed ... while No. 8 seeds North Carolina and Wisconsin also made it there.
However, the last team that was seeded 5th or higher to win the championship was Kansas (No. 6 seed) in 1988.
Butler should have gotten the respect it earned by the Selection Committee and placed better than a No. 5 seed. This, by the way, furthers my point that the Selection Committee did a lousy job of setting up this tournament.
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